Morgan Freeman says: Black History Month is "ridiculous"

[Andrea]

NEW YORK (AP) - 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's 60 Minutes to air Sunday. "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. I applaud Mr. Freeman for the courage to say this. As a Latino-American person, I agree with him in that "Latino Heritage Month" and "Black History Month" and "Women's History" etc. etc. etc. to me imply that these are separate from and exclusive to "regular" American History. I homeschool my child and we integrate the works and contributions of people of all backgrounds, races and genders into our curriculum without saying "AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO STUDY WHAT THAT INDIAN GUY SQUANTO/ FEMALE CLARA BARTON/ BLACK MAN GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER/ETC DID!" =) To us, it's just a natural given that American history is populated by all kinds of folks, that there is interesting art and literature and music from all over the world, etc.

What does everyone else think abour Mr. Freeman's opinion or about this subject?

[Ol'blueyes]

I have and always will love Morgan Freeman!

[OTH man]

i agree with the concept but i dont 100%agree i mean yes they are normal but if there wasnt any time dedicated to them then there would prob be less learning about blacks/women/ect. bcuz I mean in America have there been any women/black presidents no, so we wouldnt learn about them, the only real History involving blacks is slavery and i say that with no disrespect but i mean in the history blacks were wrongly concidered "property" and women were wrongly conciderered "unimportant" and that should be changed I'm just saying without a month for them blacks would complain how there isnt any learning about them

[Andrea]

OTH man, I had a really hard time reading what you just wrote, I'm sorry :(

Are you saying that the only way a person can be important to history is by being a president? If that is what you were trying to say, I have to strongly disagree. History isn't just made up of only figureheads; that is a really really narrow view of the subject. Very few of the people in our American history survey this year for my son's 3rd grade history curriculum have been American presidents. However, some of them have been black, women, latino, native american, etc. Some of them have been a part of more than one of these categories, even.

[Heather]

I applaud what he said, and I applaud him for having the courage to say it. Because it is absolutely true. The only way to come together as a nation, is to let go of the barriers that seperate the individuals. And by dissecting our history, we are creating barriers. We should all celebrate our history together, the good...and the bad.

[OTH man]

OTH man, I had a really hard time reading what you just wrote, I'm sorry :(

Are you saying that the only way a person can be important to history is by being a president? If that is what you were trying to say, I have to strongly disagree. History isn't just made up of only figureheads; that is a really really narrow view of the subject. Very few of the people in our American history survey this year for my son's 3rd grade history curriculum have been American presidents. However, some of them have been black, women, latino, native american, etc. Some of them have been a part of more than one of these categories, even.
thats not what I am saying I'm saying we should

1) rid of Black History Month (agreeing with him)

but then people will be mad like "they dont learn about blacks" but they will be just not as much as whites bcuz whites have had a stronger roll in history

[christy86]

He is right, it is AMERICAN history. I thought the whole month is crazy, learn about it ALL year long...like in chronicalogical order of american history, lol.

[oclover24]

I LOVE Morgan Freeman. He is one of my favorite actors, so I agree with him.

[Centerfinn]

I agree with him if we want rasism gone where gonna have to stop pointing out that people are black,white,latino,asian,gay,straight and bisexuall becuse everybodys special in their own way not in the they look or act

[Faith]

I think there was a time in history when this idea wasn't so ridiculous, but now adays all it does is promote prejudices.

[Quinton]

I think he (Morgan Freeman) is absolutely right. The only way to stop racism is to stop identifying it. The problem is it'll never happen. Maybe in 200 years time there'll be a vast improvement but certainly not in our foreseeable future.

If you wanna start dropping labels you're gonna have to go all the way and drop every single one: White, Black, Asian, Indian, Muslim, Gay, Transexual, Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, Male, Female, Fat, Skinny, Ugly, Sexy, Short, Tall, Blonde, Brunette, Geeky, Surfer, American, British, Pacific Islander, Russian, Turkish... and so on.

Then how are you going to describe anyone? Labels are here to stay, like em or not.

One can argue that if you stop talking about it, it's as if it never existed. Let's be copletely ignorant of that ugly part of history and celebrate where we are today and where we're going in the future. Nice in theory but it kinda diminishes things people like Rosa Parks stood up for.

I get where Mr Freeman is coming from, I really do. His heart's in the right place but it's an idea that's never going to get any real traction. Why? Take a look at Australia's Cronulla Beach recently and you'll get a fair idea.

[Heather]

One can argue that if you stop talking about it, it's as if it never existed. Let's be copletely ignorant of that ugly part of history and celebrate where we are today and where we're going in the future. Nice in theory but it kinda diminishes things people like Rosa Parks stood up for.
As someone who teaches American history, I can tell you that that is not true. We teach about what happened during Reconstruction, the KKK, the Black Panthers, the civil rights movement, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Ed. Trail of Tears, the Indian Massacres, the Mountain Men, the list goes on and on.

