Morgan Freeman calls Black History Month "ridiculous"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10482634/

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."

http://www.lucianne.com/threads22.asp?artnum=251120


Reply 1 - Posted by: Slake, 12/15/2005 7:42:32 PM

well put MF, I couldn't agree with you more


Reply 3 - Posted by: 4LadyK, 12/15/2005 7:48:49 PM

Amen, Morgan Freeman!


Reply 4 - Posted by: warlock, 12/15/2005 7:52:55 PM

Why don't the Jacksons, Sharptons, et alii, not take the counsel of the those who are obviously wiser?


Reply 5 - Posted by: mikespeir, 12/15/2005 8:04:56 PM

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

A step in the right direction anyway.


Reply 6 - Posted by: amereagle, 12/15/2005 8:11:43 PM

Morgan Freeman, true American.


Reply 8 - Posted by: bdog, 12/15/2005 8:31:39 PM

Just teach what happened, the way it happened. There is no reason to alter or focus on any particular event over another. If the events are taught in the order they occurred to children as they progress through the system they will have a good grasp on our history and an understanding of how we are affected by it.


Reply 9 - Posted by: RenoLuperini, 12/15/2005 8:33:15 PM

How about doing away with the Congressional 'black caucus' while you're at it.


Reply 10 - Posted by: Douglas DC, 12/15/2005 8:37:05 PM

Watch it, Morgan, Jessie Jackson's gonna come wit da hounds an shotgun to get you back on de plantation!
Honestly, in real life there were Black Slave owners and drivers,Jackson has his job as the
'Ol Democrat plantation slavemaster....
along with his Bloohound Al....


Reply 12 - Posted by: jasmine, 12/15/2005 8:40:14 PM

A class act and a gentleman.


Reply 13 - Posted by: tmcavl1, 12/15/2005 8:41:09 PM

Morgan Freeman and Bill Cosby. Two of my favorite (nothing needed here) actors AND Americans.

Thank you Mr. Freeman. I've always respected your awesome acting talent; now you have my complete respect as a fellow American.


Reply 14 - Posted by: Yorkiemom, 12/15/2005 8:52:30 PM

I knew there was something I liked about Morgan Freeman besides him being an excellent actor.


Reply 16 - Posted by: MickinPhoenix, 12/15/2005 9:24:59 PM

HooRay for Morgan Freeman. A refreshing alternative to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpson.


Reply 17 - Posted by: Urgent Fury, 12/15/2005 9:45:37 PM

Great statements, but I bet he voted for Kerry.


Reply 18 - Posted by: Scout Finch, 12/15/2005 10:04:47 PM

I have not always agreed with Morgan Freeman, politically, in the past. But by golly, this is the most sensical statement ever uttered by man. Particularly this line, Freeman notes there is no "white history month," and says the only way to get rid of racism is to "stop talking about it."

Thank you, sir. You are a bright light in the dark.


Reply 19 - Posted by: slickwillie2001, 12/15/2005 10:07:43 PM

A white Republican could not have spoken these words and gotten away with it.

they agree on something but for different reasons...i bet if those freepers started talking beyond just a "way to go freeman" it'd be a bit revealing...

I like that guy.

is that the month selected is effing FEBRUARY, the crappiest month of the year! Cold, worst part of winter, people in shitty spirits more than usual... Thanks a whole hell of a lot. :grr:

It's also the month the Romans considered unlucky.

Founder of "Negro History Week" Carter Woodson picked February because it was the birth month of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

but to be honest, there would be no harm in changing it.

outings.

- from The History Channel. The founder of Black History Month is Harvard Scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

"In 1926 Woodson organized the first annual Negro History Week, which took place during the second week of February. Woodson chose this date to co-incide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln - two men who had greatly impacted the black population.

Over time, Negro History Week evolved into the Black History Month that we know today - a four-week-long celebration of African American History."

:nt:

I never got the ideas of "Black History Month" and even "Women's History Month". They make up all of two months out of twelve. Kind of makes it seem like the other ten months are like "Men's History Months."

But regardless, black history is an integral part of the fabric that is America. "Black History Month" almost makes it seem like it's okay to not think about black history the rest of the time.

