Morgan Freeman Condems Black History Month on '60 Minutes'

[nickel]

anyone see this interview last night?

Television often celebrates black history month with his films, but Morgan Freeman thinks the whole idea of a month for black history is "ridiculous." The African American actor tells Mike Wallace he is against a special month because it separates black history from American history and is part of a labeling process that abets racism.

"You're going to relegate my history to a month,?" Freeman asks Wallace in their discussion of black history month. After noting there is no "white history month," he says, "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."

The notion of a special month for black history may be hurting rather than helping efforts for racial equality, believes Freeman. When Wallace wonders that without black history month, racism may be harder to stop and asks, "How are we going to get rid of racism?" Freeman retorts, "Stop talking about it!"

Freeman 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," he says. "I know you as Mike Wallace. You know me as Morgan Freeman. You wouldn't say, 'Well, I know this white guy named Mike Wallace.' You know what I'm saying?" Freeman asks Wallace.

Freeman, who won his first Oscar for the supporting role he played in Million Dollar Baby last year, also discusses his acting career and his several Academy Award nominations, his love of sailing, and his more recent hobby, piloting a plane.



"60 Minutes" profiles the Oscar winner on Sunday, Dec. 18, (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS.

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index....ck_history_mon

i've always liked/respected Morgan. i mean, after all, he is God. (if you've watched "Bruce Almighty" you'll get that)

seriously, he does make some good points. of course, there may be other views on this. i'd like to hear them too.

[kgsilvas]

I agree wholeheartedly.

Especially with: "Freeman 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," he says. "I know you as Mike Wallace. You know me as Morgan Freeman. You wouldn't say, 'Well, I know this white guy named Mike Wallace.' You know what I'm saying?" Freeman asks Wallace.

[johnnymk]

Great in theory, but in reality: I doubt it.

[Kevster]

I watched that interview a couple times (thanks ReplayTV!) and it was thought-provoking to say the least. I very much agree with him on this but to get people to start doing it will take a generation.

[InfiniteNothing]

Who cares what a celebrity thinks?

[attgig]

definitely thought provoking, but i'm not 100% with him. seems very good theoretically, but just because you don't talk about it...doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. I believe there needs to be open dialog about things that are going on under the surface that leads to racism. if you just pretend that the problem exists, it doesn't mean it'll go away by itself. there are real racial problems that need to be hashed out, and sometimes that means bringing special attention to those in the minority.

[LegendKiller]

Where's Kanye, I think he might want to say something regarding Morgan Freeman.

[jstreet]

It seems like a chicken or the egg argument to me. In my experience, the reason white people say "that black guy" and black people say "that white guy" is because the named person is in the minority of the group, so skin color is a better descriptor than, say hair color, height, weight.

If a group of people were completely mixed in race, race wouldn't be a unique characteristic within the group, and some other unique characteristic would be used.

I guess my argument is that if we end racism, we'll end the majority of black/white label usage; but I can't see people forcing themselves to ignore the obvious label, choosing a different label, and somehow ending racism in that process.

[IrishSS]

There are not enough smilies to confer how much I agree with Mr. Freeman. Since early middle school I've been saying there shouldn't be a Black History month. It's not because I'm racisit or don't think we need to bring more awareness to certain things... it's just as MF put it. It's all American History, why seperate it out? Why only highlight it one month of the year?

[Cubsfan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_History_Month

History books had barely started covering black history when the tradition of Black History Month was started. At that point, most representation of blacks in history books was only in reference to the low social position they held.

Makes sense why it was started, but I think that at this point we could pretty safely eliminate Black History Month.

[Grimm]

Black History Month had its value in the past. It made some inequalitys apparent and has allowed them to be corrected. Just as Segregation highlighted the vast differences in equality and made people aware of just how prejudice they were. Segregation's time came and went, now it's time for Black History Month to go.
In some cases these things are like a starter in an automobile. They are great for getting the process moving, but need to be discontinued after things are started.