Students learn about all the bad things, and the extent of them, and how they led to the positive changes in our history.

[Ol'blueyes]

^not to mention the Dred Scott decision. If you constantly point out how different people are, then there is always going to be racism.

[Andrea]

Isn't there a way to talk about how we used to think this was a significant difference, and now we know better?

I mean, to some extent that's already happened with some ethnic/ religious groups. I don't think that abolishing cultural distinctiveness is what Mr. Freeman is advocating here. I think what he's saying is that bringing up racial strife is going to... bring up more strife. There's a way to acknowledge that racism happened, and that some people still are ignorant enough to act as though there is such a thing as "race" (there isn't, biologically speaking) but enlightened civilized people know better now.

[Noah]

I wanna know where my damn white history month is. For once, I want to celebrate my whiteness and all the badass white folk that don't get the props they deserve.

[christy86]

LMAO ^^^^ Me and this other kid in class way back in 3rd grade were like "wheres my white history month!!?"
all the whole black history month, then may came hispanic month. Asian month was like january i think for the new year. I was such a lost little child in elementary school...:lol:

[Quinton]

Well we dedicate a month to the ethnic group known as "Music". Very cool month and a great CD comes out of it each year... it rocks. Tone Deaf people aren't happy about it though and are wondering where their month is. I feel sorry for them :(

[Quinton]

The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to see that Morgan Freeman is right. We need to cry a river, build a bridge and get over it.

All these things happened in the past. Constantly bringing them up isn't going to do any good and as future leaders of the world it's our obligation to move on. So this is my new strategy...

Everything that happened in the past... civil wars, the witch trials, the world wars, stuff the President Clinton did, Vietnam, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the Russian crisis last year, terrorist attacks, Nick & Jess.... it's time to move on and stop talking about them.

New motto... cry me a river, build me a bridge and get the f**k over it. Those who wanna come feel free, those who wanna stay on the other side be warned, I'm burning the bridge once we're all over ;)

[Faith]

Woooooooo *cheers* :cheer:

Power to the people!

*Jumps across the bridge*

[everwoodisfab]

I totally agree with Morgan Freeman, having specific months just promotes segregation. Besides all the same history will be taught eventually even without specific months to teach it in. If something is on a curriculum to be taught in one specific month and then that month is done away with then it still has to stay on the curriculum and it'll be more interesting to learn history if everything is varied (to a certain extent) and not all taught in certain blocks.

[ocjagfan]

yeah i agree with morgan freeman. they make a big deal about it and then there are people wondering why there is racism? well, is there white history month or asian...i think november is hispanic history month, but it all should be erased.

morgan freeman is the man. lol.

[*gwen*~*grover*]

i agree, ive jumped across the bridge, i think it promotes racism...
but i wonder if it can be done? bc (and i said something similar to this on some other thread, but i dont remember where...) there are still a great number of people who think that by getting rid of things like black history month we are being racist...

[ocjagfan]

yeah. but in actuality, they're being racist against all the other races without a 'history month for having their own little month.

and it's like, you see all those commercials commemorating it and it's like, where's my commercial?

i hope they get rid of it. or at least give every single other race a history month. lol.

[christy86]

i want my greek history month.....

oh yeah i agree, it needs to be all erased...

[*gwen*~*grover*]

yeah. but in actuality, they're being racist against all the other races without a 'history month for having their own little month.

and it's like, you see all those commercials commemorating it and it's like, where's my commercial?

i hope they get rid of it. or at least give every single other race a history month. lol.

no, i agree, but i think its a matter of convincing them otherwise... i guess either way someone's going to disagree, so just go aheaad and get rid of it... but i still wonder if there would be violent reactions/ protests, i dunno, i guess you dont know until you try.....

[ocjagfan]

yeah. probably the media will exploit it too much and it will be mayhem

but i think maybe it will stop when more of the african americans realize how wrong it is, like morgan freeman did.

[Justin2K3]

Times are changing people and our society is much different than the times of segregation when things such as this were needed. Have you noticed how people don't think of interacial relationships as something to hide anymore. It's perfectly normal in our society. In my area the racist people are very few and are basically the outcasts and the ones that are labeled. Basically the only problems I see in my area are people who hate on homosexuals, but that is even changing as the years come. I live in a pretty sheltered area that is pretty much all the church going christian types and it was pretty hard to live an openly gay life in this area. But I've noticed in the past couple of years it's getting more normal and that is the way it should be. If you are labeled as black, white, gay, woman whatever then you are drawing attention to the differences. Why not just refer to anyone no matter what religion, ethnicity, or background as Americans as long as they are in our country? I actually get a sick feeling when I hear racial slurs being used and I think that is the way everyone should feel.

[Webeh]

but i think maybe it will stop when more of the african americans realize how wrong it is, like morgan freeman did.

I don't think just African Americans would resist this, but most people in general. Humans have a tendency of jumping straight to conclusions without really analyzing things in detail.

