In a new interview, the 'Bruce Almighty' actor explains why he is not fond of Black History Month and doesn't 'subscribe' to the term 'African-American.'
- Apr 16, 2023
AceShowbiz - Morgan Freeman insists Black History Month is an "insult." The 85-year-old actor claims that the annual event - which is observed every February and observes the cultural achievement of black people - has a negative connotation to him because it "relegates" the entire of his heritage to a single set of four weeks.
"Two things I can say publicly that I do not like, Black History Month is an insult. You're going to relegate my history to a month?" he told The Sunday Times.
The "Bruce Almighty" star went on to claim that the term African-American - which has been used to describe black Americans since the 1700s - is also an "insult" as he questioned its true definition.
He added, "Also 'African-American' is an insult. I don't subscribe to that title. 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? Most black people in this part of the world are mongrels. And you say Africa as if it's a country when it's a continent, like Europe."
Meanwhile, the Academy Award-winning actor went on to reflect that during his decades-long career, the biggest "change" has been the inclusivity factor, as he noted that performers of all races and sexualities are now accepted in the industry.
He added, "The change is that all people are involved now. Everyone. LGBTQ, Asians, black, white, interracial marriages, interracial relationships. All represented. You see them all on screen now and that is a huge jump."