Many actors use their fame to push their political agendas. Very few are worth listening to. But those few are educated thinkers who are able to provide intelegent, well thought out arguments on their positions. Morgan Freeman might be one of the few thinkers who also happen to be celebrities.

[nickel]

Many actors use their fame to push their political agendas. Very few are worth listening to. But those few are educated thinkers who are able to provide intelegent, well thought out arguments on their positions. Morgan Freeman might be one of the few thinkers who also happen to be celebrities.

i think you answered InfiniteNothing's question, and quite well.

[ShawnLee]

I'm with Cusbsfan and Grimm (shudder, the room just got cold). I don't think that the month is really needed anymore (at least in the educational systems that I've seen). I always found it more offensive that I would only learn about black heroes in February (oddly enough, the shortest month). Why should they be part of a separate fabric of society than the rest of America?

[ialsohaveadream]

It seems like a chicken or the egg argument to me. In my experience, the reason white people say "that black guy" and black people say "that white guy" is because the named person is in the minority of the group, so skin color is a better descriptor than, say hair color, height, weight.

When I'm trying to describe someone, should I leave their race out? Why not also leave out their gender or their hair color? Silly.

I think talking about race openly is what helps end racism. I had a racist friend in high school who heard the Chris Rock "I hate *******" bit, and somehow that's what finally opened his eyes to the fact that black people hate crime and criminals just as much as us crackas do.

[molecularfire]

Who cares what a celebrity thinks?

I do when I agree with them. I've said things like this in the past and have occasionally been labelled a racist for it. Does racism still exist, yes. Are there programs that are good for helping to promote the progression of african americans in the U.S? yes. Does black history month count as that, IMO no.

[DarkFury]

Where's Kanye, I think he might want to say something regarding Morgan Freeman.

Nope... I don't think Kanye would have a response to that... because it rings as true.


Honestly, if the history books in schools had been written to reflect ALL of American History, then Morgan is right... we wouldn't need a "special month" to reflect on it.

Much of American History was built with Black History as one of its components... however kids generally aren't taught much of those parts unless they take special "Black History" courses to that effect.

However, until those history books are re-written to include it... then I still see the need for the recognition. Gotta have one or the other. (not saying that the Month is preferable...)

[nickel]

Nope... I don't think Kanye would have a response to that... because it rings as true.


Honestly, if the history books in schools had been written to reflect ALL of American History, then Morgan is right... we wouldn't need a "special month" to reflect on it.

Much of American History was built with Black History as one of its components... however kids generally aren't taught much of those parts unless they take special "Black History" courses to that effect.

However, until those history books are re-written to include it... then I still see the need for the recognition. Gotta have one or the other. (not saying that the Month is preferable...)

have you read a public school history book lately?

[jstreet]

have you read a public school history book lately?

This is begging for a pol forum-worthy comment about ID but I'll stop myself out of respect for the fact we're in OT

[Itsme]

Interesting discussion, and you could say just about the same thing for Hispanic Heritage Month, and whatever other "months" have been designated.

[DarkFury]

have you read a public school history book lately?

Are you saying that they have changed since I was in school...

If so, then show us what you got.

[Yossarian]

have you read a public school history book lately?

yes, 5 different ones. they all had about a chapter o n the civil war, with a section on slavery and the struggles blacks had to go through after they were freed.

and during the chapter dealing with vietnam, the race issues get thrown in as an after thought.

[nickel]

Are you saying that they have changed since I was in school...

If so, then show us what you got.

i have made no claim.
i just wondered if you are aware of history books changing at all to include more black history since you were in school.

[DarkFury]

I just asked my 15 year old nephew (I'm currently in Florida on vacation) who is currently in the 10th grade...

He goes to a predominantly White high school and says that the only thing his history books say about Blacks is referring to Slavery and none of the other contributions of Blacks towards "American History" are reflected in their teaching.

That would seem that the "history books" haven't changed much since I was in school.... Thus, I stick to what I said earlier about the school books.

