Your Move, Morgan!: Black Tea Party Organizer Invites Freeman to TN Event
by HollywoodlandIs Morgan Freeman afraid to challenge his bigoted preconceptions or will he accept a gracious invitation from a fan, national tea party organizer Ali A. Akkbar?
Via Tea Party Brew:
Dear Mr. Freeman,
My name is Ali Akbar. I’m a 26 year-old African-American small business owner and a tea party activist. I’m not writing to rake you over the coals in the way that many conservatives have done in the last 48 hours. Heck, I wrote a passionate open-letter refuting many of your claims already, but this is not that. This is an honest and standing invitation. I do believe that you are wrong in what you said about the tea party, but I would rather prove it to you than castigate you for your comments.
I also understand that your reflexive comments came from experience. You grew up in a different America than the one that I was blessed to be born into. We both grew up in the south, but I never saw ‘White Only’ signs. I’ve been called a name or two in my three decades, but racism has always been the exception in my life, not the rule, as it probably was in your youth. I understand your suspicion of conservative political movements. It is rooted in pain and fear and memory, and though I never saw the horrors of segregation that you did, we share that cultural heritage.
I’ve been a fan of yours all my life. From “Driving Miss Daisy” to “Lean on Me” to “The Shawshank Redemption,” I idolized you as a boy. Growing up without a father, you were one of the strong black men in my life who gave me a model to follow. Each of the characters you played had dignity and confidence. I tried to emulate the strength you projected. While many of my friends headed down the all-too-familiar path of drugs, unwed pregnancies and crime, I’ve striven to live a life with dignity, be an example for my brothers and make my mother proud.
My favorite of your movies was “The Power of One.” I must’ve watched it a hundred times, crying every time when your character Geel Piet was killed by the racist South African. Geel Piet was brave and heroic, even in the face of death, because he knew that the hate that killed him was a trifle in comparison to the love that PK’s anti-apartheid movement was spreading. It is with that spirit that I’m writing to you this morning.
I’ve attended dozens of tea party events. I’ve helped organize them, and I’ve even spoken at a few. The tea party is not what is often depicted in the news. It is people of all colors who are terribly concerned about the direction that America is heading. We don’t trust big government to make decisions for us. And we fear that the present administration’s spending is going to lead our country down a path to insolvency, much like what Greece is currently facing.
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208 Comments
What a good idea! I can't wait to see him turn it down.
Great letter. Perhaps we should all be gently challenging (inviting) the nay-sayers to tea party events more often. Obviously the people who demean them have never been to one. I'm not saying it will change minds, but it may soften the rhetoric a bit.
Uh-oh, Morgan. One of the boys has gone off the range…better let everyone know he's a brainwashed (free-thinking) lost sheep being led around by a bunch of toothless Caucasian racists (Half the US?).
"I understand your suspicion of conservative political movements. It is rooted in pain and fear and memory, and though I never saw the horrors of segregation that you did, we share that cultural heritage."
This gets me… because… it was the Democrat movement all along!! !!! And Democrats today, are still this! Only they've donned a different mask. It is their charge of the power of a few, over the many. They claim those old Democrats are like Conservatives today… BS!!! The old Democrats never claimed States Rights till they lost against the sudden burst of the Tea Party… no no I mean the Republican Party, way back… when they knew they couldn't force slavery compromises on the Republicans who replaced the wussy Whig Party… then they screamed Uncle! States rights!!! Or we'll leave the Wisconsin… I mean.. the Union!!! Liars! Demonic!! Democrats!!!
Correct!
Nice letter, but I don't think it makes sense to confuse a character with an actor. Any good actor (and Freeman is a hell of a lot better than good) can convincingly play a person completely unlike themselves.
The best thing all of us can do is to paste a copy of this invitation on any website you visit. Do not let the MSM get away with making this a non-event.
Too bad he left out the birthers, the "obama is a mau mau anti-colonialist guerilla", a muslim, the "affirmative action President"(like that's not a racist remark?), etc etc, and hey while we're at it let's include the overwhelming homophobia of Tea party groups. Sorry Akbar, Freeman's 100% spot on. The TP, while caring about fiscal matters(a rouse to destroy unions, the chance of universal heathcare, and social security while privatizing the state) might be true the attacks on Obama have an underlying strain of racist hatred and always have.
He means social conservative groups which southern democrats were. Ok? there aren't many social conservative groups amongst liberals or the new left are there? No. During JFK the Democratic party moved in a new liberal direction as it made the civil rights amendement a major issue. The attacks on JFK were similar to the attacks on Obama from conservative groups, mainly the John Birch Society which is the predecessor to Tea Party groups.
