Judging Bill O'Reilly: Why His Comments About Lunch in Harlem Matter

The worst thing about trying to talk honestly and incisively about race in America is dealing with the demagogues.

And there are few folks in modern media -- besides, perhaps fellow red state pundit Rush Limbaugh -- who push buttons on race more effectively from the conservative side than Fox News' Bill O'Reilly.

I've written before about the ways in which O'Reilly couches racially insulting ideas -- treating gangsta rap culture like the primary voice of black America and then blaming a host of ills affecting black people on that cartoonish caricature.

Now, after an attempt at rapprochement with civil rights advocate Al Sharpton, O'Reilly has stepped in it again, this time by marveling at how he had dinner with Sharpton at a Harlem restaurant and people were civil to him; no cursing, crotch grabbing or ugly behavior in sight.

Here's the quote, fresh from the admittedly liberal media watch Web site, Media Matters: "(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."

For background, here's my first column, written in 2002, about how O'Reilly uses racially charged language about gangsta rappers to scare his presumably white viewership and press his points. Here's my second column about O'Reilly's racist rhetorical tricks, employed this time to criticize those stuck in New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Here's his response to the Katrina column -- a typically personal attack in which he cites his radio comments, not the TV appearance I criticized.

I think these comments are typical of O'Reilly's technique. Too smart to personally use an epithet in the way Don Imus finally did, he instead turns rap culture into a straw man used to represent all or most of black America. Then, he's free to tee off on the stereotypical excesses of THAT culture, rather than talk about real, live black people with all their contradictions intact.

In O'Reilly's world, black people were either vocal protesters like Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, or straight-up thugs like N.W.A. After his trip to Sylvia's, O'Reilly seems amazed to meet black folks who don't fit his disconnected stereotype of what we are.

The most disappointing turn for me in this media meltdown was watching a discussion on the issue this morning on The Today Show. Anchor Matt Lauer, clearly unsympathetic to critics, kept pressing the point that O'Reilly was trying to be complimentary, if by using "ham-fisted" language.

But when it comes to dialogues on race, I judge people's intent and meaning by their history. And O'Reilly has never been one to seek understanding with an open mind. To this black American, his words felt like the most backhanded compliment I'd heard from a celebrity in many years -- a congratulation to black people for having, finally, the ability to act like we have some sense.

News flash, Bill: black people have been conducting themselves this way for many, many years. I'm just sorry that it took a lunch with Al Sharpton for you to finally realize it.

Follow Eric Deggans on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Deggans

Comments

[erfatron]

Amazing that anyone can learn anything positive from Sharpton at all.

[zizyphus]

Bill O'Reilly is stunning in his ignorance.

When he goes into a Chinese restaurant is he shocked that people aren't playing ping pong?

When he dines in a Mexican restaurant is he amazed that they aren't all taking siestas?

Between his ears lies a vortex of infinite proportions. Reality enters, but does not come out until filtered through his grimy prism of fear and hatred.

[George (not W) in Texas]

O'Rielly probably sincerely doesn't think he's a racist, inside feelibng that 'those' people have rights as long as they don't get in my way or make me feel threatened in any way. Bill belongs to that club where if you have more money than others, you must be better than them.

[(R)Haslittle1's]

Bill o' is a hypocrite that backs all (R)Republicans. Remember Bill o' preached family values and condemned liberals for the way they live their lives etc....... but then Mr. Bill o' was cuaght up in his own sexual harassement infedelity problems that led to him settleing out of court or before it went to court to save FOX(FEUX) news face.

[JerzGirl226]

Thank you, Eric Deggans for your thoughtful post. You are 100% correct and 0% wrong (as Cenk Uygar would say). Bill O'Reilly completely missed the point of that experience. He didn't sound very convinced himself by what he was saying. He seemed so shocked that the black patrons weren't loud and unruly. I don't know where the hell he hangs out but he clearly goes to places where there aren't many black people.

I'd also like to educate Bill O'Reilly on the fact that most consumers of hip-hop music are white males. It's a part of American culture whether some of you want to admit it or not. Someone acting like a thug has nothing to do with the kind of music they listen to. Blaming entertainers for someone robbing another person or shooting up a school is lame. That person needs to take responsibility for their actions.

Perhaps, Wilson33 you need to visit some suburbs. Being fucked up is not exclusive to poor black communities. I know many white kids who grew up in decent households and yet they are drunks, drug addicts, etc. It has nothing to do with race (and the type of music you listen to) and everything to do with guidance. You and Bill O'Reilly need to go read a damn book.

The fact of the matter is that Bill O'Reilly has not made the effort to educate himself about black people. Not that he has made an effort to educate himself about anything else either. I feel sorry for him, to tell you the truth.

