Morgan Freeman Blasts Black History Month
Television often celebrates Black History Month with showings of his films, but Morgan Freeman thinks the whole idea of a month for black history is “ridiculous.”
The actor tells Mike Wallace he opposes designating a special month because it separates black history from American history, and is part of a labeling process that abets racism.
“You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” Freeman asks Wallace. After noting there is no “white history month,” he says, “I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history,” he tells Wallace.
“I am going to stop calling you a white man and I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man,” he says. “I know you as Mike Wallace. You know me as Morgan Freeman. You wouldn’t say, ‘Well, I know this white guy named Mike Wallace.’ You know what I’m saying?”
Well, do you know what he is saying? Do you agree with what he is saying?
I agree with Morgan 100,00,000%.
We are Americans.
I am a racist!
That’s what you have to say first, before you can cure the problem in yourself. I have laughed at ethnic jokes, even passed on a few. There were people, whom I had never met, that I had decided we unlikeable.
Unfortunately, there isn’t one person reading this page who can say different – because we are all human. We need to admit that too.
Then we can accept that there are people who get more, or less credit for the events associated with their name – but in the cosmic view – we are not celebrating the person – but the event and the progress associated with it.
It was only when I had matured to a point that my image of all the people I knew did not first have a label in my mind – that I could begin to say. I was once a racist.
I agree with Morgan 100%. And I’m of an ethnic minority…
Perhaps the real pioneer in “unlabeling” was Louis Gossett Jr. He auditioned for the role of Sgt Emil Foley in “Officer and a Gentleman” when the role called for a “white hard-ass drill sargent”. When he was told the role was defined as white – his answer was “So What”. His hard-assed tenancity won him the role – and he won an Oscar.
What’s this sensitivity against using the phrase black people? During a recent Olympics, we heard “the first African-American , from any country, to win a medal…’ Some journalists were saying the riots in France are being done by ‘African-Americans.’
Too idealistic to become reality. It’s a good concept, but it ain’t happening.
i just can’t wait until a rosa park holiday is introduced, so now all american citizens can celebrate a black holiday like MLK day.
I agree completely with what he’s saying.
I love the smell of common sense in the morning.
When I was in high school (7-8 years ago), there was an assembly held during black history month. No big deal, until we were all asked to rise for the Black National Anthem. I recall being deeply offended and confused as to why such a think would ever have been thought up. Has anyone else ever heard of this? It (thank god) must have been a flash in the pan as I never heard about it again after that one instance. Right then was when I began to believe that constantly highlighting every single difference between us all would not get us anywhere.
Morgan Freeman is right. People’s cultural history should by no means be ignored, but this incessant self-segregation is counterproductive.
Morgan Freeman is absolutely correct. The fact that black history is limited to a one month span limits its scope to being non-essential. His comments are forward-thinking and meant to open people’s minds. Unlike Bill Cosby who says things that are obvious just to get press without offering solutions, Mr. Freeman challenges the conventional wisdom of both Black and Whites.
Relegating Black History to a “special” celebration is just like believing that Christopher Columbus discovered America. While the European books that we all studied says so, it is impossible to “discover” a country where humans already exist.
Well. Columbus Day is when Native
Americans discovered STD’s.
im not american, i am australian, so i have little enough understanding of the issues in america….but i wanted to throw my two cents’ worth in, so here ’tis…
my blodd is a mixture of who knows what (im adopted so maybe i’ll never know), and i am married to a very dark skinned man from vanuatu. we pretty much sahre morgan freeman’s sentiments…its people making an issue out of skin colour that feed racism or seperatism.
one time i was in vanuatu and my husband’s family kept calling me “white”, and it was really getting to me, because i dont think people should be defined by their skin colour. it’s not who we are. I grabbed my arm and pinched the skin and said, “this *PINCH* is not who i am. and this *PINCHING ONE OF THEM* is not who you are either. this is just our shell. we are spirit.”
i grew up in an australia that used to be a lot more naive about this sort of thing. i had friends of all ethnic backgrounds and it was never an issue between any of us. now however, suddenly there are white supremacists on my favourite childhood beach threatening to wipe out anyone of middle-eastern apprearance…it’s all so senseless and ridiculous.
as long as we force racial divisions by pointing our differences that really in the end are just exterior, racism and bigotry will persist.
lets just go with freeman’s advice (and he is a “free-man” for living like this), and just stop referring to each other by the colour of our skin. it’s not what defines us as human beings………….