Awesome. That is all.
@anarchoSoc… what a dufus. I am STILL looking for the real racism in the tea party. Get over it! Claiming the Tea party is racist is the same as saying all environmentalists only want to live in the stone ages or that every democrat wants to kill unborn babies.
I think the letter this guy wrote was very fair and decent. The ones who claim the tea party is racist are the ones who will never go to one to really find out.
The Race Card: Never leave home without it.
According to the Left, George W. Bush was the reincarnation of Hitler, a religious-extremist theocrat, and an idiot who only obtained office by riding his daddy's coattails and stealing an election.
Now imagine if he'd been a black guy. Are those comments suddenly racist?
And the Uncle Tom slurs in 3……2……1…….
You should have stopped at, 'Too bad he left out the birthers,' because, right there, we get it that you're a imbecile of the first order. The rest of your post is mindless, democrat blather (but I repeat myself), and takes up valuable bandwidth. Much like your very existence, which takes up valuable living space and wastes skin.
He may very well surprise you and accept the invite. I hope he will.
Will Mr. Freeman accept the invitation and show up?
I'm starting my own 'flying pig watch'.
I haven't seen any yet
What a wonderful letter! G-d bless you, Mr. Akbar!!
This is so cool. I really hope this piques Freeman's interest.
….And the predecessors to AnarchoSoc are Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot…..Ugly Company, Fool….
What a brave American. We need more people like him.
Mr. Akbar, that letter was just, well, beautiful. It's exactly the kind of response I expected from someone on the Right, from someone who is a Tea Partier. Respectful, but firm in your beliefs. It would be a real disappointment if Freeman did not take you up on your offer.
BTW, your mentioned the character Geel Piet and you made me tear up. That movie was so powerful and beautiful and heart-wrenching. THAT is what real racism looks like, not just disagreeing with a black person. THAT is what the real horror of hatred looks like.
And it was good that you reminded him of that movie – perhaps it will make him think twice about what he said in accusing the Tea Party of being racist.
And I really hope he takes you up on your offer, even if he never does turn to the Right side.
I'm sure Harry Reid thinks this article is very well articulated. Reevaluate your misconceptions about which party is truly the party of racism.
AnarchoSoc, maybe you should go attend a few Tea Party events yourself? Then you can either confirm your opinion or find out how out of touch you truly are. How much of your opinion is your own projection vice reality.
You rail against what you think the Tea Party is, vice what it actually is.
Great letter. I really hope Morgan Freeman takes him up on it. I'm a huge fan of his work and to know he's an open-minded person would be a bonus.
I think you are correct. It's easy for us to get frustrated and angry with these people. But I have noticed, after living a while, that reacting angrily to these people just feeds their anger and hatred. Reacting calmly and respectfully, but still firm in your beliefs, may send some of them apoplectic, but many of them will find themselves calming down and actually listening.
I equate it with dealing with a toddler temper tantrum – you can't reason with them and losing your temper just escalates the situation. Being calm always does the trick.
I'm sorry, but social conservative back then… was EVERYONE. The Democrat Party still moved to… power amongst the few… Democrats are power hungry. Forcing slavery via plantations or slavery via social justice… it doesn't matter, its still tyranny.
DARK SHADOWS 2012: Not just a movie…… The state of race relations in this country is dark, indeed — and I blame ignorant fools like Freeman.
A black guy who plays along with everybody else when ignoring the obvious racism invites another black guy to an event in hopes that the other black guy will be just as pathetic when it comes to ignoring racism. Does Morgan Freeman look like a guy with that low of self-esteem that he'd conveniently ignore and pretend racism doesn't exist just so he can "fit in"?
It's the whole "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" argument, and it does have merit. Though I'd add it doesn't work with all of them. Some people you can tell right off that they won't change their mind.
Then you can start hurling the vinegar at them simply because it's fun.
Im glad he died in the Bucket List!
"My name is Ali Akbar. I’m a 26 year-old African-American small business owner…"
He's rich! And he's acting white! Get him!!!
Well, he did bang his step-daughter, and marry his step-granddaughter, so you tell me what this says about his self-esteem; and given his comments lately, I'd say he has his head up his @ss, as well. Much like you.
I posted my objection to this portion of his otherwise beautiful letter on the website that is linked to above.
