Morgan Freeman Criticizes Black History Month as an “Insult” and a Form of Segregation in Rare Interview

Renowned actor Morgan Freeman has expressed his disapproval of Black History Month, calling it an “insult” and suggested that it relegates the history of black people to just one month out of the year. The famed Hollywood actor made the remarks in a recent interview with the Sunday Times.

Freeman, who is 85 years old, challenged the idea of having a designated month to acknowledge black history. He further questioned the use of the term “African-American,” a term commonly used to refer to black people in the United States.

“Two things I can say publicly that I do not like,” Freeman said. “Black History Month is an insult. You’re going to relegate my history to a month?”

“Also, ‘African American’ is an insult,” he added. “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.”

This is not the first time Freeman has expressed his views on the topic. In a 2005 interview with CBS’ Mike Wallace, he stated, “I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.” Freeman has long argued that black history is an integral part of the broader narrative of American history and should not be confined to a single month.

Freeman, known for his iconic roles in films like The Shawshank Redemption, has been a prominent voice in discussions about race. Freeman also portrayed Nelson Mandela in Clint Eastwood’s 2009 film Invictus.

He recently appeared in Zach Braff’s film A Good Person alongside actress Florence Pugh. The film is set to be available on Sky Cinema and NOW from April 28.

Freeman’s comments on Black History Month highlight an ongoing debate about the significance and limitations of dedicating a specific month to celebrating the history and contributions of black people. While some view it as a necessary recognition of an often overlooked part of history, others, like Freeman, argue that Black history should be integrated into the broader narrative of American history throughout the year.