Eliminating Racism

[Sassafras]

(This was first written on Dec 19, 2005 on our Proboards site.)

Morgan Freeman is a popular actor in the United States.  He has discussed racism in the past and I thought his view of racism would be a good topic on the forum.

The article, I read, said:

• Morgan Freeman says the concept of a month dedicated to black history is "ridiculous."
• "You're going to relegate my history to a month?" ..., [he said.]  "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."
• Freeman notes there is no "white history month," and says the only way to get rid of racism is to "stop talking about it."
• The actor says he believes the labels "black" and "white" are an obstacle to beating racism.
• "I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man," Freeman says.

[Also note this portion of the article:
Black History Month has roots in historian Carter G. Woodson's Negro History Week, which he designated in 1926 as the second week in February to mark the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Woodson said he hoped the week could one day be eliminated ? when black history would become fundamental to American history.]

Source Information:  MSNBC, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10482634/


My opinion or elaboration:
All forms of prejudice are obstacles for everyone. It doesn't matter where we are in this world and it doesn't matter what nationality we are either.

A week, month, or year dedicated to the history of a particular nationality is not the answer to eliminating racism.  It would be more ideal to celebrate all the nationalities all the time -- every day, every week, every month, and every year, rather than a few only some of the time. 

We certainly don't need to know more about  White-Euro History, this concept has been drilled down our throats for years.  But we shouldn't not talk about our differences either.  We just need to talk more about our similarities.

"Black history is American history"....  Yes, this is true.  But it is not that simple.  I think it is more than just American history, it is World History, and it is more than just Black History, but the history of all Nationalities.  I know that Freeman was concentrating on "American" because of the times and "Black" because of his culture, but I see an open door for the conversation of World Citizenship.

Your thoughts, please.

Unity in Diversity,

Sassafras

[User Name]

Whats really sad, is that Native Americans don't even have a "rememberance" really.  They have been swept under a rug basically, i guess the truth too ugly for current day "society" After all, they got the worst end of the deal... But i agree, Black people got a raw deal too.

I'm really tired of most of these "holidays" and they are just a cheap attempt at appearing to care about things that everyday people really don't give a second thought to... President's day, anyone? 

[Sassafras]

Mick and I have been going to gun shows this winter and have encountered some pretty racist people.  The type of people that make you realize why we still have shootings in malls, schools, and campuses.  The type of people that make you realize that the next Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are only moments away from terrorizing our country again. 

NOTE: Terrorists don't have to be only foreigners, they can be Americans too.  Just like all the shootings mentioned above.  A person or group of people militantly causing fear, death, and mayhem are terrorist.  It's that simple!

These type of people, I find myself being racist of.  It's not a good feeling.

I heard a guy say at one of the gun shows, "I won't sit in the back of the bus."  I NEVER thought I would EVER hear those words in my life from someone standing right in front of me.  Those words made me ponder, What, on earth, will this guy do so he doesn't have to sit in the back of a bus?  Would he beat? ... kill? ... ask someone to move? ...or just get off the bus?

There is one thing that is for sure... we have a long ways to go.