The popular culture of racism on the radio has hit a new low. During the February 19th edition of his nationally-syndicated radio show, The Radio Factor, Bill O’Reilly made the following statement in response to an anonymous caller’s suggestion that Michelle Obama, wife of presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, is a “militant” and “very angry” woman:

“I don’t want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there’s evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels…” - Bill O’Reilly

Sigh…as if the “nappy headed ho” comment from Don Imus wasn’t enough, now we have to listen to another radio personality verbally assault women of African descent. Anyone who stayed awake long enough in a middle school social studies class knows that lynching was a heinous and barbaric practice to subjugate and control the behaviors of people of African descent. Beyond the effigy of burned and disfigured bodies hanging from trees, lynchings were tools to 1) threaten the general African American population, and 2) send the message that Black people needed to “know their place.” As a message supporting the notion of white supremacy, lynching is one of the most overtly racist practices in American history.

The fact that Bill O’Reilly used this framework in reference to Michelle Obama is a blatant attempt to resurrect this message. His choice to frame the circumstances under which he would be willing to “lynch” Michelle Obama is beyond offensive. It is racist, plain and simple. Racism is a power relationship–a political, economic, and structural manifestation of white privilege and control. And, once again, Bill O’Reilly is championing this cause. His rhetoric is filled with the kind of desperate, racist pedagogy that doesn’t know what to do with itself in a modern era of multiculturalism, where racist radio is neither logical, provocative, nor tolerable. It’s just wack…and it has to go.

For years, Bill O’Reilly has managed to retain his national platform for spewing this type of rhetoric. When he expressed surprise that African Americans possess restaurant etiquette, many of us just shook our heads and dismissed him as a silly, old man. When he went on a tirade against hip hop culture, again, we expressed strong dissatisfaction; but no strong collective action was taken. It’s time to change that.

Understanding the conservative thrust of the Fox network, and understanding that Bill O’Reilly obviously has a significant audience that actually listens to and agrees with the animal dung that falls from his lips, I don’t suggest censorship. Of course, the man is free to think and say whatever he wants, but we should call it what it is. Racist radio rhetoric is obsolete in a modern, civilized society underscored by values that emphasize freedom, equal justice, and the absence of discrimination. Even those who openly seek to dismantle public policy tools (e.g. affirmative action) that provide remedy for discrimination agree that the popular culture of racism is antithetical to the professed norms of this society. So, if society is the greatest consumer of this ridiculous pandering to racist ideology, then we are also free to reject it and its messenger.

Call to Action! If you agree that it is time to pull the plug on racist rhetoric, send a note to David Tabacoff, Executive Producer of “The O’Reilly Factor” and “The Radio Factor.” Let your voice of reason be heard over O’Reilly’s persistent voice of hatred.

Peace!

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