Joe Biden has spoken out about the racism former President Obama faced while in office.

He recently told Fresh Air's Terry Gross, "The fact is: There is racism; it does exist."

The former Vice President added that Obama "was the brunt of it many times, but because of his caliber, because of his integrity, because of his humanity, he was able to rise above what I would have found difficult to dismiss and go on and get a lot of business done."

Obama also acknowledged the role that race played during his administration, telling CNN's Fareed Zakaria during his last month in office, "I think there is a reason why attitudes about my presidency among whites in Northern states are very different from whites in Southern states."

See Obama give Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom

24 PHOTOS Obama awards Biden Presidential Medal of Freedom See Gallery Obama awards Biden Presidential Medal of Freedom U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wipes his eyes before receiving the Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama, not pictured, during an event at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. Obama awarded Biden with the highest civilian honor, commemorating an 'extraordinary man with an extraordinary career in public service.' (Olivier Douliery/Pool via Bloomberg) US President Barack Obama awards Vice President Joe Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a tribute to Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2017. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) Vice-President Joe Biden speaks after he received the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama during an event in the State Dinning room of the White House, January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden after presenting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) Vice-President Joe Biden reacts as President Barack Obama delivers remarks during an event in the State Dining room of the White House, January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: (AFP OUT) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wipes his eyes as Preident Barack Obama presents him with Medal of Freedom during an event in the State Dinning room of the White House January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) US Vice President Joe Biden wipes away tears after President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a tribute to Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2017. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) Vice-President Joe Biden gets emotional as President Barack Obama delivers remarks during an event in the State Dinning room of the White House, January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a tribute to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) U.S. President Barack Obama looks at his watch as he reacts to Vice President Joe Biden speech in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wipes his eye after President Barack Obama presented him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) US Vice President Joe Biden wipes away tears as he walks past President Barack Obama after he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a tribute to Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2017. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) Vice-President Joe Biden speaks after he received from President Barack Obama the Medal of Freedom during an event in the State Dinning room of the White House, January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) US Vice President Joe Biden acknowledges applause after President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a tribute to Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2017. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a tribute to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during an event at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. Obama awarded Biden with the highest civilian honor, commemorating an 'extraordinary man with an extraordinary career in public service.' (Olivier Douliery/Pool via Bloomberg) U.S. President Barack Obama looks at his wife Michelle and his daughters Malia and Sasha during an event in the State Dinning room of the White House, January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Vice President Joe Biden after presenting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reacts as President Barack Obama delivers remarks to tribute him in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

He continued, "Are there folks whose primary concern about me has been that I seem foreign, the other? Are those who champion the 'birther' movement feeding off of bias? Absolutely."

Nevertheless, news outlets including The Atlantic have pointed out that Obama had largely avoided talking about race during his time as president.

That distance was bridged, however, after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin when Obama said, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."

He also addressed the issue during his speech mourning the victims of the 2015 church shooting in Charleston; Obama said, in part, "The fact that this took place in a black church obviously also raises questions about a dark part of our history...hatred across races and faiths pose a particular threat to our democracy and our ideals."

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