O'Reilly: "I Think Black Americans Are Starting To Think More And More For Themselves"

Media Matters For America:

During the September 19 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, discussing his recent trip to have dinner with Rev. Al Sharpton at Sylvia's, a famous restaurant in Harlem, Bill O'Reilly reported that he "had a great time, and all the people up there are tremendously respectful," adding: "I couldn't get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia's restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship." Later, during a discussion with National Public Radio senior correspondent and Fox News contributor Juan Williams about the effect of rap on culture, O'Reilly asserted: "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea.' You know, I mean, everybody was -- it was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun. And there wasn't any kind of craziness at all." O'Reilly also stated: "I think black Americans are starting to think more and more for themselves. They're getting away from the Sharptons and the [Rev. Jesse] Jacksons and the people trying to lead them into a race-based culture. They're just trying to figure it out. 'Look, I can make it. If I work hard and get educated, I can make it."

Read the whole story: Media Matters For America

Comments

[Centaur]

04:45 PM on 09/27/2007

Bill O'.."So black americans are beginning to THINK for themselves!" You're absolutely right!
So how about this..I THINK that you're a complete IDIOT!

[Carolinagreens]

03:11 PM on 09/26/2007

Everyone who hates O'Reilly can watch toe tapper Olbermann. Fox is doing just fine w/out you.

[richw23]

02:28 PM on 09/27/2007

Why would I wath Olbermann? He's almost as big an ass as O'Reilly, and Chris Matthews, and Carlson Tucker, and Glenn Beck, and Geraldo Rivera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

What's funny is they all have their bizarre little ways that reveal a perosonality on the edge.

[Carolinagreens]

03:09 PM on 09/26/2007

I heard Bill do this show last week and his comments have been taken out of context and separated, etc. This is another black eye by MM/CNN/MSNBC - people have had enough of the bs.

[Zennie]

03:45 PM on 09/26/2007

Taken out of context?

HA!

See:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WWlNmQa_P8

[Rand]

09:53 AM on 09/27/2007

Like when he was taken out of context in saying that a sexually abused kidnapped child was probably having a great time?

Sorry, but there are some things which are wrong in ANY context!

[Lilly06]

03:09 PM on 09/26/2007

I can complain about the Bill Os all I want but unfortunately he represents a large proportion of white America. The average American gets almost all of their information about the world they don't know from television. Although this information is biased and sensationalised, the average Joe takes what they see on tv as fact. In light of this, the treatments of blacks as 'them' and statements like 'they actually behaved well and weren't cussing in Sylvia's' are devastating and they fuel further ignorant attitudes.

The problem here is that the negative stereotypical images of black men and women that we see on television and the unwillingness of those in the entertainment industry to change it (that includes the entertainers and executives).

I believe that hip hop artists are in a position where they have sn input into the image projected on television. If we look at rappers like Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Nas, Jay Z, Biggie Smalls etc. their first videos were rather tame. Nelly had country grammar, Snoop had 'whats my name'. Since their first videos, subsequent videos have become more extreme in content. From what I understood, the more you sell albums, the more input you have in your music and image. From what I see, these artists are getting richer but their music and videos tends to get more pornographic and the language gets worse although they have more say.

The fact is that most of these artists are overpaid, oversexed, overdrugged and they don't care about the effect of their music. Did you see Cameron on the Factor a while back ago, Bill O didn't even have to act like a jerk because Cameron and Damon Dash were acting stupid black people and reinforcing stereotypes all by themselves. Its hard to take in the fact that idiots like that represent our men.

I can't stand the ignorance but we as adult black men and women starting to openly get annoyed about the images and messages coming from hip hop.

Nothing is going to change unless there is enough outcry for change.

[brohammie]

01:57 PM on 09/26/2007

I listened to the whole show and Bill didn't say anything offensive - it's been taken out of context. CNN and MSNBC are pathetic and jealous Fox News and O'Reilly beat them in the ratings every day, all day. Sore losers. It's backfiring big time because now people have lost all respect for CNN..nobody ever had any for MessNBC.

