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?
That is the best comments ever! He has a point, why call atention to seperate a group from others? Why not just accept everyone for who they are, kick back, and enjoy life.
Someone had to say it. Another thing that annoys me is the ammount of credit Rosa Parks got.
She was just a tired lady who didn’t want to get up. She didn’t wake up one day and say “I’m going to start a civil rights revolution” yet many people take her as a leader.
people call me racist because of that comment, funny thing is I probably one of the most ethicaly diverse group of friend on my entire campus.
people are too hypocritical to take a step back and see what they’re doing. black people in general need to lay off the whole “i’m black so i deserve better treatment because of what was done to other black people before my time.”
the same can be said about special treatment to minority students getting chosen to go to colleges. applications should be neutral, we should have a social number and our previous acocmplishments. doesn’t matter what ethnicity we are, or the sex. it sounds like something out of 1984, but honestly didn’t they have advantages to that we don’t?
striking a balance is difficult, but we are getting there generation thru generation.
here’s hoping to be on triangulation one day 🙂
Rosa Parks deserves her credit. She was the spark for the whole movement. Whether she wanted to be or not.
Many minority students come from economically depressed areas where the schools they attend are under performing (to say it nicely). Allowances are made in there academic records so they can attend college. If this wasn’t done the colleges of this nation would be even whiter then they already are.
High schools are not created equal, I know this from experience.
Stefan,
I suppose Stefan, you won’t celebrate Xmas. You probably don’t give Jesus much credit : After all he was just a poor Jew who did’nt really want to be crucified; like Rosa parks he surely didn’t meant all what happened….
By the way, I think they are to kind of people claiming they are not racist :
– some say “I am not racist since I have a lot of X friends” (replace X by black, arab, jewish, gay, portorican …at your convenience”; you belong to that category according to your post.
– others just say “I am not racist. “. Period. And I you are not satisfied with their quote and ask them why they are not racist ,they’ll probably answer they think that racism has no scientific basis, that all human beings sould be treated equally, that they are interested in the inside more than the outside etc…
Let me tell you that I will always be highly suspicious about the intellectual honesty of the first category of “non racist” people !
After all, I myself have a lot and smoking friends, and still I am anti smokers…
If I have to give you a break that everyone else does not get you are neither equal nor am I being fair. If you do not get it on your own you will never be free.
It didn’t take very long to have it demonstrated here that there’s still work to be done…
Rosa deserves credit because she started the snowball and very quietly was actively involved in the civil rights movement back when it was pure. When the motive was actually equal rights.
The civil rights movement today is just corrupted by people like Jesse Jackson and Sharpton. They get t.v time, they don’t solve the actual problem, and then they’re on to the next thing. Whereever the money is.
Being half black myself I am ashamed of all of those associated with that movement. If Martin Luther and rosa parks were still here and this was their generation, you know the first thing they would focus on? Stopping the gangs and the violence they cause. This includes idiots like Snoop Dogg and those who glorify that lifestyle. I can credit my two nephews deaths @ 20 and 21 based on their lifestyle which followed the crip mentality.
As for Morgan Freeman, I love this man and I couldn’t agree more. I will love to see them try to villify him they way they did to Cosby and other black people who weren’t afraid to say the truth. There is too much hate, too much backwards society crap going down.
For instance the term “African american” I think thats more insulting then most insults hurled at my race. How can you put African in front of my name when I’ve never been there, worse yet I have no passion to go there. That term should be dropped from America all together.
Its a great thing Morgan did. But sadly it won’t help very much. For every good that is done in the community, it is quickly undone by people like 50 cent, snoop dogg, and the supposed “Self appointed black community leaders”
You guys should sit in on a conversation with me and my brothers from my black side, we tear these people to shreds.
So you know where I stand 🙂
My heart goes out to Mr. Freeman for his words of wisdom. M L King said much the same thing: “We just want to be judged for our individual character, not what we look like or where we’re from”.
Such a universal idea!!
Unfortunately, though, the deaf tribal ear of humanity just turns off the hearing aid.
“If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon.” – George D. Aiken, US senator
Rosa Parks was brave, I see nothing wrong with celebrating the brave. And somebody tell Morgan that his, quite brave, statement was right on the money.
Part of not knowing anything about history is knowing even less about understanding history. To paraphrase an old friend of mine, Morgan Freeman feels he has something more than his chains to lose. He can afford to be “above” the day-to-day struggle of Black folks in a society run by white males. That’s not putting him down especially. He’s still ahead of 90% of the white population. He still dedicates a significant portion of his life to fighting racism; but, in his own way.
