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O’Reilly Whitesplains Racial Profiling To Levar Burton

Posted by Ellen -7859.80pc on July 08, 2013 · Flag

Recently, actor Levar Burton made some news when he discussed on CNN his fears of being mistreated by the police because of racial profiling and how he has taught his sons to behave if and when they get pulled over. Tonight, Burton appeared on the O’Reilly Factor as a follow up. I believe Bill O’Reilly meant well and intended to have a respectful exchange of perspectives but just like when he gushed over how well behaved the black diners were at Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem, his clueless arrogance muscled its way through.

First, O’Reilly suggested that African American concerns about racial profiling are overblown. And he held up his own recent experience with a black copy who “didn’t like” him as an example:

I was pulled over by a black cop a few weeks ago and he obviously didn’t like me and gave me a nice, big ticket, even though I had a pretty good excuse for what I was doing. But that was alright, I was wrong, I took the ticket.

But I didn’t feel threatened in any way. I picked up the vibe that he’s not a big Factor fan but I didn’t feel – but you, on the other hand, when you’re pulled over, you feel –

Burton tried to explain that it was a matter of making sure the police officer didn’t over-react, not merely a matter of being annoyingly singled out  “The difference between you and me, Bill… I want to make sure that that time between when the officer leaves his car and approaches mine, that he’s as relaxed as possible,” Burton said.

But O’Reilly didn’t get it. “…And why do you want to make sure he’s relaxed? Because that didn’t even pop into my brain. What popped into my brain was, ‘I’ll explain why I did this and he’ll understand,’ It wasn’t 'I want him to be relaxed.’”

Of course, that’s exactly the point. Burton said, “Because I live in a country and in a culture where it can sometimes be dangerous to be a young black male. The statistics are overwhelming… The over-representation in our prison populations of young men of color. It is historically dangerous to be a young black man in America.”

Instead of acknowledging that someone of color might just have a different experience and a different frame of reference, O’Reilly moved on to suggest that racial profiling is African Americans’ own fault:

Does the fact that reported crime - not convicted crime - reported crime, so overwhelmingly tilts toward African American men mitigate this? That reported crime, mostly by other African Americans, alright, is overwhelmingly in the young black man precincts. Does that mitigate anything?

Burton answered, “I don’t believe it does. I really don’t. He added that majority populations “always” “set the rules” and that blacks have “traditionally, habitually, institutionally been disenfranchised and targets of law enforcement.”

O’Reilly interrupted to say he had to run. But before he closed the segment, he issued some marching orders to Burton: “I want you to do a little research for me. I think it’s a fact that proportionally young black men commit far more crimes than any other group in this country. And I think that that’s what is driving all of this fear on both sides."

Burton replied, “We’ll talk again, Bill.”

I hope they do. And I hope Burton is wise to, or will be wise to, the kind of race baiting and racial divisiveness that goes on daily at Fox News – and calls them out on it

