Morgan Freeman spoke about racing in a new interview. (Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)
In a rare new interview with Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper, Oscar winner Morgan Freeman explains why he rejects the term ‘African American’ and why limiting black history classes to just one month is an ‘insult’.
In the interview, the 85-year-old Freeman was asked about his earlier comments in a 2005 interview with CBS’ Mike Wallace about how not talking about race could help end racism.
“There are two things I can say publicly that I don’t like: Black History Month is an insult. You’re going to ban my story for a month?” Freeman replied.
“Even ‘African American’ is an insult,” he added. “I don’t subscribe to this title. Black people have had different titles going back to the N-word, and I don’t know how those things are going to get a handle on that, but everyone uses “African American.” “What does it really mean?”
He continued, “Most black people in this part of the world are mixed race. And you say Africa as if it’s a country when it’s a continent like Europe,” comparing it to people of European heritage referred to by a particular country, such as Irish-American or Italian-American.
When interviewer Jonathan Dean mentioned fellow actor Denzel Washington and his statement, “I’m very proud to be black, but black isn’t all I am,” Washington echoed those sentiments.
“Yeah right. I totally agree,” Freeman shared. “You can’t define me that way.” He also noted that he’s “so jealous of Denzel’s career because he’s doing what I wanted to do.”
Freeman, who currently stars in A Good Person opposite Florence Pugh, continued to talk about how things have changed since he began acting in the 1960s, rising from small stage roles to popular children’s program The Electric Company. He believes the industry has become increasingly inclusive, noting that roles for black actors have long been typically comedic. “Growing up, there was no ‘me’ in the movies,” he shared.
The story goes on
“The change is that now everyone is involved,” Freeman added. “Everyone. LGBTQ, Asian, Black, White, interracial marriages, interracial relationships. All represented. You see them all on screen now, and that’s a huge leap.”
The actor also reflected on where he would have ended up if he hadn’t found success in Hollywood.
“People ask, ‘What would you do if you didn’t make it?’ I don’t know,’ he said. “Drive a limo? But I would be in the community theater. I would act. But in addition to courage, luck is also part of it. You need courage and good luck. I owe both to my career.”