The reason why Freeman takes offense is because he is a racist himself. And I do not mind that people are racists – everyone is a racist. It is hard wired in all of us. And what is the fuzz about? It is the stock in trade of every black actor in comedian to capitalize on portraying or poking fun at racism in America. So why gripe about racism Mr. Morgan, are you not a millionaire now because of this racist struggle? All people are racists because they are always insecure about who or what they are in society. Leave the white men alone at their shallow facinations and superiority complex. Leave the black people at their intense determination to prove themselves at par or better than people of other or no color. It doesn’t matter if you dyed yourself light or tanned yourself dark. In the end we are all worm food.
This is for Morgan Freeman….
I totally agree with you on the Back History Month commentary you voiced the other day on Sixty Minutes.
I saw your genius displayed right there. Now I can see why you chose the Arts. Very cool Man! Way cool and beyond Mr. William Cosby whom I admire very much as well.
Frank Conti
I enjoyed the comment that wants to remind us that racism is still quite rampant in our world and the United States. It is. And yes, while that Black American gets harassed for driving an SUV, some 3rd world child dies. So I suppose Global awareness better be put to check against complaints against unfair wages and wealth rights.
Nevertheless – stereotyping is bad. That remains Morgan’s point.
And I felt like God lit the heavens when he announced he’s tired of the label – and removing the label is part of the solution.
Again – yes, crimes exist. How sad. But to paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, “the trouble with the poor is poverty.” Do you think debating racism raises money? It’s a stall.
Rosa Parks wanted equality as did King as does Freeman. It’s an evolving process – not a singular moment of time. Seems a lot of people just want to wear Martin Luther King’s haircut and call that Equality. Fashion is a bitch sometimes….
Underneath the arm band remains a human arm. Let it be. Or help it along but don’t cloud it with ignorant banterings… to defend only a clan. Love humans. Not countries. They are easier to grasp, too! (t least – if they’re friendly!)
Black History Month was a reaction to the Eurocentric historical perspective, not “self-segregation” on the part of blacks. Celebrating the history and accomplishments of a particular ethnic group, especially one that is often marginalized, isn’t a bad thing in and of itself because it hopefully will force the issue of “who’s history is it anyway?”. It’s just when it becomes stagnant and trivialized that the point is lost. In general, Blacks don’t write the history books or own the big publishing houses. If anyone’s going to gripe, gripe to the the educators/bookwriters/publishing authorities because this cultural slant in history exists to this day and its not the fault of African America.
Notice that not only are the accomplishments and culture of white Americans celebrated in history, science, art, etc. but that of white EUROPEANS. A very strong link is made between the history/culture of Europe and America across all disciplines, not just history; history in America is by and large white history. So all white Americans can claim a sense of cultural superiority over other ethnic groups, particularly blacks.
This is a fact – blacks cannot feel a part of this by saying, “Just call me an AMERICAN, not a BLACK American!” because our cultural roots come from a different part of the globe. By distancing ourselves from it, and by not ensuring that EVERYONE have a better understanding of this Africa’s relationship with America, we’re nullifying who and what we are and our place in America. How much of American culture revolves around white Europeans immigration to this continent and is told from that context? The pilgrims, the Revolutionary War, Louisiana Purchase…you get the drift. Outside of footnotes, the stories of minorities is given short shrift. And it would remain that way if it were not for things like Black History Month, etc. To say we should get rid of it would leave a vacuum that the power brokers would not willingly correct. That’s the point Mr. Freeman spoke about that’s missed by many here – “yeah, we should get rid of Black History Month, why should they get special treatment?” But little of “yeah, we should mainstream and expand our educational foundation to equitably include all of the histories of the people that make of the U.S.”
Use of the term African American shouldn’t imply a second class categorization, but by debating this point, people ARE relegating the term to second class status. No one has this same hangup when talking about whites of various ethnicities – German, Italian, Irish American. Most of them have never been to the “old country” but if they can claim their ethnicity with pride, why do some blacks whine, “I’ve never been to Africa, so why are you calling me African American?” That self-conciousness shows the inherent racist feelings and shame associated with the term African.
