Morgan Freeman Mentioned, 'I Do not Need Black Historical past Month'?

A quote attributed to actor Morgan Freeman went viral in June 2024. The Academy Award successful actor was purportedly criticizing the idea of Black Historical past Month.

According to one meme, Freeman stated: “I do not desire a black historical past month. Black historical past is American historical past; there is no such thing as a white historical past month. The one strategy to finish racism is to cease speaking about it.” 

Freeman did specific the emotions within the above quote, simply not in these precise phrases or all on the identical time. The meme-maker seems to have cobbled collectively completely different statements Freeman made in quite a few interviews through the years, however it does specific his sentiments on racism and the idea of Black historical past. As such, we charge this declare as “Principally True.”

In an April 2023 interview with The Sunday Occasions, Freeman criticized Black Historical past Month and the time period “African-American” (emphasis added):

“Two issues I can say publicly that I don’t like. Black Historical past Month is an insult. You are going to relegate my historical past to a month? […] Additionally ‘African-American’ is an insult. I do not subscribe to that title. Black folks have had completely different titles all the best way again to the n-word and I have no idea how these items get such a grip, however everybody makes use of ‘African-American’. What does it actually imply? Most black folks on this a part of the world are mongrels. And also you say Africa as if it is a nation when it is a continent, like Europe.

This was not a brand new opinion from him. In a 2012 Guardian interview, he stated, “I hate the phrase ‘African American’ as a result of ‘black’ is gorgeous. One syllable versus seven. […] I’ve stated it earlier than, black historical past is American historical past, they’re utterly intertwined.” 

He additionally spoke about former U.S. President Barack Obama’s mixed-race id: “The factor that actually makes me indignant is the entire rightwing deal with his blackness – his white mom is rarely talked about. Even in the present day, all this reminds you that in case you have mixed-race dad and mom, the very first thing you be taught is that the white half does not matter to anybody however you. Do not suppose you are white, as a result of nobody on the market will ever allow you to overlook you are black. It ain’t gonna work.”

In a 2005 interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” —which we coated in a previous truth examine—Freeman additionally repeated his criticism of Black Historical past Month, calling it “ridiculous.”

“You are going to relegate my historical past to a month?” he stated. “I do not desire a Black Historical past Month. Black historical past is American historical past.” He famous there have been no white or Jewish historical past months. When requested the query, How can we eliminate racism?” per CBS News transcripts, he stated:

Cease speaking about it. I’ll cease calling you a white man. And I’ll ask you to cease calling me a black man. I do know you as Mike Wallace. You already know me as Morgan Freeman. You would not say, ‘Effectively, I do know this white man named Mike Wallace.’ You already know what I am sayin’?

The clip may be seen right here:

Freeman made these statements in several interviews ,and whereas he didn’t use the precise phrases, he has maintained the identical sentiments all through his profession.
 

Sources