Morgan Freeman Critiques Black History Month: "My History Is American History"

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Morgan Freeman, an iconic actor and producer, has shared his strong opinions on Black History Month, expressing a deep dissatisfaction with the concept. “I detest it. 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 told Variety. He argued that his history is not separate from American history, but a fundamental part of it. “It’s the one thing in this world I am interested in, beyond making money, having a good time and getting enough sleep.”

 

Freeman's thoughts on the past extend beyond his views on Black History Month. He recently served as an executive producer on the Civil War series “The Gray House” alongside Lori McCreary through their company, Revelations Entertainment. The historical significance of the series resonates deeply with Freeman. “If you don’t know your past, if you don’t remember it, you are bound to repeat it,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of historical awareness, especially during election years.

 

Freeman's reflections on his career and the entertainment industry reveal his philosophy on timing and persistence. He noted how projects can lie dormant for years before suddenly gaining interest. “Do you know this song? ‘To everything, there is a season.’ It really, really works in show business. You are trying to sell something 15 years ago and nobody even looks at you. Then they go: ‘Didn’t you have a project, some time ago? Do you still have it?’ Life is like that, in this industry.”

 

“The Gray House,” which opened the Monte-Carlo Television Festival and saw Freeman receive the Crystal Nymph award, is a testament to the enduring relevance of American sagas. Kevin Costner, another executive producer of the series, highlighted the current appetite for such stories. “It must be, because here we are,” Freeman concurred.

 

The series, inspired by true events, revolves around four Southern women—Elizabeth Van Lew, her mother, Mary Jane Richards, and a prostitute—who become spies for the Union. Freeman praised the series for its inclusive portrayal of history, saying, “It’s so wide-ranging. There are so many people in the series, because we are acknowledging they were there. If you can do that, if you are given space to do that, bravo. It didn’t just happen to one group of people.”

 

Lori McCreary echoed Freeman's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of timely storytelling and historical mindfulness. “Morgan’s motto is: ‘Every project has its time and its team.’ I think the universe conspired to have us have this time for this project. It’s very much on our mind now, to be mindful of what we have been through. And make sure the future is brighter. We need to learn—as a planet. As communities around the world.”

 

The series does not shy away from the harsh realities of history, particularly the violence and dehumanization faced by African Americans. McCreary insisted on an authentic portrayal, stating, “We are not white-washing, we are not sugar-coating the fact that African Americans were enslaved. They weren’t treated as a full person. When you come out of watching these eight hours, maybe you will look at someone who looks like Morgan or me differently. You will understand their experience, their ancestors’ experience and you will be able to relate.”

 

McCreary also highlighted the significant roles of the series' female characters, who are far from passive. “When I watch something and it’s an authentic portrayal of women, I am engaged. And many times, I feel like those I can relate to are in the background. The more people like Morgan and I can tell our own stories—because nobody else will—the more we’ll understand that women are everything. We are housewives, mothers and scientists. And spies!”

 

In researching the series, McCreary was particularly struck by Mary Jane Richards, a formerly enslaved Black woman with a photographic memory who risked her life to spy for the Union. “She volunteered herself to be gifted to the ‘Gray House’ [the White House of the Confederacy] and pretended to be a slave. She was serving tea and looking at all the maps. I didn’t know there was someone who risked her entire life like that. There should be chapters in history books dedicated to her. I don’t know why she was overlooked.”

 

Freeman offered a simple explanation: “I will tell you why: She was a woman.”

 

Credit: Variety 2024-06-18

 

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[Tug]

That’s one movie I definitely want to see!

[JonnyF]

I'm with Mr Freeman on this one. He's spoken about it before. It's very divisive. 

 

Reminds me of Mr Murray's comments on Pride month. Also very valid comments from someone who clearly understands what it means to be gay. 

 

Of course this will annoy the left immensely. A black man not supporting Black History month? Get back into the box we have created for you. A gay man not supporting Pride? How dare he. Is he superficially gay?  😃

[riclag]

Black history month ,MLK and cultural Marxist teaching of DEI.

 

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.

[Hanaguma]

7 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I'm with Mr Freeman on this one. He's spoken about it before. It's very divisive. 

 

Reminds me of Mr Murray's comments on Pride month. Also very valid comments from someone who clearly understands what it means to be gay. 

 

Of course this will annoy the left immensely. A black man not supporting Black History month? Get back into the box we have created for you. A gay man not supporting Pride? How dare he. Is he superficially gay?  😃

I could never understand, why does "Pride" get a month, but soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms only get a day?   

[candide]

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

I could never understand, why does "Pride" get a month, but soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms only get a day?   

Is "Pride" an official celebration and holiday?

[charleskerins]

10 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I'm with Mr Freeman on this one. He's spoken about it before. It's very divisive. 

 

Reminds me of Mr Murray's comments on Pride month. Also very valid comments from someone who clearly understands what it means to be gay. 

 

Of course this will annoy the left immensely. A black man not supporting Black History month? Get back into the box we have created for you. A gay man not supporting Pride? How dare he. Is he superficially gay?  😃

the box was created in 1619 and it wasn't  created by the left

[riclag]

4 hours ago, riclag said:

Black history month ,MLK and cultural Marxist teaching of DEI.

 

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.

Black history month

Mlk vs the cultural Marxist DEI.

The world was progressing toward his dream until… DEI. 

 

The 1964 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the American Baptist minister and activist Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) "for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population." He is the twelfth American recipient of the prestigious Peace Prize. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Nobel_Peace_Prize#:~:text=The 1964 Nobel Peace Prize,of the prestigious Peace Prize.&text=Martin Luther King Jr.,-"for his non

[Emdog]

“Do you know this song? ‘To everything, there is a season.’

It was from the book of Ecclesiastes Ch 3, adapted by Pete Seger and made a hit by the Byrds....

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

To everything there is a season (turn, turn turn). [1]

And a time to every purpose under heaven.

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to be born, a time to die.

A time to plant, a time to reap.

³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to kill [2], a time to heal.

⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance"; etc etc

[JonnyF]

13 hours ago, charleskerins said:

the box was created in 1619 and it wasn't  created by the left

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/22/politics/biden-charlamagne-tha-god-you-aint-black/index.html

 

[JayClay]

On 6/18/2024 at 8:46 AM, JonnyF said:

I'm with Mr Freeman on this one. He's spoken about it before. It's very divisive. 

 

Reminds me of Mr Murray's comments on Pride month. Also very valid comments from someone who clearly understands what it means to be gay. 

 

Of course this will annoy the left immensely

 

I consider myself quite heavily left-wing, and I agree with Mr Freeman. I'm not familiar with Mr Murray or his comments on pride month, but I am opposed to pride as a general concept; taking pride in your nationality, skin colour* or sexuality* (ie the way you were born...) is quite ridiculous.

 

*if you have faced persecution and overcome it as a result of your skin colour or sexuality then you may have cause to be proud. You may also have cause to be proud simply for having the courage to come out as being gay, but those are personal achievements and don't warrant a festival.