Some people on the Right, especially if they (like me) came over from the Left, have not been fully informed about the history of the Left and Right in this country.
We have to stop letting the Left control the narrative and we must correct historical errors whenever we see or hear them.
To paraphrase Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire…
Show me the racism.
BINGO! Just more ridiculous lefty talking points with no evidence to back up the claim.
Pathetic. Really pathetic. That's all you have. Where's your evidence of the racism of the Tea Party, other than the fact that the President is black?
I won't hold my breath.
Um, what "obvious racism" is that? And if Mr. Akkbar is acknowledging past instances of racism by Southerners (many of whom were conservatives), how is he "ignoring" it, assuming it exists? Seriously, I want to know how you square this circle.
I always try to remember that I converted to the Right because of the honey – Larry Elder, especially.
But yes, it is great fun to hurl the vinegar once you know you're dealing with a one-note ignorant troll like "teatards".
I appreciate Mr. Akbar reaching out to Morgan Freeman, but he should keep his facts straight. Segregation and all the evils of racism have been perpetuated over the years by the Democrat Party more than any other group. And it continues to this day. Slavery, The KKK, Jim Crow laws, abortion for minorities, the destruction of the black family – all instituted and supported by the Democrats. It took a majority of Republicans to pass anti discrimination laws in the 60's, and that movement was begun by President Eisenhower. The leftist media has done a good job of hiding liberal racism over the years, but make no mistake, it is there. The left still screams "racism" every chance they get, even when it doesn't exist.
I would say 5 year olds are better equipped. I'm thinking more like 2 year olds.
If Morgan Freeman will not take up this offer he is a racist since he is not open minded to the truth. He will still feed on the slop from BHO.
Reminds me of the Bill Whittle video.
I just watched my dvr recorded "Biggest Loser" while eating 2500 calories of of hamburger helper. I never eat so much as when I'm watching "Biggest Loser". It's weird how when the message is in front of my face is when I rebel against it the most.
Amen brother. The truth has to be known but not just by us. Every minority in the world has to be told the truth. And talk about uncle Toms! Those blacks that were there and KNOW it was the Dems making their lives hell and being silent are the worst sort of step-n-fetch-its.
"Easy Reader" will take this offer about the time Weinstein takes up Dana Loesch's offer.
The time is now Half Past Never.
Still waiting for Mr. Avatar to debate Andrew Breitbart about Global Warming.
Note to readers of this blog under the age of 35 or so: Morgan Freeman a long time ago in a galaxy far far away was on the PBS KIds Show "The Electric Company". "Easy Reader" was one of the characters he played on the show. Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno were also on the show. Check out the DVD from the library when you have a chance.
Agreed! I won't hold my breath, though.
Having attended a large Tea Party event in Beverly Hills, where half the speakers were black (and there were ten speakers) who were cheered on like rock stars and standing next to a black family, among others, I knew that the MSM was painting a picture to discredit the Tea Party. Why would they do that? Because this party isn't about Democrats, Republicans and BIG government, it's about individual liberty and economic freedom–two things that scare the you-know-what out of STATISTS.
Why are these people statist? For the celebs, it has a lot to do with rubbing elbows with power. Well, that may be true of people in general. But if the government doesn't hold more power than the citizen, the "prestige" is a bit…less.
It reminds me of a person who was running a school. He was a profligate head, with no clue what he was doing, BUT, any parent could come in and chat away or go out for lunch with him. They loved the accessibility. The problem was that he was doing a lousy job and by the end of the year there were big problems in finances and test scores. When the contract wasn't renewed, the people who loved rubbing shoulders with the head of school were furious because they cared more about the prestige of hanging with the big honcho than the school–and their own child's well-being!! A bit like what we are facing today–Obama is all over the place campaigning, but almost everything he's done has been an unmitigated disaster.
I absolutely love Morgan Freeman as an ACTOR. I also love my plumber for his exceptional talents. But I do not look to either to decide how I am going to vote.
Ali, fantastic letter. I notice so many media and celebrities making claims about the tea party and what they stand for or believe in without having any idea of what is true. They state lies and hope people will believe them. Some of the earliest speakers I listened to are conservative black leaders, like David King of Milwaukee, Llyod Marcus (saw him in DC), Herman Cain, and more. I have attended many tea parties, helped host them too and have never heard one racist word. In fact more than one group is involved in educate people in black political history and reach out to everyone. Its about time the liberals stop attacking the tea partiers and stop THEIR liberal's racism. I had the privledge of hearing Herman Cain speak in person and he puts obama to shame. He is a true geniune leader and a man to represent all races.
