Racist,ignorant, or misunderstood? O'Reilly remarks

[disneyjunkie]

He wasnt sterotyping - his entire point is that blacks DONT act like RAP "artists"

Get outta here!!

I'm so glad O'Reilly was here to point this out.

We all know EVERYONE in American truly believes the imagines we see in rap videos are factual.

Surely none of use are able to understand that rap artist are ENTERTAINERS. That they get paid to make us shake our butts, nothing more and nothing less.

Thank you O'Reilly for setting the record straight.:

 

[Princess_Michelle]

Get outta here!!

I'm so glad O'Reilly was here to point this out.

We all know EVERYONE in American truly believes the imagines we see in rap videos are factual.

Surely none of use are able to understand that rap artist are ENTERTAINERS. That they get paid to make us shake our butts, nothing more and nothing less.

Thank you O'Reilly for setting the record straight.:

Again, I don't watch this O'Reilly guy, but this comment just stuck out to me. You and I both know that these people are entertainers, but unfortunately, a lot of young black males don't. When I was in high school, I dated a black man for 4 yrs, and in college another for about 1 yr. which meant I spent most of time hanging out/living in black neighborhoods, during which time most of friends were black. In high school I was in the Appalachian Mtns. and in college, in Atlanta. Both of my boyfriends were the drug dealing wanna be a rapper type. All they ever talked about was "making it" either by being a rapper or an athlete. They watched those rappers on TV as if they were Gods and aspired to be just like them. The "artists" rapped about being hard, and pimpin' hoes, and their "bling" and that's the only thing my bf's and their buddies ever aspired too. They never looked at black professionals like doctors, lawyers, businessmen with anything but disdain b/c according to them, they sold out to "the man." They refused to get minumum wage jobs b/c then they couldn't afford to get gold chains and teeth, so they dealt drugs, just like the rappers. They basically lived a life according to the "manual" of rap videos. They didn't understand that while those artists may have lived a "thug-life" before they made it, they very rarely continue to live in the same neighborhoods and live by the same rules. It was so very frustrating, b/c my bf was in fact intelligent, but he just wouldn't apply himself. If he ever spoke proper english, or got a real job, his "boys" wouldn't respect him. None of them wanted anything to do with the black kids who spoke proper english, or listened to anything but rap; according to them, they had sold out b/c they were acting white. But at the same time, it was the white man who was holding them back. Anyways, I eventually realized that they were never going anywhere and I didn't want to be held back with them, so I just quit hanging out with them. I stopped listening to rap music b/c I feel that they really are a roadblock when it comes to erradicating racism. They really do inspire black males (and females too), especially the poor and uneducated, to live a life of crime. Which in turn makes ignorant white people think that ALL blacks are the same way, which in turn...you get the point. I think that this O'Reilly guy is one of those people, just some ignorant person who really thought that all black people acted that way...but atleast he's starting to see things differently, right? I don't think it makes him racist. I think that it makes him ignorant, prejudice, even, but not racist...

 

[DISUNC]

This is definately a IGNORANT thing to say! No suprise here!

Does he live in NY? His his show in NY?

If so, how can you live in NYC all these years, be successful in the Media Biz...and NEVER BEEN TOO HARLEM BEFORE???

 

[disneyjunkie]