People from all sorts of backgroups would immediately consider Morgan Freeman's comments as racist, which isn't fact. What he says is true. The black culture (I couldn't think of a better word here) has a very long history. As long and probably longer than other cultures. So, it is demeaning to suggest that you can fit it all into a single month. (It's not only about Rosa Park and Martin Luther King Jr.)

However, I wouldn't criticize the intentions behind Black History Month. It is designed to make people aware and I do believe that it has done exactly that. However, this isn't a perfect event because the one month limit is restricting. As a result, always the same information is presented, which could give the false impression that the history doensn't expand much beyond that.

[Heather]

See...but thats the thing. Black history isnt confined to a single month. Its taught as a major part of American history. They get more attention, as it is, then Jewish Americans, and any single nationality of white Americans. When you teach the subjects, you dont gloss over the history. You teach it in depth. The atrocities of slavery, life during Reconstruction, segregation, and the power and hope behind the civil rights movement.

I dont go around demanding a white history month, because our history is entwined, its not exclusive to any one group.

[Andrea]

I dont go around demanding a white history month, because our history is entwinedThat was a lovely way to put it, and I totally agree. =)

[*GrEGsBaBY22*]

I agree in a way I don’t think you should celebrate Black History Month just in Feb. You should celebrate it every day of your life why should you only have pride for a month. With Black History Month if you are proud to have African ancestors show it everyday respect it don’t let others tell you when you should be proud and when you shouldn’t. I believe it’s the same with other ethnicities to

[Noah]

I always wondered why black history month wasn't in January instead of February since MLK day is in January.

I don't really see the problem with black history month personally. It isn't as if people all rally together to celebrate our differences and to honor all the great black people and their contributions to history during black history month and then the rest of the year everyone goes back to hating black folks or something.

I'm not prejudice towards any particular race, but I'm not so naive as to ignore the sociological problems that seem to stem from different races and their cultures. I know black people had it bad and everything, but perhaps they should take a page from the Jews if their looking to ensure the advancement of their culture. Over the past few thousand years Jews have had to put up with their fair share of crap... slavery here, a genocide there and still today are pursecuted. The point is that you don't see the Jews self-destructing and doing everything in their power to ensure that they remain, in many cases, second class citizens and without the opportunities that most middle-class Americans have.

[Heather]

I always wondered why black history month wasn't in January instead of February since MLK day is in January.
Possibly because he was about equality, and not raising one race above another.


See...I guess thats where we liberals and conservatives differ.

Personally, I dont see the point in designating a specific month to a specific nationality. Whats the point? When all their trials, tribulations, and hardships, are already taught? What does it prove? What purpose does it serve but to further seperate the races?

[Noah]

I don't personally have a problem with it, but at the same time I don't see a need for black history month. Like I was saying above about Jews, Jewish people don't need a Jewish history month nor do they need affirmative action. Whenever black people decide to stop living behind the fact that they were taken from Africa (where most of them were enslaved in the first place) and forced to work in slavery here, there will no longer be a need for affirmative action and black history month. One of these days they're going to have to accept the fact that whitey doesn't owe them anything anymore and that it's about damn time that they take responsibility for themselves. That is if they ever want to be be viewed as equal and have the same opportunities as other Americans have.

[Heather]

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up from the floor. :lol:

I think thats the first time we've ever fully agreed on anything, Noah. Because I completely agreed with everything you said in that last post.

[Noah]

:lol:

oh, snap.. that was my 800th post. and with the new year I have a newfound affinity with conservatism.. or do I?

[Andrea]

There's no need to make sweeping generalizations like that. Many, many people of color believe that Affirmative Action is institutionalized tokenism and that it's more divisive than anything else. I'm Latina and I would much rather get something on my own hard work and merit rather than because I'm Latina. Y'know?

[Noah]

Exactly.

I'm just a bit jaded when it comes to race relations between blacks and whites because I have to deal with it almost on a daily basis. Generalizations do suck. One of my best friends and the most polite, decent, hardworking guy I know is a black dude. He agrees and tries his hardest to distance himself from that type of lifestyle so that he's not painted with that brush. Generalizations do, however, still apply to the majority although it is unfortunate.

[*gwen*~*grover*]

hmm, noah, sounds like you do have a problem with black history month :lol:

whether those generalizations represent the majority or not is up for debate, but it is the "popular view", which is not to say a stereotype, but the most adament "advocaters"... if that makes sense,,, which i guess makes it a stereotype... and that is why i think its all a little rediculous... i guess the difference is that it is a stereotype created by the people within that group, and has come to "represent the majority"...

[FaithGirl16]

I happen to agree with Morgan Freeman that there shouldn't be a specific month to celebrate a certain race. But perhaps maybe there should be something like a "diversity month" where we celebrate ALL races, religions, sexual orientations, genders, etc. Basically, we should be doing this all year round, but maybe if we included EVERYONE in this particular month, certain groups of people wouldn't feel left out or that we are "promoting racisim".