Black people: What do you think about Bill O'Reilly's comments?

Question

Bill O'Reilly took Al Sharpton to a restaurant named Sylvia's and it is black owned. This is what he said about it:

I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship," he told listeners. "It was the same, and that's really what this society's all about now here in the U.S.A. There's no difference."

"there wasn't any kind of craziness at all". "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M.F.-er, I want more iced tea.' "

"It was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense that people were sitting there and they were ordering and just having fun,"

Answer 1

I think he was retracting past racial generalizations, and discriminations that he had, and might still have. I think he was trying to let his listeners who still have these hangups that they aren't the way you were taught, or as we assume. That , those are only small amount of people who act out, like with any racial group.

On the other hand, I listened to the transcript, and he cited rappers a guide to how black people act... That's wrong, when you speak well, and dress nice you are "So articulate, or clean" for a black person...wth... compared to whom! You can't judge a whole race of people, by just a few. So, by believing that all black people act like rappers, and the fools you see on the six o' clock news makes you, yourself racist, or least a generalizer for lumping all black people into one. We are a race of individuals, just like all races... we have you our good, bad, ugly, and even indifferent....again just like every other race in the world...

Answer 2

I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and I listened to the entire radio show that he had posted on his website. I don't agree with him that CNN took his statements out of context. I think that when someone called attention to his statements he tried to "backpeddle." I think that he was truly surprised that Sylvia's patrons didn't conform to the steretypes that he talks about. O'reilly has focused too much on the Rappers and Hip Hop. He doesn't realize that most of the Black Culture is offended by some of the same things.

But his statements didn't make me mad. I was just saddened that someone in his position who has the degree of influence that he does is so ignorant about an entire race. I'm glad he got the opportunity to visit Sylvia's. I wonder if he realized that a lot of people in the "Nation of Islam" eat at Sylvia's. If he did, he might realize that they are nothing like he portrays them either.

Sometimes the guy actually makes sense. I'm glad that he knows better now. What's really sad is that there are a million Bill O'reillys out there. They make all these statements about the black race, and they don't even know anyone in the black race.

Answer 3

I thought they were taken out of context, except for the part when he said no one was screaming "mf I want more iced tea."

To me, it's culture shock to him when he went to Sylvia's, because I guess from his point of view, he would have thought people in the restaurant would have been rude, loud, and obnoxious, because of the restaurant's location. It's in the heart of Harlem on 126st, and the neighborhood mostly consist of blacks. It just shows how closed minded people can be if they never experienced something that was outside of there environment.

Answer 4

I think Bill is the kind of person that watches MTV and BET and believes that he knows all he needs to know about Black people and our culture. The truth is that the vast majority of black people are honest, hard working people with jobs, mortgages, 2.3 kids and a dog just like everyone else. However, a simple mind will watch rap videos and can't help but form generalized ideas based on superficial traits.

This isn't neccessarily racist, but it does make him a tremendous dumb @$$ at best.

Answer 5

I don't think the comments are racist. But I don’t understand what he meant by those comments. It seems like he was expecting the black people there to act foolish. He sounded surprised that a crowd of black people were acting so civil.
.

I just can’t believe that he doesn’t have the common sense to know that all black people don’t act a certain way.

Answer 6

First, you have to realize what he was doing when he made the comments, not just take his words.

He was doing an interview with a black journalist and the journalist is the one that brought up the differences between whites and blacks. O'Reilly (who I really don't like btw) was explaining how he feels there is no real difference between the races when it comes to decent people with decent, hard working values.

Then along comes a group who makes its money by creating controversy, and looky there, it works once again.

Answer 7

I am a black woman, who understands that racism is alive and well in 2007. After hearing the soundbites yesterday I decided to tune into his show and listen to what he had to say about them. He said his comments were taken out of context, and my thought was, isn't that what they always say. I couldn't wait to get up this morning to find out what this racist has to say. And well, I listened, and I have to say his comments in context were not offensive. They were right on point.

Answer 8

I think nothing of the FOOL. He is ignorant and a disgrace to his race. Perhaps he should have gone into a KKK meeting that seems more his speed. This idiot just assumes that the patrons in the black owned restaurant will act a fool.

Will someone please take this idiot off the air just like they did Don Imus. This time hip hop won't be to blame. This fool put a foot in his own idiot mouth with HIS own dull thinking ideology.

EDIT
Oh yes and the idiot above me should be silenced as well.

Answer 9

I think he meant well by it, but it still came out burned and overcooked.


He should've left it at "It was a nice restaurant". He didn't need to throw out typical stereotypes like that.

Answer 10

Why pay attention to him? This kind of comment doesn't get better with repeating; it doesn't deserve to be dignified in that manner.

The real question is, did he pick up the tab?