Again, I don't watch this O'Reilly guy, but this comment just stuck out to me. You and I both know that these people are entertainers, but unfortunately, a lot of young black males don't. When I was in high school, I dated a black man for 4 yrs, and in college another for about 1 yr. which meant I spent most of time hanging out/living in black neighborhoods, during which time most of friends were black. In high school I was in the Appalachian Mtns. and in college, in Atlanta. Both of my boyfriends were the drug dealing wanna be a rapper type. All they ever talked about was "making it" either by being a rapper or an athlete. They watched those rappers on TV as if they were Gods and aspired to be just like them. The "artists" rapped about being hard, and pimpin' hoes, and their "bling" and that's the only thing my bf's and their buddies ever aspired too. They never looked at black professionals like doctors, lawyers, businessmen with anything but disdain b/c according to them, they sold out to "the man." They refused to get minumum wage jobs b/c then they couldn't afford to get gold chains and teeth, so they dealt drugs, just like the rappers. They basically lived a life according to the "manual" of rap videos. They didn't understand that while those artists may have lived a "thug-life" before they made it, they very rarely continue to live in the same neighborhoods and live by the same rules. It was so very frustrating, b/c my bf was in fact intelligent, but he just wouldn't apply himself. If he ever spoke proper english, or got a real job, his "boys" wouldn't respect him. None of them wanted anything to do with the black kids who spoke proper english, or listened to anything but rap; according to them, they had sold out b/c they were acting white. But at the same time, it was the white man who was holding them back. Anyways, I eventually realized that they were never going anywhere and I didn't want to be held back with them, so I just quit hanging out with them. I stopped listening to rap music b/c I feel that they really are a roadblock when it comes to erradicating racism. They really do inspire black males (and females too), especially the poor and uneducated, to live a life of crime. Which in turn makes ignorant white people think that ALL blacks are the same way, which in turn...you get the point. I think that this O'Reilly guy is one of those people, just some ignorant person who really thought that all black people acted that way...but atleast he's starting to see things differently, right? I don't think it makes him racist. I think that it makes him ignorant, prejudice, even, but not racist...

Sorry, I'm just not buying it.

Getting rid of Rap won't change the things you discussed. Those problems are bigger than just a genre of music. I've been around black people all my life (almost 40 years ). Acting "dumb" or hiding your intelligence in order to fit in was an issue prior to rap.

The desire to make fast money(drugs, prostitution, running numbers...) was an issue before rap.

Idolizing negative behaviors didn't start with the rap industry.

I can't think of a PC way to put this, so I apologize to anyone I may offend.

I believe the O'Reilly's of the word point the finger at rappers, because their
children are affected by them. If rap wasn't such a huge influence in the suburban areas, no one would complain about it.

There are plenty of young black males who see rapers for what they are, entertainers. My son and all of his friends love rap. (I enjoy it as well). All of them are gifted and/or honor roll students. They were all caught up in the 50/Kanye West "battle". They spend hours discussing/watching 106 and Park. Who's wearing what? Who has the best lyrics/hook? Who has the best dancers?
Who has the best beat?

That's just one aspect of who they are.

Lucky, none of them are ashamed of how smart they are. They attend different high schools, but they are all enrolled in Cal or Pre-Cal, Physics, AP or honors English and history.

They are all working on their second foreign language. They took Japanese for 3 years and are now in their 3rd year of French.

They have a friendly competition amongst themselves to see who will have the highest scores on their regents exams and SATs.

They all took the SATs when they were in the 7th grade. They each scored high enough to be part of the John Hopkins Talented Young program.

My son and his friends are not an anomaly.

I see kids on both sides of the coin day in and day out.

Oh, I don't think O'Reilly's comments were racist, but they were beyond ignorant.

 

[Robinrs]

Sorry, I'm just not buying it.

Getting rid of Rap won't change the things you discussed. Those problems are bigger than just a genre of music. I've been around black people all my life (almost 40 years ). Acting "dumb" or hiding your intelligence in order to fit in was an issue prior to rap.

The desire to make fast money(drugs, prostitution, running numbers...) was an issue before rap.

Idolizing negative behaviors didn't start with the rap industry.

I can't think of a PC way to put this, so I apologize to anyone I may offend.

I believe the O'Reilly's of the word point the finger at rappers, because their
children are affected by them. If rap wasn't such a huge influence in the suburban areas, no one would complain about it.

There are plenty of young black males who see rapers for what they are, entertainers. My son and all of his friends love rap. (I enjoy it as well). All of them are gifted and/or honor roll students. They were all caught up in the 50/Kanye West "battle". They spend hours discussing/watching 106 and Park. Who's wearing what? Who has the best lyrics/hook? Who has the best dancers?
Who has the best beat?

That's just one aspect of who they are.

Lucky, none of them are ashamed of how smart they are. They attend different high schools, but they are all enrolled in Cal or Pre-Cal, Physics, AP or honors English and history.

They are all working on their second foreign language. They took Japanese for 3 years and are now in their 3rd year of French.

