http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=1131418n
I know this clip is over 5 years old but it’s one of the first things that come to my mind when I think about Black History Month. I think Morgan Freeman makes a powerful point that is relatable to what we discussed in class. We learned the origins of discrimination and racism are closely connected with the concept of being “normal” or “abnormal.” Although I of course wouldn’t say Black history Month is a racist institution, I feel it does in some way discriminate by categorizing humanity by physical appearance and assigning ONE month of the year dedicated to their history (perhaps insinuating the other 11 are white history months?). This is just one way in which the concept of “us” and “them” is reinforced. This clip really stood out in my mind because it shows how even today the differences between humans define them, rather than their commonalities.
Allison Brady
Allie,
ReplyDeleteI think you are absolutely correct in linking the institution of racism with larger social phenomenon of defining normalcy versus deviance.
I watched the clip and Freeman certainly makes some statements that are controversial and highly debatable. Is Freeman really saying that Black History Month is racism, or is he calling attention to the fact that black history, even today, is not fully seen as being a fundamental part of American history. Freeman makes the statement that "black history is American history." He seems to be calling attention to the fact that African Americans are not regarded as fully American/human as white Americans. In the language of the freak show, to be physically/culturally different is to be seen as "other," whereas the opposite is the normative "American self," as Garland-Thomson says.
However, Freeman goes on to say that in order to end racism we should stop talk about it. Do we agree with this point? It seems to me that the notion of race has been and remains a fundamental ordering principal of our society that cannot simply be ignored. It will not go away by us pretending that it does not exit. Perhaps, in order to address racism, we need to do the exact opposite of what Freeman suggests--start talking about it.