Religious Icons
It's pretty difficult to be black and also considered a religious icon because let's face it, it's pretty dominant Caucasian-esque deity world in film. Never mind the portrayal of JC as being as translucent as Willem Dafoe or the others that have came after him but it's safe to say we won't ever see an A-list actor taking on the role of any controversial Messiah-based film in the near future. However, Morgan joined a select few artists to play God, joining George Burns, Alannis Morrissette and that
cut-out thing from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Plus, only he and George Burns have been called on to repeat their performance as the Almighty One (as far as I know). Safe to say, few people look better in a white suit than Mr. Freeman. And before Denzel Washington took his turn as the Islamic leader Malcolm X, Morgan Freeman was all like 'ah, been there, done that". 1981
Death of a Prophet Malcolm X 2003
Bruce Almighty God 2007
Evan Almighty God
Military
Again, not content to be anything low on the military command tree like a private or corporal, Freeman has always been seen in an authoritative position. Even in the Civil War themed Glory, Mr. Freeman ranked as high as Sgt. Major. Ignore that technically he was outranked by Mathew Broderick for in an era that most black people were ranked behind pack horses and rail carts (
see Blazing Saddles) it was good to see Mr. Freeman still pushing to be shown as having a legitimate military presence, despite his skin colour. I'd have to go that for his best military role, his turn as the lone Muslim in Costner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves stands out. He was never considered less important than any other and by the end of the movie, he was seen as the near equal as any other member of the merry men. 1989
Glory Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins 1991
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Azeem 1995
Outbreak General Billy Ford 2003
Dreamcatcher Col. Abraham Curtis 2006
The Contract Major Frank Carden