They have a friendly competition amongst themselves to see who will have the highest scores on their regents exams and SATs.

They all took the SATs when they were in the 7th grade. They each scored high enough to be part of the John Hopkins Talented Young program.

My son and his friends are not an anomaly.

I see kids on both sides of the coin day in and day out.

Oh, I don't think O'Reilly's comments were racist, but they were beyond ignorant.

Exactly....

My son is a young black teen born and raised in Atlanta.

His first cousin is a major rap artist.

Not only does he NOT listen to rap music (a preference), neither do his friends. In fact, my older sister is the only member of my family who DOES like it!

They acknowledge it as a subculture, which I'm sure just like the average Caucasian teenaged girl sees the Britneys and the Parises of the world, but does not see it as a ways to a mean or the only source of life. FAR from it.

The fact that that pompous idiot lumps all people into this subcategory is more than an insult to me.

Imagine if I went to a trailer park restaurant and made a big deal about how not all White people are like this? Oh my, they all DON'T marry their sisters! Oh MY! I have BEEN ENLIGHTENED!!

It would be the longest thread on this and other websites for the next year...

Princess Michelle, you were in a culture I've never encountered in my 51 years of being black in America. But I do know it exists, we ALL know that. But O'R coming out in public acting like this is the only culture when I'm SURE he works with hundreds of invisible working, middle class African Americans but chooses to ignore it is abysmal... and very typical of him.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Exactly....

My son is a young black teen born and raised in Atlanta.

His first cousin is a major rap artist.

Not only does he NOT listen to rap music (a preference), neither do his friends. In fact, my older sister is the only member of my family who DOES like it!

They acknowledge it as a subculture, which I'm sure just like the average Caucasian teenaged girl sees the Britneys and the Parises of the world, but does not see it as a ways to a mean or the only source of life. FAR from it.

The fact that that pompous idiot lumps all people into this subcategory is more than an insult to me.

Imagine if I went to a trailer park restaurant and made a big deal about how not all White people are like this? Oh my, they all DON'T marry their sisters! Oh MY! I have BEEN ENLIGHTENED!!

It would be the longest thread on this and other websites for the next year...

Princess Michelle, you were in a culture I've never encountered in my 51 years of being black in America. But I do know it exists, we ALL know that. But O'R coming out in public acting like this is the only culture when I'm SURE he works with hundreds of invisible working, middle class African Americans but chooses to ignore it is abysmal... and very typical of him.

Sadly, he and his audience see nothing racist or prejudiced in what he said. That's the sad part. People think if you're not hanging nooses from trees or calling AA people the "n" word, that you're not racist. There's the more subtle racism that comes out in statements like O'Reilly's and that seems to be much harder to get people to notice.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Not to threadjack but does anyone remember when that racist Brit Hume told Juan Williams, on air, that he needed to be "hosed down" because he didn't agree with him? Look for the Fox footage on YouTube.

 

[va32h]

Again!

Im well aware of why people dont care for him. He's opinonated and isnt wishy-washy when it comes to his opinion. And whether I agree with him on certain issues or not - its a trait I *do* admire.

So, what dont I 'get' now?

Islamic jihadists aren't wishy-washy either, do you admire them? Klan members - whoo boy they sure do stick to their guns (or torches, as it were).

That Warren Jeffs fellow, you've got to admire him for continuing to marry prepubescent girls, because he feels it's what God has called him to do...And who's that guy who protests at all the veteran's funerals? Boy is he ever opinionated!

IMO, your statement is utterly without merit. How can you possibly, with a straight face, argue that offensive opinions are somehow admirable, if you only cling to them firmly enough?

Oh skip it, you won't "get" that because you don't see anything racist in a white man expressing condenscension and shock that black folks are just like him.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I admire people who stick to their convictions, but are also aware enough to change those convictions when the facts warrant it.

I remember hearing Maya Angelou on Oprah one day, and they were talking about things in the past that Oprah had done that she regretted and Maya said something like: "You did the best you could with what you knew then, when you knew better, you did better."

The problem with folks like O'Reilly is that they will never give themselves the opportunity to do better, because they will never open themselves up to know better.