Which makes me - a small little ole white woman - proud as punch!

:hug: to one of my favorite people.

I didn't know that. I knew Samuel Jackson was (he's from my town, Chattanooga) and Usher (who also lived here briefly) but not him. I've personally never had a real problem with a history month but I do see where he is coming from and why it would be insulting. You should always remember, celebrate and educate. Not just one month out of the year. It's like what the fundies are trying to do with Christmas. Make a big deal and say it's to remember Jesus when you should all the time if that's your faith.

but I think she is from Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi originally.

Morgan Freeman owns a restaurant in Mississippi, I think. Not sure where he is from from.

On edit - just checked IMDB - MF was born in Memphis TN and Oprah in Mississippi.

always considered designated holidays or months as a way to bring to the forefront people, places, and things that have value in our history, but are over-looked in daily life. I think we need more, not less 'reminders' of who we are, and where we've been.

It's a given that black history is American history. But black history month allows us to focus on it. Why not celebrate it, just like we celebrate the 4th of July or celebrate the contributions of veterans for Veteran's Day, etc.?

I also think February is a great month for it. To me, February is a very cheerful month, what with Valentine's Day and President's Day, too. Because it is a winter month without much else going on, we pay more attention to the television specials that feature the contributions of African Americans. With no swimming, outdoors sports, etc., we might be more inclined to go to a play featuring some aspect of African-American history. For these reasons, February is actually a very good month for it.

Our local NPR has a program they do during February where you can call in and do a reading from your favorite African-American writer or a writer from any culture other than your own. That's something I look forward to listening to each year.

In sum, while Morgan Fairchild's a favorite of mine, I think he's missing the point on this one.




Cher

And I don't even watch TV!

Slip of the fingers. I think you knwo what I mean.




Cher

Yeah, that's the ticket.

- Tommy Flanagan

a country that should offer its deepest regrets and apologies. We cannot forget the Black holocaust and the effect that the country has from it today. Toqueville foresaw this when he came over from France, and a dedicated month does not wash away the scar of what remains in this country.

Guess what? There were more whites that died in NO than black. The latest statistics prove out. Forget Toqueville.

From the 12/13 report of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals:

http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/publications/pubs-145/Deceased%20Victims_1213_information.pdf

Race:
Race # %
Unknown 46 7%
African American 333 48%
Asian Pacific 2 >1%
Caucasian 288 42%
Hispanic 15 2%
Native American 3 >1%
Other 3 >1%
TOTAL 690

You must be working off the "news" story from wingnut websites, which claim that "Statistics Suggest Race Not a Factor in Katrina Deaths" by arguing that because blacks comprise more of Louisiana's population, Louisiana's white population suffered greater losses.

Really nice angle you've got going on.

I'd post a link to it, but how do you figure it's a different source than yours? It's from the statistics released by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and it clearly suggests that fewer than half of the victims of Hurricane Katrina were black, and that whites died at the highest rate of all races in New Orleans. Unless I'm needing new reading glasses (I'm not), why would the DOH release different statistics? Where do you get your statistics???

But I'll do it again.

http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/publications/pubs-145/Deceased%20Victims_1213_information.pdf

That's the official report, posted on the Department of Health and Hospital's website, dated 12/13/05.

And yes, you can argue that whites died at a higher rate when the deaths are expressed as a percentage of the entire white population of Louisiana--but your statement that "There were more whites that died in NO than black. The latest statistics prove out" is absolutely, utterly, demonstrably false.

I can't imagine why you don't want to post your link.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200512\NAT20051214b.html

What a great source. It spends four out of the first five grafs setting up liberals and blacks as whiners (nice how they made sure to include a Farrakhan quote), then pinches off an argument that whites suffered more because as a percentage, the white population of Louisiana lost more--which doesn't change the fact that more blacks died than whites.

Here's a tip: cnsnews is a pile of demagougic poo. Always has been, always will be.

