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ed11563


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the slaves who built the White House were well fed
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Bill O’Reilly wants you to know the slaves who built the White House were well fed

July 27, 2016 By Erik Wemple   The Washington Post

President Barack Obama walks across the colonnade of President Barack Obama walks across the colonnade of the White House toward the Oval office July 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Credit: Getty Images / Mark Wilson)

PHILADELPHIA — On Monday night in a widely praised speech here at the Democratic National Convention, first lady Michelle Obama made a poignant observation about her life and race in America: “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters — two beautiful, intelligent, black young women — playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”

Within minutes, PolitiFact confirmed the factual rigor of Obama’s claim. The New York Times also did a write-up: “Yes, Slaves Did Help Build the White House.”

On his Tuesday night program, however, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly felt he still had something to add to the conversation. “Slaves did participate in the construction of the White House,” O’Reilly said, noting that “free blacks, whites and immigrants also worked on the massive building.”

 

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Then: “Slaves that worked there were well fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government,” the host said.

Thanks, O’Reilly, for the context.

For even more context, try Jesse J. Holland’s book “The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves in the White House,” which notes, “With the invention of steam shovels still several years away, these slaves dug for the clay on site with hand shovels, working day and night to get the raw material to the skilled brick makers and at the same time, opening up ground on the site for the space that would become the White House’s foundation and cellar.”

“Digging up clay was unskilled, tedious and backbreaking work,” writes Holland. As to the “decent” lodging, Holland notes that a “barn” was built for the workers.

Is that “decent” lodging?

“It wouldn’t be a leap to say the living conditions in a barn were much less comfortable than in a house,” Holland said in an interview with the Erik Wemple Blog.

A “steady diet of pork and bread” was provided to slaves in quarries supplying stone for construction of the president’s house, according to Holland’s book, though the author cautions against any conclusion that these folks were “well fed.”

“It’s hard to think they got all the food they wanted when they wanted it and all the food they needed when they needed it,” said Holland. “What does ’well fed’ mean? When you don’t have a choice about what you eat, are you well fed?”

Presumably, O’Reilly would have scrapped the segment if only Obama had said, “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by well-fed and decently lodged slaves, and I watch my daughters — two beautiful, intelligent, black young women — playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”

Those inclined to trust O’Reilly on matters of White House history should consider the time that his book “Killing Lincoln” botched a key fact on the building.

< back to article



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lilyofcourse


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Have you ever been in barn?

A well built barn will stand for hundreds of years.

The barn will have good thick heavy wood, and plenty of space for bedding down.

I bet in those days, they did have good lodging.

And I bet the food the slaves got, was the same others had, probably better than some of the others.

Yes.

She lives in a house built by slaves.

Doesn't that prove every day just how far removed from slavery she is?

How much better things are now?

She should be proud of where she lives.

Thankful, even.

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ed11563


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"She should be proud of where she lives.

Thankful, even."

She probably is.

 



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lilyofcourse


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No she isnt.

Have you ever heard her say that? Even hinted at that?

No.


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Isn't it nice that some of the early members of the Democratic party, the same Party the O's are members of, prostituted their slaves out for the building of the White house.

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They sure talk about slavery a lot without ever acknowledging that it was a REPUBLICAN Pres who ended it.

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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ed11563 wrote:

"She should be proud of where she lives.

Thankful, even."

She probably is.

 

 She is 'proud" when it suits her agenda.    



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Lindley


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

They sure talk about slavery a lot without ever acknowledging that it was a REPUBLICAN Pres who ended it.

 Yes they overlook that a lot.



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Lawyerlady


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Lindley wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

They sure talk about slavery a lot without ever acknowledging that it was a REPUBLICAN Pres who ended it.

 Yes they overlook that a lot.

 Yes, the government used slaves.  Is that supposed to be news.  Instead of focusing on history we can't change, how about being proud of ending slavery and how far we have come?  Of course, Obama has put race relations back about 4 decades. 