[nickel]

I just asked my 15 year old nephew (I'm currently in Florida on vacation) who is currently in the 10th grade...

He goes to a predominantly White high school and says that the only thing his history books say about Blacks is referring to Slavery and none of the other contributions of Blacks towards "American History" are reflected in their teaching.

That would seem that the "history books" haven't changed much since I was in school.... Thus, I stick to what I said earlier about the school books.

yeh, less "Black History Month" and more black history in history books. i think black history deserves more time than 30 days/yr as Morgan has said.

i do think though that more than black slavery is mentioned. i remember reading about George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks very specifically. (not saying that is all there is to black history)

i need to get ahold of what the HS has for history books in my locale and read it myself.

does your nephew have his book home by any chance?

edit: you know they do cover a lot more black history in college, but it does need to be at k-12 too.
i think we are moving in that direction DF. i still bet there is more taught now than when you were in school.

[Prisoner 24601]

Something is for sure, he is a great narrator and talks really well about Penguins!!

[Cheesypuff]

and penguins are black AND white!!!!

[MikeD]

He goes to a predominantly White high school and says that the only thing his history books say about Blacks is referring to Slavery and none of the other contributions of Blacks towards "American History" are reflected in their teaching.

The curriculum for the school should be set by the state; the fact that he goes to a "predominantly white high school" does not matter. Why should that be a factor here? Does he go to private school?

I'll check with my two brother-in-laws, who are in 10th and 12th grade, to see what their texts cover. I would be more than surprised if all that was covered (in the context of black history) is slavery.

[ialsohaveadream]

i do think though that more than black slavery is mentioned. i remember reading about George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks very specifically. (not saying that is all there is to black history)

Yeah, you remember when you learned about them? During Black History Month.

Actually, King and Parks usually get taught outside of that month at least.

[DarkFury]

The curriculum for the school should be set by the state; the fact that he goes to a "predominantly white high school" does not matter. Why should that be a factor here? Does he go to private school?

I'll check with my two brother-in-laws, who are in 10th and 12th grade, to see what their texts cover. I would be more than surprised if all that was covered (in the context of black history) is slavery.

Nope.. he goes to a Public school... however the school district is in a predominantly White area of the city whereas my high school was closer to 50/50.

My folks recently moved out of "the hood" to "the burbs" of Pensacola (i.e. Cantonment). Had he stayed at our old residence, he woulda attended the same High School I went to (Pensacola High). Their curicculums should be the same... however I can't say what "spin" history would get at his new school. I do know that it isn't focused upon according to his direct testimony.

[Houdini]

I'm with Cusbsfan and Grimm (shudder, the room just got cold). I don't think that the month is really needed anymore (at least in the educational systems that I've seen). I always found it more offensive that I would only learn about black heroes in February (oddly enough, the shortest month). Why should they be part of a separate fabric of society than the rest of America?

and cubsfan, and Grimm.

Nope... I don't think Kanye would have a response to that... because it rings as true.


Honestly, if the history books in schools had been written to reflect ALL of American History, then Morgan is right... we wouldn't need a "special month" to reflect on it.

Much of American History was built with Black History as one of its components... however kids generally aren't taught much of those parts unless they take special "Black History" courses to that effect.

However, until those history books are re-written to include it... then I still see the need for the recognition. Gotta have one or the other. (not saying that the Month is preferable...)

I haven't read a school history book in years, so I have no idea what's there now. But growing up in MS, there was plenty of mention of Black history within the texts and lectures. I can't imagine it's being eliminated now.

We're Americans, and Black history is an integral part of our history. From slavery, to the misconception the Lincoln freed the slaves, to the abuses and promises during reconstruction that took place under Johnson, to Jim Crowe, to excellent scientists, to enfranchisement, to pop culture, to Black intellectuals like MF and Cosby, to the next guy to come along, we should all be aware of the impact of Black culture as well as other cultures that have influenced where we are today. To single out one race for a month or a day seems counterproductive to ending racism. I'm all for a race-blind society.