[yellowdogdemocratic]

I'm sure if Mr. Sharpton had said that he went to an Italian restaurant in an all white suburb and was suprised to see that the young white women in the restaurant were not drunk, dancing on tables, and taking off their underwear, O'Reilly would understand why the black community was insulted by his remark. The majority of the white community are no more like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears than the majority of the black community behaves like ganster rappers.

[ParacleteofKavorka]

You made the point very well.

[Aunt Shecky]

There have been a couple of really silly responses to Oreillygate, but this serious posting by Eric Deggans puts O'Reilly's penchant for thoughtless bluster in perspective. Mr. Deggans has demonstrated that Bill O'Reilly's habit for over-simplifying and
stereotyping is long-standing.

When one works for the media -- be it print or
broadcast -- the job description requires a
working knowledge of words! Everybody makes mistakes -- yours truly is a prime offender--BUT when there is a pattern of gaffes such as
this latest blunder by O'Reilly, you have to wonder how or why he has such a high-profile job. His provocative rants --all style, no substance -- bring in ratings. Why can't thoughtful writers such as Mr. Deggans have their own shows in the mainstream media instead of merely blogging? The situation should be reversed or else American culture as a whole is as stupid as it is hyped to be, and TV viewers are as stupid as they
WANT to be.

[Dalicious]

I think you should give Billy boy credit for talking about his learning experiences, just as you would expect from a child in elementary school.

[weddedgay]

The name of their song is "Hatred and Intolerence", it is only the words that change verse to verse.

They use the words-"Protect the Sanctity of Marriage" to hide their hatred of gays, save the "unborn" to hide their hatred of women.

To people like Billo and the Repugs, only the White, male, christian, protestant, straight, and rich are worthy. The rest of us who don't fit their idea of equal must be marginalized in some way.

It is time we all realize we are all in this together.

[MidnightRambler]

As an innocent Canadian, I had no idea about racism, until I crossed th border at Buffalo, NY.
I entered the first restaurant I came across. Granted, I was served, but I NEVER felt so threatened in my life.My guilt? I was white.
**********­**********­**********­**********­*******
I had a similar experience in Canada. My wife and I stopped at a diner very early one morning in the middle of nowhere I NEVER felt so threatened in my life.My guilt? I didn't speak French.

[Susanholmes]

"I entered the first restaurant I came across. Granted, I was served, but I NEVER felt so threatened in my life.My guilt? I was white."

welcome to america

understand that what you felt in that restaurant is but a pale reflection of what african-americans in the US have felt for the past four centuries. i can't (and wouldn't) condone or excuse the behavior, but i certainly understand where it comes from. when white men have taken everything from your people, including your home, language, family, spirituality and self-respect, chances are you're not going to be friendly to white guys.

the effect echoes through the generations; our schools were probably still segregated during the lifetimes of several of the restaurants patrons.

remember, though, you were NOT refused a seat (like we did to them.) you were NOT overcharged, you did NOT have to eat in a seperate room, or order from a seperate menu, or have to pay first, or...

...do you get it?

most importantly, what you felt directed at you was not institutional. regardless of the feelings you had in that restaurant, you'd still have a better shot at the same job here in the states and you'd probably be better paid. you wouldn't get pulled over for driving through the wrong neighborhood, or get followed around in a store by security, or have people look at you in utter shock when you speak in complete sentences, or...

...now do you get it?

[RealBlackGirl]

The reason that Bill's comments have such resonance is that they demonstrate white privilege in America. The level of material success he enjoys is a direct result of his manipulation of the masses sense of entitlement based on privilege. Only white folks can live their entire lives without having any meaningful experiences that contradict their privileged perspective of the world.

[JimR]

"Only white folks can live their entire lives without having any meaningful experiences that contradict their privileged perspective of the world."

Who is using stereotypes now?

[Susanholmes]

"Only white folks can live their entire lives without having any meaningful experiences that contradict their privileged perspective of the world."

i respectfully disagree: only RICH folks can live out their entire lives et cetera.

the fact that the vast majority of extremely wealthy people in the states are white is a ringer in this regard. you get the same effect in other parts of the world, too, where white does not necessarily equal priviledge. while institutionalized racism and chattel slavery in the states made (a very few) whites in this country the only people with access to that kind of privilege, the fact is that's not because they're white.

race and class seem inextrictably tied in the states, and it's indeed impossible to address one without the other. however, it's critical to keep in mind that we share our class struggles with the rest of the world. there are overpriviledged people everywhere on the globe, and some (if not many) exact that privilege from the blood of others who are of identical ethnicity.

our racism, however, is very uniquely our own. you get severe racism in other parts of the world, sure, but i've never seen Anything like what we've got here. both issues need dealt with in a meaningful, permanent fashion, but if we're going to do so we need to keep our apples and oranges in separate baskets.

