Morgan Freeman has voiced his distaste for Black History Month again, this time saying he “detests” the celebration of African American achievements and contributions to the U.S.
In a new interview with Variety, the Oscar winner, 87, insisted the annual observance is “not right.”
“I detest it. The mere idea of it,” Freeman said in the interview published June 15. “You are going to give me the shortest month in a year? And you are going to celebrate ‘my’ history?! This whole idea makes my teeth itch. It’s not right.”
Related Story: Morgan Freeman Says He’s Insulted by the Terms ‘African American’ and ‘Black History Month’
Freeman, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, added: “My history is American history. It’s the one thing in this world I am interested in, beyond making money, having a good time and getting enough sleep.”
The outspoken actor made headlines in 2023 for telling Britain’s Sunday Times he has problems with the term “African American” as well as celebrating Black History Month each February.
“Black History Month is an insult,” he said. “Also ‘African American’ is an insult… 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.’”
Historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans created the celebration in the 1920s as “Negro History Week.” In the 1970s it was expanded to a month.
The U.S. now has heritage month observances for Hispanic Americans, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and the LGBTQ community throughout the month of June during Pride Month.
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