It is often said “we are a nation of immigrants.” Indeed, for white Americans, that is how they define themselves as Americans and they look on this fact with a source of pride. They took the best of their various European cultures and brought it across the ocean to make something even stronger. Much is made in our history books about our European forefathers and their struggles in the “new land.” As a child, I remember my teachers asking classmates about their ethnic backgrounds, etc. during President’s Day or other American holidays. I noticed how they skipped or glossed over racial minorities, particularly blacks. That’s why I think the term African American is resented by so many. It exposes the lie of “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Millions of people were brought here against their will and never enjoyed the fruits of their labors, nor did their offspring. Others were wiped out completely (Native Americans). Others were marginalized (e.g. Chinese immigrants in the West). So it’s OK for for whites to point out their German, English, Dutch, etc. ancestry with pride, because it doesn’t upset the American Myth.
I like the term African American because I see it as source of pride and appreciation by all – my ethnicity is relevant, just like everyone else – I’m NOT a person without a history, without roots. Much was lost in the middle passage, but claiming my African heritage is a start, not a finish. What aspects of African history, particularly pre-chattel slave history I can point to is tenous at best, but it does exist. Blacks should be able to say “I’m an American” or “I’m an African American” *interchangeably*, just as white Americans of various ethnic backgrounds have the had the luxury of doing for well over a century. It shouldn’t be either or, it should be BOTH. In doing so it recognizes blacks’ cultural significance in this society and also affirms that blacks/African Americans are full fledged members of this society. It also forces white America to acknowledge the acts of their forefathers and relect upon their effect on Europe, Africa and America (shoot, give me almost 500 years of organized free labor, see what I could do with it as well!).
It also makes everyone take a look at who are what they are; that American does not equal white American and is not the norm; that America has significant historical roots that didn’t all originate in England. When I say “African American” I am making a complex statement with just two words – I am an American, just like you. My people originated from Africa, just like yours originated from (fill in the blank). And that’s OK. And we all should be proud of it, not try to hide or minimize it. It actually makes us stronger.
For those of you who are mixed, well I’m mixed too, one of my parents is legally white. And the “one drop rule” applies in this country. You could easily make the argument that anyone who has “one drop” of white European ancestry is racially white – that would make 99% of all African Americans racially white. And currently if anyone who is “mixed” marries someone else who is “mixed” their child would be categorized in the racial minority group. Thus again, that makes all African Americans mixed by proxy and to differenciate youself is meaningless and only done primarily to gain curry with the majority and segregate yourself from the minority. The mixed designation also ends with your UNLESS you marry and produce a child with a white person. Silly, isn’t it?
i totally agree with what he is saying. i am hispanic, and i dont need a hispanic heritage month. I am american and i am capable of acheiving just like anyone else. i dont feel a minority and dont like to be labeled as one, or given a month. we are just like everyone else
Morgan Freeman was completely right except about being called black or white.
Stereotyping is natural. All humans do it and it is what gives human being their intelligence. The neocortex completely relies upon stereotypes to be made. We make stereotypes about everything and those stereotypes are used in the creation of a virtual model the world within the cortex. It allows us to hear that voice inside our head, to imagine, and to predict: all products of stereotyping your voice, the world, and the actions of objects over time.
We see a ball go into the air and we see it come back down. A ball gets thrown at us. It goes up halfway between us and the thrower. We step out of the way. Why? Because of the stereotype we formed by our previous viewing of the ball. If asked why we moved we answer, “I thought it was going to hit me.” That “thought” was stereotyping, it is one of the necessities to consiousness.
Mr Freeman
It is a breath of fresh air to hear good sense. My wife and I travel from coast to coast and now, with this wisdom of yours, we might see you at your restuarant some day. If and when we meet, my wife and I would like to give you a huge hug. For now,the biggest job is getting this knowlage out to the young kids, God willing it will. Again Sir, thank you for saying the truth.
