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."

[loreldan]

only way to get rid of racism is to "stop talking about it."

If we stop talking about race, race might be forgotten.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

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.

Yes, I do believe he's got it!

Regards,
GtG

[tob2]

Me too!

[Pietro]

I saw him in an unheralded movie, I believe it was called "Suspision" w/ gene hackman and they were both excellent.

If you come across it, it's worth a watch.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

We can't drop the labels "black" and "white" - what would Jesse and Al and Calypso Louie then do? Nope, can't have that.

[gridlock]

"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.

That sounds like a man I can deal with.

[indcons]

I thought that story was Stephen King's finest short story.

[6ppc]

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

Why?

[Sthitch]

Why? What he said makes sense. Teaching "black history" only during one month is a waste since it takes it completely out of context. People should learn about Booker T. Washington in the context of his time, not only in the month of February.

[JamesP81]

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.

Amen to that, in the strongest possible terms. There is no way I can overstate how right this man is on this issue.

[rdb3]

Freeman is absolutely right.

[Madeleine Ward]

His 'Be Decent'speech as the judge in the Bonfire of the Vanities was one of the finest deliveries on screen I had ever seen.

[pepperhead]

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

How right he is.

[mwyounce]

Mississippi ping!

[jalisco555]

I just saw "March of the Penguins". His narration made a good documentary great.

[Natural Law]

His dignity and honor come across in every screen role he has played.

[6ppc]

I agree with you...I was just wondering why La Enchilada seems to not care much for him. I think he's one of the best actors working today.

[Sloth]

does a great job in The Shawshank Redemption too.

I've never seen him *not* do a great job. Even in rather mediocre fare like 'Deep Impact' or 'Robin Hood', Freeman's acting is worth watching.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Morgan Freeman calls black history month ‘ridiculous’

From first glance, I thought he was going claim discrimination and express "outrage" because black history month is in February, a month with only 28 days (29 in a leap year)

This is refreshing.