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

[tao53nyc]

Perhaps we can now finally welcome Billo to the 21st Century!

[nofltwlt]

For once Bill O'Reilly is correct!

Americans are thinking for themselves and it is because what they have seen heard and experienced from the Bush administration and Bill O'Reilly is painful and illogical.

Bill O'Reilly must know this; as Americans think for themselves and believe non of what they hear and half of what they see; Bill O'Reilly will be less and less relevant.

For those who already think more on their own Bush and O'Reilly are already dog shit.

[nomobull]

BILL O IS AN IDIOT. AND AL SHARPTON HAS LONG SINCE CEASED TO REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

[maninla]

Somebody needs to get out more often!

[strandwolf]

If by thinking for themselves they come up with role models such as Michael Vick and Mychal Bell, both of whom are highly regarded by the majority of American Blacks according to current polls, then they've got their thinking caps on radically off-kilter.

[maxcat06]

And we Caucasians have the WWE!

[IRIE]

Yeah when white people think for themselves they come up with role models like Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Eric Harris and Dylan Kleboldfer(Columbine). Oh and Hitler.

[dolphy]

Don't forget the Bush criminal enterprise.

[drumz]

What a dumbshit!

[ejbr]

Hmmm, now if we could only get your viewers to do the same O'Lielly. The world would be a better place.

[fedupwiththis]

Who would have thought that if Bill O' ever bothered to examine the niceties of his prejudices they would be found to be groundless? Who would have thought such a thing?

[JimLarkin]

so bill didnt get on his knees and hand over a $20?

[baylaw73]

*WARNING - INTENTIONALY INFLAMMATORY*

What's wrong with Irish people?

[Rand]

Look: O'Reilly is an idiot and a racist. He's also Irish-American. The two are not the same

[baylaw73]

Both of you (Rand and drumz): I even put "Intentionally inflammatory." Of course I don't mean what I wrote. I wanted to see what Irish-Americans would say about him. Just as some would call for certain groups to disavow certain people, I wanted to see if anyone would react to being "attacked" based on their group, just as this jerk does. I had hoped my disclaimer would prevent any hurt feelings. I'm sorry it did not, and thank you and all the wonderful folks of Irish descent who make America great.

[drumz]

Yea, like what's wrong with being a racist?
You are a fucking fool to make a statement like that. Like with all 'races' there good and bad just like religions though personally I think all religions are crap and only in place as a form of control.
Being Irish-American (2nd generation) I abhor Bill Orally and all that follow him. He is not Irish to me. But a racist to me you are!

[bickerson4]

it’s time someone explained why minorities complain how bad things are for them but vote for the doomocrats based on its track record of keeping things exactly as they are.

[drumz]

What versus the repigs tearing down any and all social programs? Go F yourself troll.

[nihilon x]

"Meanwhile, on another board, there is a story about systematically institution against African-Americans in our school system."

Systematically "instituted racism" that is.

[meandmagoo]

How does Billo look in the mirror and not puke?

[nihilon x]

Meanwhile, on another board, there is a story about systematically institution against African-Americans in our school system.

Rather than sitting here uselessly spewing venom towards O' Reilly in defense of "blacks", why not go to that board and discuss ways to actually help black people address these injustices.

[strandwolf]

The main problem is the attitude of the black "students" themselves. Many, if not most, would appear to not want to "act white", i. e., study and learn language, science, history, etc., as it is attempted to be taught to them, through peer pressure and the dominant hip hop ethos. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[nihilon x]

I don't think that's the "main problem" -- the "main problem" is that we have a culture that popularizes that kind of attitude, including in hip-hop.

Black people are constantly treated as some monolithic whole -- from slave days on down. Many whites here and make generalized comments about "blacks" all the time, as if all black people are the same -- you just did it yourself in the post I replied to.

That is the "main problem" in my opinion -- this constant need to define black people as some monolithic group rather than treating black people as individuals, which is the key to eliminating racism of any kind.

The stereotype you just wrote does not apply to me, nor does it apply to my sisters or my cousins, most of whom attend college or have graduated from college.

So before you even try to start saying that the "main problem" lies within "blacks" maybe you should re-examine just how racist you are being in making such a statement in the first place and how that plays into the larger problem of racism and prejudice in our society.

[nihilon x]

"I don't think that's the "main problem" -- the "main problem" is that we have a culture that popularizes that kind of attitude, including in hip-hop."

Note when I say "culture" I don't mean "black" culture -- don't try to pull a Whoopi on me and make false assumptions about what I am saying.

People say that "hip hop" is to blame, but there are many white suburban kids who are listening to the exact same music, but who go on to do well in school and go on to complete college, so blaming "hip hop" is obviously incorrect.

However, hen these suburban white kids buy all of the "gangsta rap" and turn these ex-drug dealers (Eazy E, Snoop, Jay-Z, 50 Cent) into millionaires leading the glamorous life, many black kids -- who have no other role models in their lives -- grow up thinking that living that lifestyle (dealing drugs and rapping) is their only way out of the ghetto.

Many rappers even say as much on their albums -- 50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Trying" is a textbook example. He (Curtis Jackson) sold drugs to make money and then when he got shot he decided to focus more on rapping to make money instead.

Now, if our society didn't thrive so much on sex and violence, would 50 Cent's debut album have broken sales records?

The same goes for Snoop, or N.W.A. -- if people -- people of ALL colors, not just blacks -- didn't popularize this kind of music and behavior, it would not be as popular within the black community.

Its about money far more than it is about not acting "white".

[Marlyn]

a disgusting asshole! you know who I mean.

[chinohillster]

Well, thank you, Mr. O'Reilly for reassuring me that I have a functioning brain (this will reassure my employer, who has been expecting me to keep supporting the commercial databases and operating systems I've been supporting for the last eight years)[UNIX, most flavors, Oracle, SQL Server, DB2]

Loyola Marymount University, who is about to bestow a Master's degree upon me, will also be relieved to find out that I don't suffer from ancephaly, as well; Temple University will be glad to know that they did not make a mistake in granting me a Bachelor's dgree in 1979, as well,

This black woman is glad to know that there is an Oracle of wisdom in the public sphere that proclaims that she DOES have a brain!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[ownsthepodium]

LOL.
Your employer runs multiple flavors of Unix? Runs Oracle, SQL Server (I'm assuming you mean MS) and DB2?
Wow, that's some messed up IT environment you've got. And you're actually trying to brag about it!

[chinohillster]

MOST Information Technology shops run more than one thing, having started out as IBM MVS mainframe shops, then implementing distributed servers running Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, Windows NT, then various flavors of Windows Server.

Go to ANY large IT shop, and you will find anything from MVS to Solaris to Windows - I've worked for large insurance companies to railroads to aerospace companies, and NONE of these businesses has ALL MVS or ALL Windows or ALL UNIX, thank you very much!