 

[NY Disney fan]

The problem with folks like O'Reilly is that they will never give themselves the opportunity to do better, because they will never open themselves up to know better.

And in the meantime....he gets to be ignorant on TV while he "finds himself"?

 

[Fitswimmer]

And in the meantime....he gets to be ignorant on TV while he "finds himself"?

I don't think he's ever going to, because he doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would ever think that he might be wrong about something. Now, O'Reilly's not alone in this affliction, there are plenty of people out there that are just as egotisical, arrogant and inflexible in their opinions-and they're not all on the Fox channel. It's pretty equal opportunity, as far as I've seen.

He's going to be on TV as long as he's got his legion of fans, and as we've seen he's got a few here.

 

[OrlandoMike]

MSNBC is all over this story this morning.

Wonder if this story has legs?

 

[LuvDuke]

MSNBC is all over this story this morning.

Wonder if this story has legs?

It will if Keith Olberman has anything to do with it.

 

[Fitswimmer]

It will if Keith Olberman has anything to do with it.

Bill really makes Keith's job SO easy...

 

[BunsenH]

Perhaps B O'R sees his star fading and is courting a new job as a restaurant critic (with a political slant) or a spokesman for the NY Tourist Board.

"I went to this Eye-talian joint in Little It-ly and you know what? the people in there weren't all wearing pin striped suits, saying fuggetabouddit and singing Ol Sole Mio? What I saw on all these years of Godfather and Sopranos was not true! And the food was delicioso! "

(Add your own stereotype restaurant reviews. I chose Italian because I've lived in that environment.)

 

[Miss Jasmine]

He wasnt sterotyping - his entire point is that blacks DONT act like RAP "artists" and the pedastal some rap artists are put on, for acting and talking like 'hoodlums' is unacceptable. He talks about this all the time. Which again, is a post I HAVE seen here on the DIS. About RAP music 'going too far' and everyone, their cousins, and their neighbors will agree.

But Bill better not say it - racist pig.

Who the heck thinks that all black people act like rappers??!??!! Oh wait I know who does...racists.

Exactly. It's like he's telling everyone that black people are people too, as if he's come to some sort of revelation and he's decided to enlighten us.
Hey Bill, the world isn't flat, either.

I agree and that is just He assumes we are all ignorant like he is.

 

[HakunaMatata2]

The problem with folks like O'Reilly is that they will never give themselves the opportunity to do better, because they will never open themselves up to know better.

True, O'Reilly's comment wasn't totally PC, but we seem to never have a problem giving a pass to Sharpton and Jackson, two real racists in this country.

It wasn't too long ago that these two were jumping and all over Imus for his inappropriate comments, but defended blacks for doing the same thing until they started to feel the pressure themselves.

If racism is to end in this country, racist promoters like Sharpton and Jackson need to change their message and stop promoting division in this country. In my world people of several backgrounds work and socialize together. That's the way it is supposed to be.

 

[BunsenH]

Has anyone asked why Bill and Al were having lunch together? Interview? Conspiracy planning to boost each other's careers? Chance meeting? Buddies grabbing some chow?

 

[cardaway]

Who the heck thinks that all black people act like rappers??!??!! Oh wait I know who does...racists.


I agree and that is just He assumes we are all ignorant like he is.

Again, I say be wary of the folks defending this guy.

 

[Fitswimmer]

True, O'Reilly's comment wasn't totally PC, but we seem to never have a problem giving a pass to Sharpton and Jackson, two real racists in this country.

It wasn't too long ago that these two were jumping and all over Imus for his inappropriate comments, but defended blacks for doing the same thing until they started to feel the pressure themselves.

If racism is to end in this country, racist promoters like Sharpton and Jackson need to change their message and stop promoting division in this country. In my world people of several backgrounds work and socialize together. That's the way it is supposed to be.

Actually, the Rev Sharpton has been leading a charge on racist language and negative stereotypes about women in rap music. I thought it was just after the Imus thing, but I learned that he's been at it for quite a while. Unfortunately, that effort has not gotten the publicity it deserves.

I'm not negating the mistakes the man has made, but I'll give him credit when he does do something I admire.