James Earl Jones Talks His Racist Grandmother on BBC

Veteran actor, James Earl Jones, says he can understand racists because of the sentiments his grandmother expressed when he was growing up.

Although, Jones’ grandmother was Cherokee, Choctaw Indian and African American, he says she was the most bigoted person he knew.

Jones said his grandmother was trying to prepare them for the world they’d encounter, but it was still bigotry.

“She trained us that way. She would consider it defensive racism, but it’s still racism, it’s still the same poison.”

You can read when and how he learned to think for himself and watch a clip of the interview at Black Voices.

Did you grow up in a house where your parents or grandparents expressed bigoted attitudes, trying to prepare you for the world?