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've lived in the South all my adult life and I agree with Mr. Freeman. I grew up in NJ and we were much more segregated there than in Virginia. I have lived in integrated neighborhoods for 22 years in VA. In NJ the towns were segregated...not just the neighborhoods. Whites and blacks went to the same public schools but white kids went home to Pennsauken but black kids all lived in Delair. When I was in HS the white kids all lived in Collings Lakes, Landisville or Minotola but without exception EVERY black kid lived in Newtonville, and only blacks lived there.
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I remember him on that show. I learned a lot from that one as well as my all time fav..."Schoolhouse Rock". I still sing those little songs in my head to help me remember what a conjunction is, etc. Those were the days when shows like that tried to teach you the learning basics, not this pc crap!
I am proud to be a fellow Mississipian!
Right on, Morgan! The North is FAR MORE racists than the South. Far more.
It is sad that liberals think they help the poor, but then liberals make fun of the poor, from "rednecks" to blacks in the South.
southern ping
LOL...I remember Fargo North, DeCoder!!! Rita Moreno was on the show too...she used to yell, 'Hey you guys!' Morgan Freeman was the Easy Reader (it was the 70s...so it was a take off on Easy Rider) and he would be really, really cool reading anything and everything. There were some teens on the show too...but I don't really remember them, but I thought they were cool...not like the dorky kids on Zoom!
FYI...
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news03/dream1.htm
(early 2003 interview)Question: Are you generally optimistic about whats going on in the world. Are you concerned? Are you worried?
(Freeman)Answer: Oh, Im very worried about whats going on in the world at the moment because we have this Napoleonic president, by Napoleonic I mean hes a man who just seems to need to search himself. It doesnt make sense. I dont have any love loss on Saddam Hussein. If he needs to be removed from office, fine. You have to find the right way to do it, but going to war, nah, with the people. To do what. What is the real reason? Because hes harbouring weapons of mass destruction?
Question: So, it is with North Korea?
Answer: So, it is with North Korea
Question: Right.
Answer: Why are we acting to acquiesce to this? We do not need the Iraqi oil. We have Kuwait oil Its the same pool. Thats why Kuwaits there. Thats why Kuwait was set up. You think that country could exist there without somebody backing it?
Question: Yeah. Absolutely.
Answer: Were talking about a piece of Iraq. So, we keep this. Thats my noise. I am terribly upset about the whole thing.
Conjunction Junction!!!
He needs deprogramming! LOL
Hey, friend, you already look good!
Wasn't it BB King rather than Muddy?
Why thank ya mam!!
Charlie Pride is another excellent musician with Missippy roots
Just like me. I had worn out VHS tapes of Shawshank and now have the DVD.
But I can't stand to watch it now.
thanks!
High Crimes is one of my favorite movies.
What's your function?
Sadly, I am old enough to remember him on The Electric Company quite well....... :-)
I think a cooking session with the lovely Rachel Ray (on the Food Channel) rejuvenated the man.
Zoom & electric company filled a lousy-weather afternoon.
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