Sunday marks exactly one year since the death of 18-year-old Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri — an event that sparked riots, protest movements and a renewed look at the role race plays in American society and policing.
As part of its Ferguson anniversary coverage, NPR has released part of a new interview with President Barack Obama as he answers questions about race as a political issue in the U.S.
Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep pushes the president on the topic, asking if Obama could have addressed race issues sooner in his presidency if a second term wasn't at stake.
"That I don't buy," Obama responded. "I think it's fair to say that if, in my first term, Ferguson had flared up, as president of the United States, I would have been commenting on what was happening in Ferguson.
Below you can listen to the full story that NPR released on Sunday, which is only a small part of the larger interview with Obama that is set to air next week.
