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."
Mississippi ping
One of my favorites...
Mine too since "Driving Miss Daisy"
My first movie I saw Morgan Freeman in was Glory..
Isn't this heresy, or sacrelidge or something?
Driving Miss Daisy was one of the best films I've ever seen. When my grandmother came to visit, I took her to see it. She loved it, and at least she could see not every American film is loaded with trash. His award was well deserved.
He looks younger today then he did in that movie 16 years ago
Has it been that long.
God I'm feeling old again.
I believe he is a very happy man. You can't have that deportment and be bitter at the same time. I wonder if learning to fly airplanes has anything to do with it.
I like that...It's good to see one of the best actors out there is still knows where he came from.
Saying something nice about Mississippi? LOL
He is a great actor.
Shawshank Redemption
Unforgiven
...to name a couple more.
I loved him in The Shawshank Redemption. Use to be one of my favorite movies until I came to despise Tim Robbins so much I can;t watch the movie anymore.
Freeman's part of "Red" was written as an Irish white guy. Freeman seemlessly took on that role and made it his own.
Great actor.
I have enjoyed his work since I was little and he was on the 'Electric Company.' Any one else remember that one from PBS? He seems like a very grounded person...no wonder his career has been successful.
those and Glory are some of his best. I was hoping he'd win.
Not that I ever watch these stupid award shows, but it's nice to see a normal guy in Hollyweird.
WATCH IT.....:^|>
Mississippi ping.
}:-)4
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