I love to eat Big Mac's, fries and a huge chocolate shake while watching World Vision pleas for donations. Go figure. And I like watching handicapped faces as I park in their spaces. (Just kidding, folks).
I live in a majority Black neighborhood & hear all of the time in the stores & etc. that the Tea Party is the modern face of the ku Klux Klam. It's a real shame, but it's true.
True that's what they think, not true that's what the Tea Party is all about, just to be clear.
Snide, Clyde.
We've heard this song from you before, AS.
Any chance you have another one… something based on a little research and reality?
But if all you want to do is lay claims of so-called hate, racism, homophobia, and the rest of your litany go right ahead. It says more about you and side of the aisle than it does about anyone else.
I think there are blacks that know it WAS the Democrats, but then buy into the narrative provided by the Left that all the bigots left the Democrats and went to the Republicans.
The ball is squarely in Mr Freeman's court. Now we will see if he is a thinking man or just a Kool-Aid guzzling racist.
Thank you Ali Akbar! Thank you for being a concerned citizen of our great nation and being involved in improving it.
More proof that liberalism is a mental disorder.
I'm sure you're right there. The next step then is to make them see that that just ain't true.
Show them this:
http://www.suwanneegop.com/NBRA%20Civil%20Rights%...
What "obvious racism"? You far-left losers throw out the racism card at the drop of a hat. Provide some proof (which I know you cannot) or just STFU and keep your sorry ass at PuffHo or DailyKrap or where every you losers congregate.
You're right. If Obama was white, The Tea Party would support him 100%.
Woo nellie.
MF can't let facts get in the way of his idiocy. If he goes (fat chance) he'll just see what he wants to see and remain the useful idiot he is.
that is exactly what I thought! people idolize actors for the person they portray- my best ex. is dicaprio and titanic- he was such a happy go lucky guy in the movie and so likable that a lot of gals fell in lust with the character not leonardo- so sad. so I guess, I do appreciate that this gentleman invited freeman, as we should all invite naysayers (my father in law was very surprised at what he was told and what he witnessed when my hubby finally got him to attend a tparty event) but also believe he shouldn't forget that acting isn't real life positions.
"This gets me… because… it was the Democrat movement all along!! !!! And Democrats today, are still this!"
Damn right! That part of the letter to Mr. Freeman rubbed me the wrong way as well. When are black people going to learn the true history of the party most of them blindly follow? Knowledge will free them from the new plantation.
If there's any sliver of truth to what you kids believe, Morgan Freeman would be chased through the swamp and then lynched the moment he showed his face at a Tea Party protest.
Luckily, there is never a sliver of truth in anything you kids believe.
well you have officially been invited to a tea party event by sty, will you attend the entire event?
Sorry to say I think you're right, even though more likely he'll simply ignore it.
I've never supported a Democrat President. EVER. But the fact that I'm not supporting one now makes me a racist. In truth, people who demand that I forget about our ideological differences and support the current Democrat President simply because he's Black is what's truly racist. Morgan Freeman therefore perpetuates the very form of racism he claims to detest – judging someone by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character.
I agree, I have argued with a lot of people and the audience who hasn't already made up their mind quite often will pay more attention and is more likely to believe the person who keeps their cool and doesn't resort to screaming and name calling.
I have a simple question for you AnarchoSoc – is there any circumstance where president
GoebbelsObama can be questioned on his decisions and positions where the opposition WON'T be called racist? Any? There has to be one. Otherwise we may as well "suspend" the presidential election (as a SC democratic congresswoman suggested about house elections the other day) in 2012 and just hand the man the second term. It's your logic – not mine.And of course the guy who wrote the book is white… Opps, by mentioning that does that make me racists? And should I care?
When I started exploring my politics, I wonder if I would have stayed so open minded and come over to theh Right if I listened to Mark Levin first. Now, that said, I admire that guy. He's brilliant and if he's just giving a basic monologue he's pretty even-keeled. But boy, when a lefty calls up, he really eats them up.
I happened to listen to Larry Elder first and he was definitely the honey that brought this bee over from the dark side.
And, my goodness, he's black, too! How racist of me!
Agreed.
In other words it's wrong to blame an entire group of people for the actions?
You are so racist, Scott. I'm reporting you to Attaaaaack Waaaaatch!
;-D
No one should care who wrote the book. I didn't read it myself, but I love that movie.
