Morgan Freeman on why he dislikes the term 'African-American'

The veteran actor revealed he doesn't refer to himself as African-American and doesn't support Black History Month

Morgan Freeman reveals he hates the term African American and why he's anti black history month
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Multi-award-winning actor, film director, and entrepreneur Morgan Freeman has revealed that he doesn't like Black History Month or the term "African American" and actually views both as insulting.

Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month.

The annual celebration focuses on the achievements of African Americans and is usually a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.

The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans.

 
 

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.

However, the celebrated veteran actor is letting it be known that he does not like the whole concept of Black History Month.

 

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Morgan made his feelings known saying, "Black History Month is an insult. You're going to relegate my history to a month?"

 
 

Clearly, Morgan Freeman has hit that point in his career and life, where once actors attain a certain level of success in Hollywood, they no longer have to play political games.

They can literary take whatever roles they want and give honest, somewhat controversial interviews.

The Oscar-award-winning actor who rarely gives interviews went on to point out that he also has a strong dislike for the term "African American." 

The 85-year-old feels it is stupid, especially given the fact that Africa is a continent thus one can not belong to a whole continent that has 54 countries with thousands of differences.

"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," a triggered Morgan said.

The film producer was referring to the fact that other mixed-race people are referred to as either Italian-American or Irish-American, however, most black people can’t trace their ancestry all the way back to a specific African country.

A big percentage of Black Americans can only trace their roots back to slavery.

The conversation popped up after the interviewer asked the 'Now You See Me' actor about a response he'd made during an old TV interview way back in 2005 when he said the only way to end racism is to stop talking about race.

In the old interview, Morgan tells the TV host, "I'm going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man."

 

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