Morgan Freeman and Racism

How to rid America of racism

Published on December 19, 2005 By Sturgee In Current Events

I watched part of 60 Minutes this evening, and they had a piece on Morgan Freeman. Among the issues he talked about, race and racism was discussed. In my opinion, Mr. Freeman has a GREAT perspective on race. You can check out the whole story here. Mr. Freeman recognizes that the way to get rid of racism is to ignore race.

I was perusing a local college class schedule, thinking about going back for some continuing education. I found a class labeled "African-American Literature". Why the hell do we have a class about African-American literature? I know, the argument is that great works of literature by African-American authors are not presented in traditional American Literature courses. Okay, fine. Then push to add the curriculum into the course. The answer isn't to create a new course that addresses only African-American Literature. I strongly think that this trend of "honoring" and "recognizing" minority achievements by separating them only increases the racial divide in this country. Why do I have to take a separate class on African American Lit? Make the curriculum include great and influential works by a number of Americans, and you have a great class. Include African Americans, Asian Americans, Purple Americans - I don't give a crap, but make it AMERICAN LITERATURE. It should be color/race/ethnic-blind.

This country needs to move away from classifying things based on race, and we will start to eradicate racism.

Comments (Page 1)

stevendedalus

on Dec 19, 2005

Why do I have to take a separate class on African American Lit?I doubt that the course is a prerequisite unless you are matriculating in American Literature. Normally, on the high school level since the 70s corrective American literature does include black lit. By now I am sure even many liberal arts colleges also incorporate signigicant black authors in the curriculum.

Sturgee

on Dec 19, 2005

This was only one example, and you are splitting hairs and missing the point. Sure, it isn't a required course for any program. My point is, why does the course exist at all? Why do we have a Black History Month? Why not a Jewish History Month? Why not an Asian History Month? Why not Gay History Month? My point is: by creating these division to seemingly recognize or honor specific minority groups, all we do is amplify recognition of differences between us, when there shouldn't be.

I'm glad that some schools are starting to change. I applaud those institutions that are recognizing the problem and addressing it the right way - by creating course curriculum that is inclusive, instead of creating new courses. I think we need more of this across the entire society, and we can start to make real progress.

historyishere

on Dec 19, 2005

Part of the problem of inclusion is that a lot of the times, it is done without taking quality into account. Sometimes pieces are forgotten because they really aren't as good, and not because of other underlying societal problems.

I am not saying that about more modern literature, only for those classes which have revisited the past to unearth other authors to try to give a wider perspective rather than present the best from that era.

Leauki

on Dec 19, 2005

Why not a Jewish History Month?

For Jews are considered white for the purpose of minority rights and non-white for the purpose of white supremacism?

Barcm

on Dec 19, 2005

As a teacher, I agree with Mr. Freeman. Like his returning to his roots and doing something positive for his people and not ignoring his race and where he came from. Opraha could take a few lessons from him. Icon she is but she still is ignored by her own people; just the rich white folks visit her studo. Where are her people? They egnore her because she is not with them. Barcm

Leauki

on Dec 19, 2005

If you agree with Mr. Freeman, why do you announce opposite views?

His point was that the so-called difference between races should be ignored. You say something about "not ignoring his race" and about Oprah and "her people" (rich white folk ARE her people; she is rich, isn't she?).

Were you kidding?

JeremyG

on Dec 19, 2005

Icon she is but she still is ignored by her own people; just the rich white folks visit her studo. Where are her people? They egnore her because she is not with them. Barcm

If you agree with Mr. Freeman, you still have a long way to go yourself.

Dr Guy

on Dec 19, 2005

Morgan Freeman is a class act! Thanks for sharing his insights.

terpfan1980

on Dec 19, 2005

I saw these comments the other day and must say I've never been more proud of one of our citizens.

Morgan Freeman spoke the truth, cold and hard as it may be. He pointed out the stupidity of having the history of a peoples regulated to just a few weeks out of the year, and also spoke volumes on how things will never change until we stop trying to label each other and especially stop labelling ourselves.

It is a shame that many will see his comments as racist, or worse yet as some form of "uncle tom'in" His words, like many of Bill Cosby's recent speeches would do great service to those that are willing to listen and heed them.

Actually both Freeman and Cosby have reminded me much of the parts of Martin Luther King, Jr., that I found admirable. A desire to see things made better, but done in a way that that would be the most positive for all.

InBloom

on Dec 19, 2005

I saw this segment last night...he doesn't want to be labeled racially. He said something along the lines of him wanting to be known as "Morgan Freeman"...and not particularly as the black or African American man.

I can see both sides, though. I can see how he doesn't want to be labeled, but I can also see how other people want to highlight their own people's achievements. I have taken Latin/Hispanic/Chicano literature courses, and it did enlighten me on persepectives and thoughts and insights.

garsgolfer

on Dec 19, 2005

I read the transcripts of that interview and agree in theory. But, when attempting to align that theory into societies encumbered backbone, it can't work.

Organizations the likes of the ACLU have checks and balances that are guided by the outright assessment of ones race and in some cases religious card. A larger costly example can be found in companies. Each has to verify they don't discriminate on a variety of levels. The one that I chuckle the most comes with vendor contract negotiations. To insure we don't discriminate we must determine race during the hiring process. Corporate America considers race during promotions. You don't think race was considered in many of Apprentice shows. Again when seeking scholarships, government's assistance programs, welfare, small business loans and the best of all, to do business with the government race is put on the table and often a preference for contracts.

Yes, we should move away from race and we'd be better for it. But for that to happen fears of the past would have to be put to bed, and race preferences eliminated on every conceivable level.

Is that screaming I hear.... Oh no... the ACLU still exists, some Jewish folks are still chasing the Holocaust. Darnet, a few skin heads and a smattering of KKK still can't get over their poop! What chance do we have....

garsgolfer

on Dec 19, 2005

I agree with Mr G... MFreeman is a level headed. But, if I am to choose who brings more sociological substance to race table, I'd say Bill Cosby since his vision is more realistic.

Devvo

on Dec 19, 2005

All hail Morgan Freeman our new race relations God!

stevendedalus

on Dec 19, 2005

Yes, we should move away from race and we'd be better for it. But for that to happen fears of the past would have to be put to bed, and race preferences eliminated on every conceivable level.

Yes, hard to let go.

Leauki

on Dec 19, 2005

but I can also see how other people want to highlight their own people's achievements. I have taken Latin/Hispanic/Chicano literature courses, and it did enlighten me on persepectives and thoughts and insights.

Why would anybody want to "highlight their own people's achievements"? What does race have to do with that? Just because some genius shared enough of my genes to have the same skin colour we are no more connected than any other two people.

And what does "their own people" mean? Why are people who happen to have the same skin colour an "own people"?

Racism is about classifying people into groups that are based on nothing but superficial attributes. We are ALL our own people. Whites are no more connected to each other than to blacks or anybody else.

You can take Latin/Hispanic/Chicano literature courses without worrying about race. Literature is about the written word, the culture of a people, not its race.

In fact nothing in history was ever about race except when stupid people believed it was. A Zulu does not have a different culture than a Briton because he's black. A Zulu has a different culture because he is far away from the Briton. It has nothing to do with colour.

A black boy growing up in a British family will always be more British than a white boy growing up in a Zulu family. It's all about culture and society and what one grows up with; rituals, common language, common festivals. None of this has anything to do with colour or race.

There are no African-Americans and European-Americans, there are simply Americans with different interests. Where their ancestors grew up and what they looked like has nothing to do with it.

Unless we insist.

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