Morgan Freeman and Racism

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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....

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.

All hail Morgan Freeman our new race relations God!

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.

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.

Ignore race? That is idiotic. Just plain dumb. Thats like ignoring the fact that 2+2=4, it is not possible, and would not solve anything. It would most likely make matters worse. The only way society progresses at all is a slow and painful process of learning from its mistakes, along with a few catalystic personaliies. Why not just create a 1984 society, Big Brother and all? Let us ignore flavor, identity, passion, and purpose altogether. That sounds like a real great idea. People who share ideas like that of Morgan Freeman try to make a philosophical imprint on the world without ever going through the ramifications of the idea. They hope to make others believe that they are "deep thinkers" and are intelligent instead of the shallow personalities that they portray. Do not get me wrong, I have enjoyed some films that included Freeman (others I have not cared for), and I definitely do not have any right to judge him based on his acting, for I am no film critic, but some people were created with a few wonderful talents that make them stand out. Stepping out of their range of talents, however, is not a very intelligent move.

QED

Jay

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

I think it is more a culture thing, than a race thing.  Hispanic is not really a race.  It is a culture tho.

Ignore race? That is idiotic. Just plain dumb.

Why? What's the relevance of race?

What's the relevance of race?

Every race has a differing culture in tow.

What's the relevance of race? Every race has a differing culture in tow.

No, The culture of the french is not that of the germans. Culture transcends race.  It is the real root of the issue.  Blacks born in Australia have no more in common with those born in America than do french and Germans. They share a skin color, not a culture.

Culture transcends race

I understand your reasoning for separating culture from race . But for discussion purposes we can't separate the two. Skin can't change regardless of color. We're dealing with the cultural perspective that lies underneath, which creates the relevance of ones race and might or might not cause racism. To eliminate racial issues, cultures can change behavior, but color can't at all.

No, The culture of the french is not that of the germans. Culture transcends race. It is the real root of the issue. Blacks born in Australia have no more in common with those born in America than do french and Germans. They share a skin color, not a culture.

You must be under the weather Dr. Guy, or I would never have expected an answer like this. What is race? Notice he did not say melanism, but racism. French are not of the same race as Germans, as Amazonian Indians are not the same as Plains Indians. Aborignals are not of the same race as Nigerians. Color does not equal race, and I believe you have those confused. Also notice that the whole topic was not worldwide racism, but 'How to rid AMERICA of racism', so places in Europe and Australia obviously don't apply.

I understand your reasoning for separating culture from race . But for discussion purposes we can't separate the two.

That statement is an oxymoron.

You must be under the weather Dr. Guy, or I would never have expected an answer like this. What is race? Notice he did not say melanism, but racism. French are not of the same race as Germans, as Amazonian Indians are not the same as Plains Indians.

Nah!  I am feeling fine.  But I dont think that the Germans and French are different races, just different cultures.  I will agree that there are differences in what the government calls races, i.e. Amazon Indians versus Apaches.  But the only difference between French and germans are a culture.  Their parents are of the same race.

I tend to agree with you Dr. Guy. I'm not an anthropological expert, but I would consider race to be based upon physical characteristics (i.e. skin color, hair type, facial structure, etc), and ethnicity to be more along the lines of what TARSIER is thinking of. French and Germans have different ethnicity, based upon their cultural and geographic backgrounds, but racially they would be the same in my mind...

I agree that there are drastic differences in cultures around the world, and even within many countries that have had significant immigrant populations. However, I don't think we should amplify racial separation by focusing on it. When we have Black History Month, we separate the achievements of Blacks from the achievements of others. Why? Again, I can understand the argument that achievements of individuals from minority groups have been overlooked in the past, because of the fact that they were a minority. I still believe that the solution to this is to create inclusive recognition, adding recognition of these achievements in with recognition of similar achievements made by any other person of any other race. The solution is not to create special recognition for the minorities. I really believe that it only creates increased division and separation, as opposed to truly showing the equality of achievements of all people.