“Black History Month is an insult”

A Hollywood legend in more ways than one, Morgan Freeman talks about how he found his place as an actor at the center of the civil rights movement and why it’s an “insult” to black history to have only one month a year.

during an interview with Sunday timesposted on Saturday. Now you see me The actor said that while he attributes his career to courage and luck, he also owes it to the changes in America.

“Growing up, there was no ‘me’ in movies,” he said. “If there’s a black man in a movie, it’s funny. Until Sidney Poitier came along and gave young men like me the idea of, “Yes, I can.”

Freeman went on to become an Academy Award-winning actor, starring in a slew of films, including Million Dollar BabyAnd InvictusAnd The dark knightAnd Se7enAnd Ride Miss Daisy and recently, good guyalong with Florence Pew.

Throughout his decades-long career, Freeman has previously focused on racism in industry and society. when Sunday times He asked him about comments he made in an interview in 2005 CBSMike Wallace said the only way to stop racism is to stop talking about it, Mike Wallace replied: “Two things I can say in public that I don’t like. Black History Month is an insult. Are you going to change my history in a month?”

He continued: “Also ‘African American’ is an insult. I do not endorse that title. Blacks have had different surnames down to the n word and I don’t know how these things get such a hold. , but everyone uses ‘African American’. What? Does that really mean? Most black people in this part of the world are apostles. And you say Africa like it’s a country when it’s a continent like Europe.” He added that people would talk about Irish Americans or Italian Americans, but not European Americans.

Another actor to be reckoned with in the industry is Denzel Washington. He is a friend of Freeman’s and is also “very jealous” of March Think of the giants The star is built.

when Angel fell When asked about a statement Washington made, the actor said, “I am very proud to be black, but black is not all I am,” Freeman replied, “completely agree. You can’t define me that way.”

While the fight for justice and people’s rights continues across the country, Freeman added that there has been a change in the industry in the current times. “All people are involved now,” he explained. “Everyone. LGBTQ, Asians, Black People, Interracial Marriages, Interracial Relationships. Any actress. You see them all on screen now and it’s such a huge leap.”