[FloaterBall]

12:12 PM on 09/26/2007

In light of Daryl Gates' comments in the 90's (re: the infamous chokehold: 'blacks don't breathe like normal people') I hereby nominate Bill to carry on the fine tradition of Los Angeles Police Chief.

[Average]

10:27 AM on 09/26/2007

Another Huffpo LIE in the headlines. He was actually complementing. Want to see Juan Williams MAD--go to Fox News and watch. He was the MOST upset and angry I've ever seen him about anything.

[Average]

10:52 AM on 09/26/2007

I should clarify my point about 'complementing.' His point was that people are afraid of and discriminate against other people they don't know. If people would actually take the time to get to know members of other races, nationalities, religions, etc., there would be less fear, less discrimination, etc. AND that the media tends to portray 'minority' races, religious people, other nationalities, etc. in a bad light. Of course that is ALL TRUE--but would not make an INFLAMATORY headline on Huffpo.

[SaskiaStars]

11:03 AM on 09/26/2007

Huffpo isn't lying - Oreally and Juan Williams are saying that they were complimenting, that doesn't mean they were. Have you ever heard of backhanded compliments? It is like me saying "gee, I am so impressed and surprised that your black mother isn't a whore, because I thought all black women are whores". The guy actually said that he was surprisd that the black folks weren't shouting "hey Motherf*cker, I want more iced tea" in a restaurant owned and patronized by blacks. Why would that surprised him if he didn't have the thought that that is how blacks act in restaurants? This is about having preconcieved ideas based in racism (there is plenty of evidence of the bloviater's racism) and then being surprised when he sees that those preconcieved ideas aren't true.

[Average]

11:53 AM on 09/26/2007

Did you actually SEE any of this? It is pretty obvious this was NOT a backhanded compliment to anywone with an open mind. Yes, I do know that they are. Go to the Fox News site, click on shows, Oreilly and WATCH for yourself. By the way, that language is NOT limited to any race in particular. It is a SAD DAY in the country when people can not express themselves without resorting to such language.

[gakabani]

09:52 AM on 09/26/2007

This dumb ass thinks he is the owner of America.
The level of stupidity and ignorance is a reflection of our society. Pathetic, simply pathetic.

[Average]

10:28 AM on 09/26/2007

Your autobiography?

[raker]

09:48 AM on 09/26/2007

Conservative apologist Matt Lauer defended O'Reilly today on The Toady Show. But Matt Lauer is a friend of mine. I dined with his family recently, and you know what? They don't eat with their hands like savage brutes! They use knives AND forks. And they - get this - they cook their food using FIRE! I was relieved to see no clubbing or ritualistic sacrificing. Let me report that the Lauers are civilized, like regular people. I compliment, because I love.

[juleso]

09:43 AM on 09/26/2007

Bill O'Reilly's comments were taken out of context, big surprise. He won't be Imused and everyone needs to get a grip. You're making his fans dig their boots in and yourselves look stupid and petty. I heard the show in question and his comments made perfect sense - he and Juan Williams were discussing gangster rap and such.

[javagirl322]

09:35 AM on 09/26/2007

Nobody really cares what this shithead thinks! I think o'really is a flaming a**hole....

[bushdoescrack]

08:27 AM on 09/26/2007

orielly should learn a lesson from "the blacks".

[Witchitalineman]

08:24 AM on 09/26/2007

As a white, I want to say to Bill Oralee (as Keith Olberhmann so affectionately refers to him) SHUT YOUR MOUTH! I cannot stomach this man and for the life of me can't figure out why anyone would watch him!!

[Delle]

07:30 AM on 09/26/2007

I didn't hear O'Reilly, but I have to admit that as long as blacks still rely on 'affirmative discrimination' to get them into schools and job positions, it is obvious that they still need help.

In other words - black folks are not starting to think for themselves.

Maybe someday.

[darker]

03:27 AM on 09/26/2007

I surely hope so!!