[VisualSensations]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051215/...morgan_freeman

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."

Seriously, can this guy be my grandfather?

[NumeroCinco]

I'm pretty sure I've heard someone say that on the boards before.

But I've always thought Black History Month was ridiculous. Just like BET.

[GodIsBack]

Originally Posted by Morgan Freeman

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

Hilarious.

[Isolato]

Morgan's definitely a cool guy, but this is no different than what black academics (for one) have been saying for years. IN fact, it seems like a watered-down version.

[GodIsBack]

Originally Posted by Isolato

Morgan's definitely a cool guy, but this is no different than what black academics (for one) have been saying for years. IN fact, it seems like a watered-down version.

Really? Post one who thinks the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it.

You guys are hilarious.

[Jimmy Jazz]

Originally Posted by GodIsBack

Really? Post one who thinks the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it.

You guys are hilarious.

Heh.

Here's Morgan in Visual Sensations' favorite performance: Mr. Harmless Nonthreatening Negro Who Won't Rob Me or Make Me Feel Bad About Being White.

[Bobby Loves Mangos]

Originally Posted by GodIsBack

Really? Post one who thinks the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it.

You guys are hilarious.

I was wondering when Whitey McCracker would show up...

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by GodIsBack

Really? Post one who thinks the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it.

You guys are hilarious.

I'd like to see this as well. This is the first I have heard of this strategy as related to racsim. Bullies, warts, annoying kids ignore them and they go away. But racsim?

[YouRinsane]

I agree that black history month is useless but that racism would disappear if people stopped talking about it makes little to no sense.

[GodIsBack]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Jazz

Heh.

Here's Morgan in Visual Sensations' favorite performance: Mr. Harmless Nonthreatening Negro Who Won't Rob Me or Make Me Feel Bad About Being White.

My grandmother loves that movie, incidentally.

[GodIsBack]

Originally Posted by Bobby Loves Mangos

I was wondering when Whitey McCracker would show up...

You really suck at this.

[monolith94]

Recently I discovered a strange, cancerous looking lump on my body. I'd better stop talking about it, so it'll go away.

[Detrimental]

I think people need to figure out by now, that racism is probably never going away.

[Esoteric_Allusion]

Originally Posted by Malroy

I agree that black history month is useless but that racism would disappear if people stopped talking about it makes little to no sense.

I think the idea Morgan is getting at is racism is never going to go away so long as we continue to use skin color as a marker of someone's identity and as a way to judge them. Black History Month sets blacks aside rather than incorporating them into a broader historical narrative based on merit. You might believe this is needed due to traditional history ignoring the importance of black figures, but so long as black historical figures are set apart, the basis of racism is there. The idea that because the influence of blacks is underrepresented in Western history so black children can't see more of "themselves" in history without a special "Black history" perpetuates identifying people through race, and so continues the the issues that underly the nature of racism. In a class I once attended, it was argued that president's day was a "white" holiday because it celebrates white people, and children of Mexican heritage deserve an equivalent to celebrate important figures in their history. That's the mentality that will keep racism burning bright. I think what Morgan has in mind is the idea we need to stop talking about Lincoln or Fredrick Douglas as a white person or a black person and and focus on their contributions. Otherwise we are creating an obstacle to ending racism - or at least reducing it further.

That's less stupid.

[Relish]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Jazz

Here's Morgan in Visual Sensations' favorite performance: Mr. Harmless Nonthreatening Negro Who Won't Rob Me or Make Me Feel Bad About Being White.

Ahhh Jimmy.

[Gay Moses]

Originally Posted by Esoteric_Allusion

I think the idea Morgan is getting at is racism is never going to go away so long as we continue to use skin color as a marker of someone's identity and as a way to judge them. Black History Month sets blacks aside rather than incorporating them into a broader historical narrative based on merit. You might believe this is needed due to traditional history ignoring the importance of black figures, but so long as black historical figures are set apart, the basis of racism is there. The idea that because the influence of blacks is underrepresented in Western history and so black children can't see more of "themselves" in history perpetuates identifying oneself through race, and so continues the the issues that underly the nature of racism. In a class I once attended, it was argued that president's day was a "white" holiday because it celebrates white people, and children of Mexican heritage deserve an equivalent to celebrate important figures in their history. That's the mentality that will keep racism burning bright. I think what Morgan has in mind is the idea we need to stop talking about Lincoln or Fredrick Douglas as a white person or a black person and and focus on their contributions otherwise we are creating an obstacle to ending racism - or at least reducing it further.

That's less stupid.

Great. Now, what was Morgan thinking when he agreed to do those movies with Ashley Judd?

[Esoteric_Allusion]

Originally Posted by Gay Moses

Great. Now, what was Morgan thinking when he agreed to do those movies with Ashley Judd?

$$$

?

