Morgan Freeman calls black history month ‘ridiculous’

AP ^ | Dec. 15, 2005

[robowombat]

Freeman calls black history month ‘ridiculous’ Oscar-winning actor says ‘black history is American history’

The Associated Press Updated: 2:46 p.m. ET Dec. 15, 2005

NEW YORK - Morgan Freeman says the concept of a month dedicated to black history is "ridiculous."

"You're going to relegate my history to a month?" the 68-year-old actor says in an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" to air Sunday (7 p.m. EST). "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."

Black History Month has roots in historian Carter G. Woodson's Negro History Week, which he designated in 1926 as the second week in February to mark the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Woodson said he hoped the week could one day be eliminated — when black history would become fundamental to American history.

Freeman notes there is no "white history month," and says the only way to get rid of racism is to "stop talking about it."

The actor says he believes the labels "black" and "white" are an obstacle to beating racism.

"I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man," Freeman says.

Freeman received Oscar nominations for his roles in 1987's "Street Smart," 1989's "Driving Miss Daisy" and 1994's "The Shawshank Redemption." He finally won earlier this year for "Million Dollar Baby."

[Fan_Of_Ingraham]

I always liked this guy.

[La Enchiladita]

I used to think he was a brilliant actor.
Now, I barely recognize his name...

[Sloth]

Freeman better be careful -- if he keeps rocking the PC boat they will pull a Cosby on him.

[kentj]

oh there's a Black liberal calling a Black, Black

[samadams2000]

No kidding?

[Pete]

Freeman notes there is no "white history month," and says the only way to get rid of racism is to "stop talking about it."

Amen.

[Anti-MSM]

If he keeps this up, he may get a taste of the Bill Cosby treatment from the so-called black leaders.

[indcons]

One of my favorite actors....does a great job in The Shawshank Redemption too.

[HOTTIEBOY]

Keep it up Morgan

Need more like you, man, need more like you.

[BJClinton]

One of my all time favorite actors. And he appears to not be an idiot. How unusual for Hollywood.

[Brilliant]

can't disagree with that.

[mnehring]

The actor says he believes the labels "black" and "white" are an obstacle to beating racism.

Smartest thing I've ever heard him say.
Genetically, the differences that make up what people identify as racial characteristics are far less than the genetic differences between individuals. Every person could be considered their own individual race or all part of one universal race called human depending on how you look at it..

[chilepepper]

Morgan Freeman is a class act and a damn fine actor to boot...

[Robert Drobot]

I'd stand along side Morgan Freeman any time and any where. The man's a true patriot!!! God bless him!!!

[Republican Red]

I always liked this actor too. One of my favorite roles he played was the role of "Red" in the Shawshank Redemption. Red was originally written as a red headed Irishman. Freeman made the role his own.

[wireman]

A little common sense from Mr. Freeman.

[samadams2000]

You know they were Kings and Princes and had a highly developed societies before the white man imposed Judeo Christian belief systems...zzzzzzz

[Sonny M]

I still remember when he went nuts over liberals using the word "articulate" and "refined" to describe him.

His quote (I'm going to paraphrase here).

"Calling a black guy articulate and refined, what does that mean? I speak english and don't scratch my ass in public?".

[D Rider]

An actor with a brain... how shocking!