Have things gotten better, have opportunities improved? Of course. But, foot-draggers and “balanced” do-nothings don’t deserve any credit for that. Is there a long road ahead? Absolutely. Folks who really care about improving opportunity in our society will continue to work at it. Folks who don’t give a damn about anyone other than themselves will maintain their usual egregious attitudes. Ain’t nothing new about that either.
I love this man (Morgan Freeman) and I agree with him 100% anything that creates a seperation between races can add to racism. The supreme court ruled a while back that seperate but equal wasn’t equal.
In a word? Amen! About time someone stops being PC and starts making sense.
-Max
Way to go Morgan!!!!!
I guess some people are so caught up in themselves that they will never see the blatant racism that still pervades American society.
For those in denial, ask a black man how many times he has been pulled over while driving, for the offense of “Driving While Black”. Ask an Arab American how many times he has been turned down for an apartment with no reason given. Ask the Latino American how many times he has been asked to show some identification. Then ask a white guy all those same questions.
Studies have shown that Blacks get arrested at much higher rates for the same offenses that whites get a promise to appear. In identical circumstances, blacks have a higher bail imposed. Fewer blacks are given the option of treatment or other community based help then whites are under similar circumstances. Blacks are more likely to be excused from jury duty then whites are. And blacks get a higher sentence when found guilty.
Not too long ago, 60 Minutes did a story about equal resumes but black and white candidates. The whites were offered the jobs at a much higher rate. Those resumes that had “Black” sounding names but similar or better credentials were not as likely to be called in for an interview.
We may not like the idea that the field needs to be tipped to help the disadvantaged. Past and current practices have made that a necessity though. As others have suggested, Morgan Freeman probably doesn’t have to wait in line to be seated. His name alone will get him past any police stop.
But I like his thoughts about Black History Month. police stop.
if only it didn’t require a special designation like “black history month” or “hispanic heritage month” to get most white people to even acknowledge that there is history other than white history, that there are things they weren’t taught — or were mis-taught — in their history classes.
and i fully agree w/ Morgan that we should stop pre-appending racial designation when talking about people. however, we can’t go too far down the “color blind” road; we don’t want to turn everyone grey:
– judged by the differences in our looks? no.
– have our different cultures recognized and respected? yes.
The earlier comment by Stefan Constantinescu is in error. Rosa Parks in many interviews stated that she did not like the characterization that she was just a tired old lady that didn’t want to move. Prior to her experience on the bus, she had been very active in the civil rights movement. Her bravery on the bus was a planned act, designed to show how capricious, hurtful, and discriminatory life was for people of color in Montgomery. The fact that she went through with it, remained vigilant, and never backed down is something to be celebrated. Faced with a similar situation, I don’t know if I would be so brave.
I agree with Morgan Freeman. I also think he is a very good actor and I try to watch all of his movies.
Being white-bread, myself – I have never understood why people would want to be referred to as “African”-american, “Mexican”-american, etc.
Just because some of my ancestors are from Denmark and Austria doesn’t mean I have any interest in being referred to as “European”-american.
Some of Morgan’s comments remind me of Clarence Thomas’ statements on affirmative action, and of Tiger Woods’ reaction to people labeling him as “Black” and/or “African”-american.
We have a come a long way, and still have a long way to go.
With regard to “National [fill-in the blank] History Month” – Is what was intended to aid in recognizing ethnic contributions to history now serving to segregate it?
I do believe it is true there is a lot of racism in this world, but it will take some time to stop it, I know my generation is a lot more tolerant to race than my parents. What I do agree with Morgan Freeman is this seperation is breeding racism in younger generation. I mean you can’t say well this person gets an advantage cause they are black or white when applying for a job, that will just take time.
In addition to be honest, I think a lot of racism brought on by major figures in the Black community or at least sterotypes. I am a white guy who grew up in an all white town, I have never been racist niether where my parents. My whole view of the black community was based off what I see on TV etc. Well you get people like every rapper,who sell drug and talk about shooting people all the time, you automatically form that sterotype. Don’t get me wrong I know not all black people are in gangs and commit crimes, but everytime I see a black person, I automatically assume they are like every rapper out there portrays themself to be. I think thats what the majority of the white public does, especially if you don’t have a lot of black people in your community, they assume they are gonna rob you and do crack, then drink some gin and juice. They have no other conception of black people besides what they see on TV. I am not saying rappers turn people into evil racist people no they definatly do. What it does do is reinforce a negative stereotype, Thats is why the Cosby show was so great, it show that black families are normal, and don’t wheel sell drugs, and have constant drive-bys. I guess I am racist maybe, I do think diffrently of black people than white people. I try not to be racist, I don’t hate black people, I don’t think they should be treated any diffrent then white people, but because my only experience with black society is off TV I think they will hurt me. I try my hardest to see a black person just like a white person, but it is just not easy to change 22 years of thinking. But as I get older I have meet more and more black people I am slowly starting to change and be more comfortable with the black community.