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It was once thought that slaves built the great pyramids, too. So what? Slaves existed in most cultures, outside of the U.S.A. They were a part of history. We are all free now, and have been for many years. Time to move on. Clearly, Mrs. O is trying to set her race back by making comments like that. Does anyone really think she wakes up each morning and thinks of how her ancestors may or may not have been treated or whether they helped build the White House? My guess is she wakes up each morning and wonders how and what she can do to divide this country further. Or what government paid trip she can take with her daughters next.

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apple


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I think a black persons perspective on living in a "home" built by slaves is not something I have the knowledge to comment on.

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I think I might want to dig up how my Irish ancestors were treated and start marching on that topic.

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apple


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Cheerios4606 wrote:

I think I might want to dig up how my Irish ancestors were treated and start marching on that topic.

 If you were expected to live in a house built by Irish slaves, have at it. That would be somewhat similar eh?



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Ohfour


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apple wrote:
Cheerios4606 wrote:

I think I might want to dig up how my Irish ancestors were treated and start marching on that topic.

 If you were expected to live in a house built by Irish slaves, have at it. That would be somewhat similar eh?

I wouldn't friggin care.  Good Lord.  They will find anything to whine about...



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Lawyerlady


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apple wrote:
Cheerios4606 wrote:

I think I might want to dig up how my Irish ancestors were treated and start marching on that topic.

 If you were expected to live in a house built by Irish slaves, have at it. That would be somewhat similar eh?

 Want to discuss my Native American ancestors?  



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Ohfour


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Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

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apple


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Lawyerlady wrote:
apple wrote:
Cheerios4606 wrote:

I think I might want to dig up how my Irish ancestors were treated and start marching on that topic.

 If you were expected to live in a house built by Irish slaves, have at it. That would be somewhat similar eh?

 Want to discuss my Native American ancestors?  

 Not really. biggrin



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apple


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Ohfour wrote:

Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

 And did she live in a big white house built by Irish slaves?



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Cheerios4606


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Ohfour wrote:

Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

 Kinda the point I was making. The way I understand it, the Irish was pretty well beaten down as well.



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TrudyML


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Lawyerlady wrote:
apple wrote:
Cheerios4606 wrote:

I think I might want to dig up how my Irish ancestors were treated and start marching on that topic.

 If you were expected to live in a house built by Irish slaves, have at it. That would be somewhat similar eh?

 Want to discuss my Native American ancestors?  

Whoa, whoa there Pocahontas!

 

biggrin



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Ohfour


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apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:

Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

 And did she live in a big white house built by Irish slaves?

Absolutely she did.  I don't know that it was big, nor do I know that it was white.  But she did live in a house built by slaves. 

Not sure what your point is... 



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apple


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Ohfour wrote:
apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:

Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

 And did she live in a big white house built by Irish slaves?

Absolutely she did.  I don't know that it was big, nor do I know that it was white.  But she did live in a house built by slaves. 

Not sure what your point is... 

 You are not sure what my point is.

Let me explain...

 

Such is your disdain for this woman, you will deny her what she feels about an experience that is uniquely hers.

 



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Lawyerlady


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apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:

Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

 And did she live in a big white house built by Irish slaves?

Absolutely she did.  I don't know that it was big, nor do I know that it was white.  But she did live in a house built by slaves. 

Not sure what your point is... 

 You are not sure what my point is.

Let me explain...

 

Such is your disdain for this woman, you will deny her what she feels about an experience that is uniquely hers.

 

 That's just it.  It is not uniquely hers.  I'm so tired of the silver spoon, privileged Obamas pretending to understand the plight of poor blacks.  



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apple


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Lawyerlady wrote:
apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:

Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

 And did she live in a big white house built by Irish slaves?

Absolutely she did.  I don't know that it was big, nor do I know that it was white.  But she did live in a house built by slaves. 

Not sure what your point is... 

 You are not sure what my point is.

Let me explain...

 

Such is your disdain for this woman, you will deny her what she feels about an experience that is uniquely hers.

 

 That's just it.  It is not uniquely hers.  I'm so tired of the silver spoon, privileged Obamas pretending to understand the plight of poor blacks.  

