Interviewer: Black history month you find…
Morgan Freeman: Ridiculous.
Interviewer: Why?
Morgan Freeman: You’re going to relegate my history to a month?
Interviewer: Oh, come on.
Morgan Freeman: What do you do with yours? Which month is white history month?
Interviewer: (pause) Well, I’m Jewish.
Morgan Freeman: Okay. Which month is jewish history month?
Interviewer: There isn’t one.
Morgan Freeman: Oh, oh. Why not? Do you want one?
Interviewer: No.
Morgan Freeman: Right. I don’t either. I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.
Interviewer: How are we going to get rid of racism?
Morgan Freeman: Stop talking about it.
Interesting! I agree that it is silly to relegate history to a month. Every month is white history month, then we are suddenly going to remember "Oh, African Americans were there too!" once a year, before we promptly forget? I wish history books were all fixed to give a more robust look at what was happening with more than just the white men. But I do NOT agree that racism goes away when we stop talking about it. There are still concrete difference in the realities of people who are not white in this country, and pretending racism does not exist only helps those with privilege. The book "Racism Without Racists" by Bonilla-Silva does a great job talking about the limits of that perspective.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I thought it was interesting that he said not talking about racism would get rid of it, but I disagree with that entirely! I hear a lot of white people saying that, but I've never heard that view from someone who is African American. Not talking about it, is the same as acting like it isn't happening, and it is. Pushing it to the side and pretending it does not exist is not a solution. I haven't heard of that book, but I will definitely check it out!
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