Posted on 03/01/2005 11:55:14 AM PST by WKB
OSCAR nominee MORGAN FREEMAN has discovered why he loves his home state of Mississippi so much - it's less racist than most other places in America.
The actor grew up in racial segregation in the Delta region, which was once considered the heartland of American racism, but he insists he never felt oppression until he moved away.
And now he has fond memories of his childhood, despite the fact he wasn't allowed to attend certain clubs and had to sit on the balcony of his local cinema because only whites were allowed downstairs.
He says, "It can't bother you if that's the way life is. If you were raised up in Africa and you ate worms it wouldn't bother you, would it? Same thing.
"I wasn't thinking about rising up and going up to the Paramount and demanding to be let in to the ground floor. I just wanted to go to the movies."
Freeman admits he once dreamed of getting far away from Mississippi, but now he lives there and owns a blues bar and restaurant in Clarksdale.
He admits the state is still one of the most friendly places on earth, despite it's dubious reputation.
He adds, "I grew up in a segregated society that was purposely, obviously, openly segregated. I wasn't given any BS about anything else and I went up to the north and you see it and it's insidious... You want to think you're free-er but you're not."
I been telling people this for years.
Cool. Guess I should play tourist in Mississippi someday.
Wow that's fascinating.
"Nobody killed Ned!"
LOL!! Gotta love the guy! I saw him being interviewed once and the question was posed about why on earth he'd ever move back to Mississippi of all places. He looked at the guy like he had two heads and said "Because it's my HOME"
He grew up in Greenwood, which is SSQ's hometown!
I am not sure you figure it out and get back to me . :>)
A look at the poll results is revealing. Of those 25 counties with black majorities, nine counties voted for the 1894 flag. This calls into question the alleged racial divide on the flag. News accounts give the impression that all white votes went for the 1894 flag and all black votes went for the new proposal. Not true, as it turns out.
In fact, a significant section of the white votes voted for the new proposal. Two counties with majority white populations voted for the proposed flag. "The 1894 flag would simply not have won by a 65% landslide unless a significant number of black citizens voted for it."
In Humphreys County, where the population is above 70% black, 47% voted for the current flag. Coahoma, Leflore, Sunflower and Washington Counties, with a white population of only less than 40%, registered votes favoring the 1894 flag around 49%.
Of the eleven counties having between 60% and 70% black populations, the 1894 flag carried three and received from 46% to 49% of the vote in four counties and received less than 41% of the vote in two.
Therefore the big story the national press is ignoring is that the old flag, dominated by the Confederate battleflag image, enjoys broad biracial support in Mississippi.
I love that part in that movie when the black soldiers are preparing the night before battle and they're talking/singing a spiritual around the campfire. Each soldier who wants to, adds a verse. He talks about the next day possibly being his "great gettin up mornin". I've never forgotten that; I LOVE that phrase!
LOL! Our older boys (now 25 and 22) used to watch "Electric Company", and I remember him on that show!
I love this guy!
We moved out of the South in 1980, first to Indiana, then NJ, and then MA. I don't think I've ever seen as much racism in MS as I've seen in the North. It's not only white/black up here, it's a lot of ethnic stuff; Polish-German; French-Irish, etc. Just amazing!
PING to this thread
This is what I was trying to convey in my view of racism in different parts of the country. In the South you find it, as you'll find it everywhere. The difference is that in other parts of the country, particularly "blue states" like Massachusettes or Oregon, they think that they're somehow imune from human failings and won't believe that it happens, therefore no one even tries to stop it. Why bother, it can't happen in a blue state!
In the South 90% of the people are past that and just get along. There are still idiots around, but they are recongnized as such. In the blue states they elect them as Senators for life, as in Teddy the K and the KKK Byrd.
I love this guy!
You talking about me or Morgan? :>)
"don't hate white people:... I like M. Freeman... ping. Same in my little hometown in AL. A cousin visited from Birmingham and went to a arts festival in the park. In amazement, he turned to me and said he had never seen blacks and whites get along so well. We have a lot of blacks coming back here to retire from jobs in the north and elsewhere because the place is friendlier, safer, and less expensive than where they retired.
Not to say there is no prejudice--but lots less than in the exalted blue states run by the tolerant liberals.
vaudine
Good post, as usual, wardaddy. ;o)
You studly of course.
*I need NerdDad's directions
thank you.
a rant in c minor.
I glad to see people like him talk about his roots and where he came from. It's a constant reminder to average people every day that if you could put your mind to it good things would happen to you and you don't have to be from a big city.
This man has so much charisma. He's one of my favorites.
Didn't most of the race riots in the 60's happen in the north more than the south???
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