[Robert59]

You've never been to India. The caste system is still alive and well. While the official policy is caste no longer matters, it does. Unlike affirmative action here where race can trump academic ability, in India caste does. Lighter skinned connotes higher caste and they protest when lower caste with higher intellects are given a few token seats at institutes of higher learning.

[dopper0189]

How many Majority Black areas have voted a rapper as there mayor? Why do I ask? Because the same GOP Robots who always talk about rappers helped elect a Gov. in California that stars in movies where he shoots woman and children, has sex outside of wedlock, and swears all the times. But I guess as long as you don't do any of that to a hip-hop beat it's ok?

I laugh all the time, when out here in this area, mostly conservative sports radio host(WEEI) talk about "rappers, and the don't snitch culture" but then they all are fans of "The Soprano's". Huh, once again it's OK because there are no hip-hop beats? Or only Black culture can't handle this osort of stuff?

By the way Wilson33 and oogabooga where was all this outrage from Black leaders over Cosby? I'm sure Faux News had a guest who "represented" the "Black Liberal" side who was angry at Cosby, but Who were all these Black leaders, I want names. Black radio nearly 100% liberal didn't call him out, callers to Black radio didn't call him out, BET, Ebony, Essense all the Black publication didn't call him out. The Congressional Black Congress, Sen. Obama, Gov. Patrick didn't critic him. Name a mayor of a major city who did?

Once again conservative and their make believe victim culture (ooh christian are being persecuted) make up a story so they can show outrage. I'm sure you can find some Black person SOMEWHERE who didn't like what Cosby said I mean there are 44 million Blacks in the US, I'm sure some publicity seeking civil righst org did. But until you can name a major Black elected official who criticized Cosby you can't say Black leaders did it. Unless it's on Fox News or Rightwing Radio.

I know I'm wasting my! Conservatives never let facts get in the way of a good argument. They can't defend Bill O'Reilly so they change the subject to Hip-Hop. Hey that's just what this blog said O'Reilly does wonder where Wilson33 and Oogagbooga learned it from?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

There is a significant difference between Don Imus and Bill O'Reilly and the way that the MSM responded.

Think back in time. It was only after Imus called Cheney a war criminal, and repeatedly did so, that the MSM was ready to pounce. His use of insults, including insults of Blacks, had been going on for years. He didn't take it seriously. If Blacks didn't hear his insults, they just didn't listen to his shows. The MSM never played it up.

O'Reilly, in contrast, is a genuine hate monger. But he has never called Cheney a war criminal. The MSM, except for Olberman, has given O'Reilly a pass for years.

Imus would still be on the air except for the way that the MSM coordinated their attack on him.

I suggest that he did his insult-show for years, and he would still be doing so except that he made the mistake of openly calling Cheney a war criminal.

It is the MSM that is jerking us around.

[sturgis54]

The "understated" reaction by the "Main Stream Media" to Bill O'Reilly's truly breathtaking assessment of blacks in America (witness Matt Lauer's attempted apologies for O'Reilly's comments as compliments, not signs of deep seated prejudice and sterotyping) is yet another example of how totally hypocritical the media has become. Remember the near meltdown reaction in the press to Joe Biden's assessment of Sen. Obama as "clean and articulate?" Clumsy at best, but it really stretched credulity for anyone with an ounce of fairness in their bones to assume that a guy as sincere as Biden really meant that he considered other blacks to be "unclean." But, guys like Rush Limbaugh (and the hundreds of droning Limbaugh wannabe's out there) set the tone and the MSM just fell into line and pounded on it for days. Here's Rush's comment at the time on the Biden slip:

'He is a clean African-American'?" Limbaugh asked. "If Biden thinks that Obama is clean then he has to think that others are not clean. Does he mean that he knows that Jesse Jackson is not clean? Does he mean that he knows that Reverend Sharpton is not clean? ... See, folks, this is the problem for the libs. Once they get off script they expose their idiocy, they expose their prejudice.­"

Sweet. Funny how when one of "their guys" lets his or her guard down and reveals inner sentiments that are a thousand times more poisonous and questionable than what Biden said, the Limbaugh's (and obviously the O'Reilly's) of the world, backed by the "legitimate press," are all too ready to excuse it and even defend it. They LOVE black people... especially when those "MF'ers aren't acting up, hollering for more iced tea, and running their lilly white view of the world." Is there no end to the double standard and hypocrisy? Look in the mirror, Bill-O; the problem is right there staring at your angry white face.

[dwillisno1]

Yes Bill O'Rielly did toss around some ugly sterotypes of black people. Unfortunitaly though all sterotypes do have a grain of truth in them.

Is there a grain of truth in the "sterotype" that bad spellers are just "unfortunit"?