Actor Morgan Freeman has once again voiced his criticism against the concept of Black History Month, expressing his disapproval of the designation during a recent interview with Variety.
“I detest it,” the 87-year-old actor told Variety on Saturday. “The mere idea of it. You are going to give me the shortest month in a year? And you are going to celebrate ‘my’ history?! This whole idea makes my teeth itch. It’s not right.”
Freeman, known for his iconic roles in films like “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Million Dollar Baby,” emphasized that to him, American history is inseparable from Black history.
“My history is American history. It’s the one thing in this world I am interested in, beyond making money, having a good time and getting enough sleep,” Freeman remarked.
The acclaimed actor, who is also executive producing the upcoming film “The Gray House,” drew parallels between the importance of understanding history and the themes explored in the movie, which centers on three women who served as Union spies during the Civil War.
“If you don’t know your past, if you don’t remember it, you are bound to repeat it,” Freeman emphasized, underscoring the significance of historical knowledge.
This isn’t the first time Freeman has publicly criticized Black History Month. In 2023, he referred to it as an “insult” and questioned the usage of the term “African-American.”
“I don’t subscribe to that title,” Freeman remarked. “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?”
Freeman’s stance on Black History Month initially gained national attention in 2005 when he called the idea of a dedicated month for Black history “ridiculous.”
“I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history,” Freeman had declared at the time, suggesting that focusing on racial divisions perpetuates them.
In advocating for unity and equality, Freeman proposed a solution to combat racism: “The best way to get rid of racism is to stop talking about it.”
“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 had famously stated in a previous interview.
Throughout his illustrious career spanning decades, Morgan Freeman has received widespread acclaim, earning five Academy Award nominations and one win for his role in “Million Dollar Baby.” He was honored with a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008 and received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes in 2012 for his outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.
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