What's your proof? Because it doesn't agree with your view? The NYT, WaPo, and LAT is largely a pile of demagogic poo also. I guess it depends on what end of the binoculars you're peering through. Before you misjudge me (you will anyway), I don't follow Fox News. I read all headlines available on the Internet, and fomulate my opinions therewith. I'm an independant thinker, though you'll judge me otherwise, I'm sure.

Interesting how your facts suggest totally different stats than mine. As I see it, more whites than black died. Again, my binocular theory......

The NYT, WaPo and LAT each have their own problems, but even considering CNSnews in the same ballpark is laughable. And counting on CNSnews as a solid source of information hardly promotes independent thought.

GIGO.

I don't rely on CNSnews for all my news. It's but one tiny part of the picture. It isn't anymore laughable than any other news source. You want to quote the NYT? They have to correct their articles daily. And they're the "standard" by which all news is judged. Don't condescend to me, please. I'm every bit as informed and in-tuned as are you.

I think he's right that there shouldn't be a black history MONTH, because black history is America's History - the text books just have to INCLUDE the real history and stop redacting, white washing and deleting.

But i think he's wrong that racism will end when we stop talking about it.. we don't talk about it enough.

This phenomenon seems to occur frequently when Blacks become affluent, and people of privilige. they forget that it's white privilige (some say white supremacy - and i agree with it)that is at the root of racism and it is quite alive and well in this country - and quite obvious when we only have ONE SENATOR of mixed race, and when we see something like Katrina.

until we DEAL WITH IT straight up, it's going to be with us for a lot longer than it would be otherwise.

Barack Obama is the only black senator, but Ken Salazar, Mel Martinez, and Bob Menendez are Latino/Hispanic, and Dan Akaka and Dan Inouye are Hawaiian.

Now 6 out of 100 is not very representative of American's culture, but there is more than just one.

but it's useful also to have the stats on other people of color in the Senate, so thanks for that!

Those of Spanish descent are Caucasian. Although many people in Mexico and South America( and Hispanics in the U.S.) have various mixed heritages, Indian, Chinese, African, even Japanese. :)

The Senate is quite WASPY, though. :)

long time no see...:hi:

haven't had the internet since june...it's been some time. i'm living at my parents house for now (hence the internet) but i leave in 2 weeks to head out to cali and start some travelin...i should be back out in your area by the fall...how ya been?

I will PM you within the next few days, don't want to hijack this thread. sorry i missed you in august.

the only way to get rid of racism is through education such as black history month where, as others pointed out, it's more of a focus. I don't think it's saying to forget about it the rest of the year but just more-so. As I said in my other post I do see why it would be insulting but you can't ignore it either or you can let people get away with racism whether it's with color or sexuality. If people just bash anyone who is different and you let them than racism of any sorts will always be there. You can never ignore it.

Comment that Black history is American history. But what I found baffling was when he said to make racism go away we should stop talking about it. The only way to truly make racism go away is to confront it and be open and willing to talk about it. Ignoring will only make it more more insidous and more hurtful when you do have one of those situations.

"We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice."


Carter Woodson (1875-1950)
on founding Negro History Week, 1926


I think Dr. Woodson wanted to eventually phase out the seperation as well.

Use BHM to learn about him, he was an amazing man.

Were at that point. Its kind of like getting a cut on your arm. If you ignore the cut it won't go away, it'll just continue to worsen. If we stop talking about race it won't go away.

Which month was white history month? Also which month is hispanic history month?

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sept. 15th

...there would be no need for Black History month. However, until then, it serves a valuable service!

Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, etc.

I don't like set-asides.

But can you imagine someone other than a black person had said this?

It would be seen as a racist comment.

by definition. this is not about "politically correct".

this is about what exactly is at issue.

How do you figure? I'm white and I agree with Freeman, and so does most everyone else in this thread. So, what now?

If we are going to celebrate our historical heritage inside the US, we should celebrate together because it was the blood, sweat, and tears of every person who ever labored to build, construct, design, or engineer anything in this piece of land we call the US that helped this country become what it is today regardless of the color of their skin or from where they came. I don't care about people's fucking skin color or their religion. I care about people's labors and trials. That is what should be celebrated if we are to celebrate anything.

I always thought it was Ridiculous, too!