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Joe peters commented 2015-07-28 06:03:46 -0400 · Flag
Even as a white man, and I work with police, the first thing I do is get my wallet and place it on the dash board where the cop can see is clearly. Then I place my hands on the top of the wheel and keep them there, where he can see them clearly from a distance from the car until he ask for my ID. Then I reach for wallet and only that. LeVar Burton, I grew up watching Star Trek TNG with my dad always enjoyed your performance. Also, though I get my news from fox I also know they can be a bit antsy with their interviews. Thank you for showing how to be wise in an interview both with CNN and Fox.
Patches Jones commented 2013-08-29 15:43:57 -0400 · Flag
Wow! What a lot of angry ignorant morons! No wonder there is so much Racial problems. You losers sure are guzzling the Far-Lefts Kool-Aid by the Gallon!
Oh for the record to all of you “Loyal Democrat” morons, The KKK was started by the Southern Democrats! Not the Republican Party! …Alete Imbeciles!
-———-
Comment edited. We get the point.
Sandman2 commented 2013-07-10 09:51:40 -0400 · Flag
There’s no more racism, just ask Texas Gov. Rick Perry who’s family vacation property is affectionately known as NIGGERHEAD RANCH.
Yep, no racism to see here, move along.
Kent Brockman commented 2013-07-09 23:30:06 -0400 · Flag
Killer O’Reilly sez
Ya see, The White Power Structure does Not include Blacks. That’s why it’s called The White Power Structure. Do I have to repeat that Burton? BTW kid, when did your eyes get fixed?!
Dave Ables commented 2013-07-09 20:11:12 -0400 · Flag
It’s like Paula Deen (sp?). Some people never notice racism so decide that it doesn’t exist.
Kortez Tk commented 2013-07-09 11:10:19 -0400 · Flag
What did Levar Burton expect when he agreed to go on Blowhard O’Reilly’s show, decent treatment, reasonable discussion, and insight into society? How could any person with decency and intelligence show up on The Fathead, I mean Factor?
truman commented 2013-07-09 09:19:22 -0400 · Flag
Bildo bloviated: If black people were more like white people, then they would not have to be profiled.
Jan Hall commented 2013-07-09 09:04:31 -0400 · Flag
More of the same, Junior’s Narcissistic belief that the problem with society is that everybody isn’t like him. (And for that we are all thankful).
Antoinette commented 2013-07-09 04:11:41 -0400 · Flag
Too bad the black cop didn’t arrest Billy for crimes against humanity, i.e., spewing hate and lies on this fraudulent “news” nightmare.

Of course, Billy wouldn’t be the first News Corporation employee with run-ins with the law.

Billy lives in a predominantly white and wealthy neighborhood. The only time you see minorities-mostly Hispanics-is when they are cutting the rich folks lawn and trimming the branches. Others hire Hispanic women for domestic work.

NOTE TO BILLY

Against the black Irish as well?
Headly Westerfield commented 2013-07-09 03:57:15 -0400 · Flag
“I believe Bill O’Reilly meant well and intended to have a respectful exchange of perspectives but just like when he gushed over how well behaved the black diners were at Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem, his clueless arrogance muscled its way through.”

It’s not clueless arrogance. It’s his arrogant cluelessness that gets in the way.

If the discussion is about Racial Profiling, WTF does Loofah Lad have to contribute to such a discussion? Nothing. But he’s got a Black guest who might be able to add to the public discourse. If The Falafel King were really a news person he’d be asking his guest more questions about Racial Profiling, not talking about himself getting pulled over by a Black cop, a story that had no racial component until he gave it one.

With all my loofahs,
Aunty Headly
Aria Prescott commented 2013-07-09 03:00:34 -0400 · Flag
Slightly off-topic, but Bill O’Reilly is quickly becoming the voice I hear in my head when I see text of a white person telling a minority that the slaver understands slavery better than the slaves. I used to hear Hannity or Limbaugh, but now it’s Bill O’Reilly.

Anyone else going through this?
Janet Tuhey commented 2013-07-09 02:40:48 -0400 · Flag
Of course the only black people Billy ever sees are “the help” in his gated community. I’ll bet they get pulled over all the time for being black in a rich, white only neighborhood.
Joseph West commented 2013-07-09 01:28:21 -0400 · Flag
Man, that must’ve killed O’Reilly when he admitted on national television that he was actually wrong about something when he got that ticket.

Of course, given the situation, it wouldn’t surprised that O’Reilly was lying about the whole incident.
Eric Youngstrom commented 2013-07-09 00:23:00 -0400 · Flag
No Spin Zone my ass! All Billy boy does is spin. Man I hate that dickhead!
NewsHounds posted about O’Reilly Whitesplains Racial Profiling To Levar Burton on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2013-07-08 23:09:02 -0400
Apparently, Bill O'Reilly thinks he knows more about racial profiling than Levar Burton.








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