‘How can I do better as a white man?’: Matthew McConaughey appears on Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man to discuss social crisis
Matthew McConaughey is at Hollywood’s frontlines of change.
The 50-year-old A-lister appeared with broadcaster Emmanuel Acho on his talk show Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man amid a time of social unrest following the police killing of George Floyd, and the demonstrations against racism and police brutality that have resulted.
The Uvalde, Texas native said his objective was ‘to learn, to share and listen – to discuss some common grounds between us, but also expose differences between us.’
The latest: Matthew McConaughey, 50, appeared with broadcaster Emmanuel Acho on his talk show Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man amid a time of social unrest following the police killing of George Floyd
He continued: ‘I’m here to have a conversation hopefully promote more conversation and with the end goal being that we take the time we are now in to constructively turn the page in history through some righteous and justifiable change.’
Acho told McConaughey the the most accurate and least offensive term to call a black person is black.
‘There’s some black people that don’t identify as being African because that heritage got stripped from them,’ he said.
The Oscar-winner complimented Acho of his previous debut edition of the show, which he said ‘gave [him] new context’ and ‘insight’ and made him think of the why in regards to many of the social issues plaguing the United States.
Looking to learn: The Oscar-winner said his objective was ‘to learn, to share and listen – to discuss some common grounds between us, but also expose differences between us’
Insight: Acho told the Lincoln Lawyer actor that ‘you have to acknowledge there’s a problem so that you can take more ownership for the problem
He said, ‘I’m also telling you our values and I feel them deteriorating across-the-board.
McConaughey, who won an Oscar for Best Actor in 2014 for Dallas Buyers Club; asked Acho, ‘How does someone like me; how can I do better as a human? how can I do better as a man? how can I do better as a white man?’
Acho told the Lincoln Lawyer actor that ‘you have to acknowledge there’s a problem so that you can take more ownership for the problem.
‘You have to acknowledge implicit bias; you have to acknowledge that you’ll see a black man and for whatever reason, you would view them as more of a threat than the white man – probably because society told them to.’
The Dazed and Confused actor, who has three children with wife Camila Alves – Levi, Livingston and Vida – said that ‘Equality – the definition of equality, what equality is, and what equality is not – it’s been an American issue forever and we continue to work and grow and evolve and debate what the definition of equality should be.’
Key takeaway: Acho told the Lincoln Lawyer actor that ‘you have to acknowledge there’s a problem so that you can take more ownership for the problem’
Looking to learn: McConaughey, who won an Oscar for Best Actor in 2014 for Dallas Buyers Club; asked Acho, ‘How does someone like me; how can I do better as a human? how can I do better as a man? how can I do better as a white man?’
Acho said he didn’t think there was equality in America in the wake of slavery, pointing to issues such as voter suppression, systemic injustice and inferior school systems.
The episode drew praise from a number of viewers, including Kansas City Chiefs great Jamaal Charles, who called it ‘so powerful’ in a tweet.
The famed running back added: ‘I was like a little kids listening with open heart Red heart. I love it. Keep up the great work.’
Actor Liam Brian said that the chat was ‘another excellent conversation,’ while journalist Chris Franklin said the discussion truly is a must watch.
Lauded: The episode drew praise from a number of viewers, including Kansas City Chiefs great Jamaal Charles, who called it ‘so powerful’ in a tweet