Republican political commentator and former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly hasn't been making as much news since being forced out from his home network.
That didn't stop a recent tweet of his about reparations for slavery—which were recently explored by a House Judiciary subcommittee—from backfiring in the best way.
O'Reilly called the idea that the founders of the United States were racist and designed a system that primarily benefitted white men a "radical belief," despite many of the founding fathers owning slaves and only allowing white men to vote.
Slavery reparations is a far-left favorite because it does a number of things. It reinforces the radical belief th… https://t.co/n8aUtvCA92— Bill O'Reilly (@Bill O'Reilly) 1561402522.0
It also suggests that personal responsibility does not count when the legacy of slavery dropped a curtain of oppres… https://t.co/ZFVkNH8J5r— Bill O'Reilly (@Bill O'Reilly) 1561404007.0
O'Reilly also implied that a lack of personal responsibility, rather than institutional injustice, is to blame for the narrative that 400 years of slavery in America still affects lives and livelihoods today.
People were quick to point out that these "radical beliefs" are actually objective facts.
@BillOReilly Why Bill, I think you've hit the nail on the head. The US WAS founded by racist white men who installe… https://t.co/LaLcUqdJN4— Khashoggi’s Ghost (@Khashoggi’s Ghost) 1561415487.0
@BillOReilly The United States was founded by racist white men who installed a system whereby white guys would run… https://t.co/Dxm25yBQis— LiA (@LiA) 1561409303.0
@BillOReilly In fairness: —The USA was founded by racist white men —Black slaves were explicitly 3/5ths of a perso… https://t.co/scNDvTBySP— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1561405668.0
@BillOReilly this is literally what happened bill— Lloyd Howell (sparkling clean) (@Lloyd Howell (sparkling clean)) 1561404736.0
They brought receipts too.
@BillOReilly 112th Republican House Members https://t.co/3fyFcckNhs— Naveed Jamali (@Naveed Jamali) 1561417172.0
@BillOReilly The Constitution has slavery built into it as an assumption. That is part of what Article 1, Section 2… https://t.co/Z6GJrA5Kvi— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald) 1561419894.0
@BillOReilly Why on earth would anyone think America was racist and ran on a power structure that was meant to only… https://t.co/JKesIdP9DS— Benjamin Dixon (@Benjamin Dixon) 1561410671.0
Where's the lie?
@BillOReilly Omg Bill gets it💃🏿— Xena (@Xena) 1561468282.0
@BillOReilly Well... That's like exactly what happened so I'm really struggling with what your point is. Am I missing something???— Jason Beavers (@Jason Beavers) 1561467493.0
@BillOReilly The legacy of slavery dropped a curtain of oppression on the black race and there is no recovering fro… https://t.co/ChywJHkbrE— Sean (@Sean) 1561470625.0
Facts are facts, Bill, not radical beliefs.
If you'd like to learn more about the history of the United States, from many perspectives, the series We Shall Remain: America Through Native Eyes is available here.
Learn more about the architects of the U.S. Constitution with Founding Fathers, available here.
Learn about the many paths taken by and forced upon African Americans on the path to freedom and the continuing journey to full equality with African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, available here.
To learn about the influx of mostly European immigrants at the turn of the 20th century, Forgotten Ellis Island is available here.
To learn more about the Hispanic experience, 20th Century With Mike Wallace: Hispanics In America, is available here.
To understand a bit of the changes for Asian families in America, Off the Menu: Asian America, is available here.