Your Friend Catfish and Lady Catfish
In response to che che,
I don’t know when you went to school, but the history books go out of their way, sometimes even deliberately lying to give minorities and women more credit than they actually deserve. For instance, the history books talk of a black guy that designed Washington D.C. when such is not the case (http://www33.brinkster.com/iiiii/inventions/banneker.asp)
The reason American history books revolve around white Europeans, largely British ones, is because they are the ones that made America. It was whites that wrote the laws, designed the government, made the almost all of the inventions, and did basically everything. The African people had little to do with American history, they were mainly just slaves doing manual labour. Look at famous “African”-Americans they are mainly just sports players, actors, or civil rights people. In fact most famous blacks such as George Washington Carver, Mariah Carey, and Collin Powell are part white, Powell is part British. Anyone who claims that the Whites didn’t create America, that blacks had any significant impact on the formation of this great nation is a racist liar!
The Afro-centrist revisionism has gone to far now. They are claiming that the ruling class of ancient Egypt was black during it’s height, tell that to Nefertiti, and all the rest of them, they claim that the Greeks stole Nubia’s culture (in “Black Athena” by some insignificant afrocentrist liar), why they are even claiming Beethoven and Bach were BLACK!!! The largest structure in Sub-Saharan Africa before the “evil white colonials” came was in “Great” Zimbabwe. It ten metres high, that is like 30 feet! http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~reffland/anthropology/anthro2003/legacy/africa/zimbabwe/zimbabwe6.html
If African Americans can argue that they’re the builders of ancient Egypt, then what happened? If we’re to believe that they’re the builders, then how did they lose their skill? Did they just forget? Why aren’t they still at it? Why would a race of master builders all of a sudden abandon centuries of advanced building techniques in favour of a hunter gatherer society with little or no technology? Whites can still build a St.Peter’s, St. Paul’s, Notre Dame, Versailles, Buckingham, or a Parthenon today if they wanted to. Yet most Americans throw logic, scientific evidence, and historical evidence into the wind and say blatantly say that the accomplishments of ancient Egyptians were created by a sub-Saharan Negroid people, when all evidence points to them being a Caucasoid people, at lest the upper and ruling classes. What has Africa contributed? To say that history books have been revised to be “Euro-centric” is a complete falsehood, if anything the history books go out of their way to include things about minorities, and contain may things like :”if”, “possibly”, “could have been.” Such as “Crispus Attucks was ‘possibly” the first person to die in the Boston Massacre”, even though recent evidence now proves he was not the first of the 5 people to die. How often do you hear about the 4 white people? Do you know their names? Have you ever heard of them? No! of course not, because history is in bias of black people, that is why!
75% of Basketball players are black, yet you don’t see whites complaining about this.
By the Way, I am Native American (we prefer the term American Indian) and Arabic.
I believe everything happens for a reason, whether intentional or unintentional. Rosa Parks was just a tired old lady who happened to be working all day, working harder than some of our top leaders today only to receive not even half of her dues. Yes Rosa Parks only refused her seat to a white passenger and no Rosa Parks did not wake up one morning and plot this out…. but the fact is she did refuse her seat and people did acknowledge it and it did cause a riot. Rosa Parks was not the only one no to refuse her seat to a white person, but she was the only one to refuse her seat and cause other people to look at the situation a little differently. See, only a number of people are chosen and she just happened to be one of those people.
As far as Morgan Freeman’s comment is concerned, I agree with the whole black history is American history and should be recognized as so… Although, I don’t feel like it is ridiculous because if it were not for black history month then I don’t think I would know as much as I do know about my culture. Dedicating one month to a group of people whom made this country what it is today is defiantly not ridiculous, it is necessary. We deserve to have a month dedicated to us and we also need to be included in American history because like Morgan freeman stated we are American history. We made this country, we built the land, we constructed the field, we picked the cotton, we cooked and cleaned and to this day we have yet to receive our 40 acres in a mule. I believe that instead of focusing on the positive things that black people are doing maybe Morgan freeman should focus on some of the negative things going on in society… the kkk perhaps, Nazi’s and confederate flags, now if anything that is what we need to get rid of now that is ridiculous. Black history is definitely not racist and to me it does not separate white and black, Jim Crow separated white and black, slavery separated white and black, the KKK tried to separate white and black.
I find Morgans comments an example of someone who has a sense of fair play and doesn’t feel something should just be handed to someone due to a legally defined status.
A black history month does perpetrate a separateness that prevents true equality.