"(a rouse to destroy unions, the chance of universal heathcare, and social security while privatizing the state) "
We can only hope. Why? Unions are nothing more than a group of violent lazy thugs who extort business for more pay for less work, social security is nothing more than an involuntary chain letter with fewer and fewer wage earners contributing and describing any kind of service that needs to be paid for as "universal" is just a testament to the complete economic illiteracy of the person making it. Privatizing a state is a good idea, since it is made up of private citizens. Can you wrap your head around that concept you cheap thug?
But truthers and Holocaust deniers are just freaking AWESOME in your mind right?
"Ali Akbar"
yes that's why i posted… Maxine Waters and others go around to Black Churches and tell them how racist Republicans are… She's the plantation's whipping slaver. I guess these Churches pay full taxes right?
Because we got the bombs, OKAY!!!
Don't blame me – I voted for the American on the ballot.
Oh, and one more thing: You're right about "hatred." We hate his white half every bit as much as we hate his black half.
He's what? 26, 28 years old? I don't think he knows more than the tripe he's been taught in school.. We should probablyjust gently point out the error and cut him a bit of a break since he's sincerely trying to be as direct, factual and courteous as possible. ____Ali qualifies as a good American in my book, even if we have to point out a factual boo-boo.
You're very stupid. Why?
P.S. Did you mean "ruse?"
You're very stupid. Why?
Wish I could understand why-a black man who walks the way the liberal powers say he should, talk the way the liberal powers say he should, politically align the way the liberal powers say he should, deny the factual reality of his very life the way the liberal powers say he should, is considered by those same powers, to be a "true and valid" black man. If, however, this same black man thinks for himself, speaks for himself, and desires to do for himself instead of taking plantation handouts, he is labeled "not a real black man" and dismissed. If the primarily white democratic party leaders, primarily white media leaders, and primarily white Hollywood celebraties have to be the boss of what you say, do and think-why is that not racism in the extreme? They are saying in everything they do that the black man cannot think for himself, cannot reason for himself, and certainly cannot succeed without their help
And what is the most disgusting of all is the sycophant black person, Al Sharpton, Morgan Freeman, Charlie Rangel, who will willingly sell the soul of their fellow black human in order to improve their own lives. They are no different than the black foreman on the slave plantation was who would turn in runaway slaves in order to improve his own life. And black people in the tea party movement, in the conservative blogs and web driven media that are advocates of self determination, self reliance, and an inherent belief in the strength of the black human, yet they are considered the traitors to their race. They know the black man is more than a victim-he is in fact equal and not less
I do not understand this at all.
During that time period they were known as the "Conservative Democrats or Dixecrats". Some of them realigned to the Republican party. However, none of the Conservative Republicans went to the Democrats.
Will this mean that Freeman has to admit that his real beef with the tea party is that it is anti- Marxist?
Dolphin Tale, the movie that starts Freeman and which opened this past weekend, underperformed substantially in the box office on Sunday. It was strong on Saturday, which was the day that Freeman's statement began to circulate widely.
Personally, I was going to take my son to see it Sunday. After Freeman's statement, I opted to stay home. My son got to game instead, so he was probably happier.
No wonder the elites don't care for the free market system.
wastes space skin? really?
how about your cowife's endless fat rolls?
are you an enviroMENTAList now?
Ashley Dudd is in it, which is MY reason I wasn't going to see it.
Yeah, show your face a Tea Party rally. Let them show you how safe you will be with these non-violent types.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/13/usa.r...
it's actually quite the opposite. and there are proof.
you're welcome !
Condi Rice still tells why she is a republican…democrats didn't let blacks vote in Alabama when her parents were young. I miss her…wish that she had been our first black AND first woman president. I can't understand why actors like Morgan Freeman fall for the "dumb" democrats when he could appreciate someone like Condi. She was the president of Stanford after all.
Rumor has it that teahadists tell their kids that Santa is actually black, so when they grow up and find out he's not real, they won't get too disappointed.
home schooling at it's finest.
Actually liberalism IS a mental disorder and here is your proof – http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pag...
You're welcome dimwit. Maybe you will qualify for free sessions with a psychiatrist under Obamacare.
Ali Akbar?
It's a trap!
world nut daily is your source for true unbiased journalism ?
you're hopeless man.
"the attacks on Obama have an underlying strain of racist hatred and always have"
Your comments have an underlying strain of having your thumb up your ass and always have.
"Cognitive ignorant."
Read the article or have your mom read it to you moron.Sent from my iPhone
Dannycon90, wasssup?!
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