Two things:
A. The country is still run by a bunch of old white baby boomers. That alone should tell you something. While some of them have the attitudes that most of us younger people do, I.E. “all people created equal” . . “no race designations,” the majority of them are still racist even if they don’t admit it. If you want to do something about it, stop complaining and VOTE! That’s the only way to show those kinds of people that we mean business. Boot their behinds out the door and let them deal with real life.
B. I’m going to have to agree with some of the above posts in the fact that the leaders of the equal rights movement are getting to be more power hungry than anything. The IDEA is good, but once some sort of beleif structure is built around it then it can become perverted and twisted. Who cares what Al Sharpton and the other corrupt people of that generation say. Ultimately, you know in your heart and soul what is right and wrong. You can feel it. Throw aside the beleifs and stick with the idea, that is what will survive.
I agree with Morgan Freeman’s statements whole heartedly, and if people would step up against indecency when they see it instead of just talking about it then we wouldn’t have this problem. If you want things to be different, start acting like it.
I don’t know why I even bother…
I don’t blame others for my circumstances. I am the captain of my destiny. If I don’t like my position I can change it…
Careful….
You don’t know for sure what color I am…
I agree with Mr. Freeman 100%.
Just to be clear: The notion that Rosa Parks was a lady who in a moments decision sparked the civil rights movement is a fallacy, although one that has gained tremendous momentum. Rosa Parks was an active participant in the civil rights movement before the episode on the bus, and rather than being a spontaneous decision, engaged in a planned and knowing act in coordination with an organization. Because the action was planned, and because the organizing party (which I believe was already called the ACLU) she had a support network of legal personnel and public relations workers. Without all this in place, the story of Rosa Parks would probably never have been heard.
There is no doubt that Ms. Parks actions became a pivotal symbol in the quest for civil rights, but all notions that it was simply the decision made by a single woman are false. She is still a great American.
Also, while there is no doubt that racism still exists in America, it certainly doesn’t exist with either the same breadth and frequency that it did 40, 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. Each generation has less and less direct knowledge about the history of events than the previous one. While people old enough might remember conditions of segregation, and if white, might think that it was correct and proper, current generations can barely fathom that there was EVER racial segregation. It’s simply a fact in a book that seems completely unbelievable.
I personally think this leads to some of the problems we see with things like Affirmative Action. While created in order to provide for equal opportunity in a racist and unfair environment, as those racist attitudes have diminished those policies become viewed as favoritism and unfair advantage, and in fact fuels a racial backlash, precisely what it was designed to remove.
I think Mr. Freeman is spot-on with his comments. The sooner we stop labeling subsets, the sooner we will start to act as a single collective. In a capitalistic society, everybody’s money spends the same.
Personally I think even the naming is stupid. I am an American. I think all my fellow citizens are American. I don’t want to call them African American, Chinese American, Mexican American, or anything else. When is the last time you heard anyone refer to a “African Canadian?”
Tank — it was the SCLC, Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
I agree with what Freeman is saying. As a “black” man I have often made the statement that such labels are archaic and need to be done away with. Why am I an African-American? As far as I know, I wasn’t born in Africa. The problem with doing away with racism and other such acts is that we as a people continue to label others and see them as being different than us. When we decide to see eachother for what we are, that is when racism will decline.
I feel abused and I want an Irish history month.No forget about that.It was only when the U.S.picked the Irish as their favorite pet minority did we see less racism towards the Irish. On St .Patricks day everybody claims to be Irish I still remember attending Regis Catholic H.S. in 1968 midwest america. Our old nickname was the fighting Irish then they changed to the Ramblers.I asked out a girl in my class whose father was a prominent lawyer in our town.She was told she couldn’t go out with me because I was Irish!The poor dear just think of what she missed out on.Mr. Freeman is a special man who deserves to be listened to because he does not spout the party line.At least today there are now white kids who want to be black my daughter who attends the same school calls them wiggers or wegros
This has to be one of the most reasonable, thoughtful things any actor has ever said.
Thank you Eidard.
I agree with Freeman. I am glad he said it because at least it will be debated. If Tim Robbins had said the same thing, it would likely be dismissed as “hate speech.”