Morgan Freeman thinks that “relegating” black history to just one specific month is insulting, just as much as being labeled as “African American.”
During a rare interview with The Times UK, the legendary actor reflected on some of his past comments about race, in which he claimed the only way to get rid of racism was to stop talking about it.
“Two things I can say publicly that I do not like. Black History Month is an insult. You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” he said about the annual observance that takes place in February.
“Also ‘African American’ is an insult,” the 85-year-old actor continued. “I don’t subscribe to that title.”
“Black people have had different titles all the way back to the n-word and I do not know how these things get such a grip, but everyone uses ‘African American’. What does it really mean? Most black people in this part of the world are mongrels. And you say Africa as if it’s a country when it’s a continent, like Europe.”
The interviewer then quoted his pal Denzel Washington, who previously said, “I’m very proud to be black, but black is not all I am.”
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Freeman, who gushed about Washington during the interview, said he is “in total agreement” with the “Remember the Titans” star.
“Yes, exactly,” he said. “You can’t define me that way.”
The “Shawshank Redemption” star’s impressive career has spanned over six decades, starting before black actors were even offered lead roles in major motion pictures.
“When I was growing up there was no ‘me’ in the movies,” he said. “If there was a black man in a movie he was funny. Until Sidney Poitier came and gave young people like me the idea that, ‘OK, yes, I can do that.’”
Despite having to fight an uphill battle for most of his career, Freeman knows his struggle carved the way for black actors today.
“Generationally, though, I do think we’re moving ahead in leaps and bounds,” he said.
The “Million Dollar Baby” Oscar winner has been a longtime civil rights advocate, even producing a 12-part video series to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2021.
