Sensitivity

Sometimes we black folk love to get our Ralph Tresvant on. Sometimes we are just too sensitive. We tend to cry foul about every little thing we think is or take offensive. When this happens, it damages our credibilty when legitimate concerns occur. Also people outside of our community tend to get tired of the complaining. It's sort of like crying wolf. Most often, this happens when "we" feel like something has happened that we feel is racist or offensive. Do this happen? Yes, it does. However, everything we think is offensive doesn't mean we have to round up the troops, call Al and Uncle Jesse and make a scene. Sometimes, we need to fully understand what we are causing an uproar about, get ALL the fact and then decide whether it is even worth FoxNews pointing and laughing at us.

This week, there was a story involving the ever controverial commentator, Bill O'Reilly. We all know about O'Reilly and his antics and off the wall statments and views. He and Brother Al were in Harlem having dinner at Sylvia's in a pay-me-back for Sharpton appearing on the O'Reilly factor. Later, O'Reilly was on frequent FoxNews contributor Juan Williams' radio show and went on to describe the lack of craziness at Sylvia's. He also "noticed" that eating at a restaurant in uptown New York was no different than having dinner in an all-white suburbs.

RELEASE THE HOUNDS!!

Naturally, onslaught began. O'Reilly is an old racist who has once again shown his ignorance to the world.

Maybe so, but to me, if you listen and read the entire interview, it can and should be interepreted totally different. O'Reilly is essentially admitting his own ignorance to the world and letting other who stereotype that things aren't always the way they appear on the outside. Were his statements out of line? Perhaps. However, on many occassions O'Reilly has stated he did not grow up in a diverse environment and some of his on prejudices are a product of his envrionment. Should we excuse it? Absolutely not. But we listen and try and understand where his coming from.

Too often, we cry racism and are quick to criticize, rather than listen and try to educate those "on the outside." Part of how people view and stereotype us are based on how we respond and react in adversity.

Just one man's opinion.