[VisualSensations]

Originally Posted by Esoteric_Allusion

I think the idea Morgan is getting at is racism is never going to go away so long as we continue to use skin color as a marker of someone's identity and as a way to judge them. Black History Month sets blacks aside rather than incorporating them into a broader historical narrative based on merit. You might believe this is needed due to traditional history ignoring the importance of black figures, but so long as black historical figures are set apart, the basis of racism is there. The idea that because the influence of blacks is underrepresented in Western history so black children can't see more of "themselves" in history without a special "Black history" perpetuates identifying people through race, and so continues the the issues that underly the nature of racism. In a class I once attended, it was argued that president's day was a "white" holiday because it celebrates white people, and children of Mexican heritage deserve an equivalent to celebrate important figures in their history. That's the mentality that will keep racism burning bright. I think what Morgan has in mind is the idea we need to stop talking about Lincoln or Fredrick Douglas as a white person or a black person and and focus on their contributions. Otherwise we are creating an obstacle to ending racism - or at least reducing it further.

That's less stupid.

Thank you, sir.

[Rooby Roo]

Originally Posted by Esoteric_Allusion

I think the idea Morgan is getting at is racism is never going to go away so long as we continue to use skin color as a marker of someone's identity and as a way to judge them. Black History Month sets blacks aside rather than incorporating them into a broader historical narrative based on merit. You might believe this is needed due to traditional history ignoring the importance of black figures, but so long as black historical figures are set apart, the basis of racism is there. The idea that because the influence of blacks is underrepresented in Western history so black children can't see more of "themselves" in history without a special "Black history" perpetuates identifying people through race, and so continues the the issues that underly the nature of racism. In a class I once attended, it was argued that president's day was a "white" holiday because it celebrates white people, and children of Mexican heritage deserve an equivalent to celebrate important figures in their history. That's the mentality that will keep racism burning bright. I think what Morgan has in mind is the idea we need to stop talking about Lincoln or Fredrick Douglas as a white person or a black person and and focus on their contributions otherwise we are creating an obstacle to ending racism - or at least reducing it further.

That's less stupid.

Thank you.

Seriously, I don't understand why people are stuck on a few words Morgan Freeman had to say as if someone of his eloquence would mean it literally.

No, racism isn't gonna go away if we stop talking about race. Racism will go away when society stops fixating on the concept of "race".

Good to see other people getting the ****ing point.

[TeamCanada]

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.



Bingo.

How would racists or racism even exist if everything was accepted as 1 race

[Bobby Loves Mangos]

Originally Posted by GodIsBack

You really suck at this.

At posting? Naw, it's really simple. All you need is a keyboard and some fingers. Even you can do it if you focus....

[NumeroCinco]

Originally Posted by Bobby Loves Mangos

At posting? Naw, it's really simple. All you need is a keyboard and some fingers. Even you can do it if you focus....

He probably means you suck at being funny.

[YouRinsane]

Originally Posted by Esoteric_Allusion

In a class I once attended, it was argued that president's day was a "white" holiday because it celebrates white people, and children of Mexican heritage deserve an equivalent to celebrate important figures in their history. That's the mentality that will keep racism burning bright.

This is just a bunch of naivety / liberal guilt. The mentality is certainly racist but not particularly malevolent. Just dumb.

Originally Posted by Esoteric_Allusion

I think what Morgan has in mind is the idea we need to stop talking about Lincoln or Fredrick Douglas as a white person or a black person and and focus on their contributions otherwise we are creating an obstacle to ending racism

But the fact that Fredrick Douglas, for instance, was black is completely relevant.

[Bobby Loves Mangos]

Originally Posted by NumeroCinco

He probably means you suck at being funny.

Naw, it couldn't be that because he has not a clue what funny is.

I wasn't trying to be funny, anyway. I believe he is Whitey McCracker....

[NumeroCinco]

Originally Posted by Bobby Loves Mangos

Naw, it couldn't be that because he has not a clue what funny is.

I wasn't trying to be funny, anyway. I believe he is Whitey McCracker....

Please stop.

[Rooby Roo]

Originally Posted by Malroy

But the fact that Fredrick Douglas, for instance, was black is completely relevant.

Are you being sarcastic?

[EllisCarver]

When there's equality we can start ignoring racism. Until then racism is here to stay.

[Esoteric_Allusion]

Originally Posted by Malroy

But the fact that Fredrick Douglas, for instance, was black is completely relevant.

It's important to understand how being black is relevant to who he was and what he did, but the merits of his inclusion what we focus on in US history isn't tied down to his black identity. Him being black is important to understanding him and his historical significance, but he isn't important, for a black man. He's just important. Ditto for, say, MLK. He doesn't belong in the "the most important black people we can scrounge up" section of US history. His relevance stands on its own as part of broad understanding of US history that includes the issue of race.

[VisualSensations]

Originally Posted by fcobbina1330

When there's equality we can start ignoring racism. Until then racism is here to stay.

Is it fun to be part of the problem?

[Bobby Loves Mangos]

Originally Posted by NumeroCinco

Please stop.

I can't. He's an idiot...