How these two ended up breaking bread together is anyone's guess, but I'm sure it had something to do with ratings and upcoming elections. Bill and Al supped together at Sylvia's, the legendary home of authentic soul food in the heart of Harlem. Maybe Al was trying to get Bill some street cred; he does like the sisters.
While Reverend Al has been uncharacteristically mum about the whole affair, O'Reilly just couldn't keep his big mouth shut. Big surprise, I know. He went on his radio program and said he just couldn't believe how civilized all the colored folk were, that they sat quietly and just ...ordered their food and stuff. No rioting, no gang warfare, just the best ribs in town. Said O'Reilly, "I couldn’t get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia’s restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it’s run by blacks, primarily black patronship.�
Later, in an interview with NPR, O'Reilly continued ambling along Xenophobe Road, saying dining at Sylvia's was amazingly like dining at an Italian restaurant in the 'burbs. He just can't get over the fact that he had a great meal in a great restaurant with competent, professional wait staff in a peaceful family setting ... in Harlem. With Black people.
I guess O'Reilly doesn't have to worry about job security, though. It's not like he called anyone a nappy headed ho. He just expressed utter shock that the people that Reverend Al introduced him to were polite and civilized and that he had a great meal north of Central Park. I hope Reverend Al stuck him with the check.
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