 Wrong. It is uniquely hers. Unless you have some other examples of a black female First Lady living in the White House.



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Ohfour


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Hmmm...seems it's the blacks that keep on bringing up race. Maybe if they didn't bring it up every chance they get, it wouldn't be a big deal? The blacks are the ones that can't keep it out of conversation...

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apple


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Ohfour wrote:

Hmmm...seems it's the blacks that keep on bringing up race. Maybe if they didn't bring it up every chance they get, it wouldn't be a big deal? The blacks are the ones that can't keep it out of conversation...

 Yea that must be it. 



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apple wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
apple wrote:
Ohfour wrote:

Oh, and black people do not have the monopoly on "slaves".

My great grandmother was a slave. And she was Irish...

 And did she live in a big white house built by Irish slaves?

Absolutely she did.  I don't know that it was big, nor do I know that it was white.  But she did live in a house built by slaves. 

Not sure what your point is... 

 You are not sure what my point is.

Let me explain...

 

Such is your disdain for this woman, you will deny her what she feels about an experience that is uniquely hers.

 

 That's just it.  It is not uniquely hers.  I'm so tired of the silver spoon, privileged Obamas pretending to understand the plight of poor blacks.  

 Wrong. It is uniquely hers. Unless you have some other examples of a black female First Lady living in the White House.

 I don't care that she's the First Lady - it doesn't put her above all other black women.  And other black women have lived in that building.  



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lilyofcourse


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That house was built by both black and white, free and slave.

People see or hear slave and all they can think of is Roots.

Look.

In 1792, slaves were common. That's how things were done.

But that's in the past.



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apple


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It is uniquely her experience as First Lady, who happens to be black.

Why that makes you all bonkers is beyond me and frankly, ridiculous and petty.

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It's not making anyone bonkers. It's just such a ridiculous statement that it can't quite be taken seriously.

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apple


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Tinydancer wrote:

It's not making anyone bonkers. It's just such a ridiculous statement that it can't quite be taken seriously.

 Its not at all ridiculous, you just don't like it for some reason. Probably because of who said it and not so much what was said is my guess.



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Go ahead and believe it's profound and I'll continue to think it's ridiculous. You do know that's your OPINION and others have a different OPINION but you keep thinking only yours is correct as does every other person with an OPINION.

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apple


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Tinydancer wrote:

Go ahead and believe it's profound and I'll continue to think it's ridiculous. You do know that's your OPINION and others have a different OPINION but you keep thinking only yours is correct as does every other person with an OPINION.

 Perhaps it is a matter of perspective.

As a black woman, now the First Lady, she is in fact living in a "house" that was built predominantly by slaves.

This is not IMO a complaint but a remark on just how far black equality has moved forward in fairly recent history. 

Would those slaves ever have even dreamed that the White House would ever have a black President and First Lady?



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Tinydancer


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So if Hillary is elected she can say something profound about living in the White House as the first female President and I'll think that's ridiculous too. The times they are a changing and to dwell in the past just keeps it all about race.

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Lawyerlady


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The only reason to bring it up is to be divisive.


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apple


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Lawyerlady wrote:

The only reason to bring it up is to be divisive.

 Again, its a matter of perspective. 



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Ohfour


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They had the mother's of the black kids killed by police on stage. Didn't see any fathers...found that interesting.

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apple


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Ohfour wrote:

They had the mother's of the black kids killed by police on stage. Didn't see any fathers...found that interesting.

 Of course you did.



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Probably don't know who the fathers are, or they are in jail.

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apple


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FNW wrote:

Probably don't know who the fathers are, or they are in jail.

 Of course.

 



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Ohfour


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apple wrote:
FNW wrote:

Probably don't know who the fathers are, or they are in jail.

 Of course.

 

Seeing that 72% of black babies are born to single mothers, that's a correct assumption... 



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apple


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Ohfour wrote:
apple wrote:
FNW wrote:

Probably don't know who the fathers are, or they are in jail.

 Of course.

 

Seeing that 72% of black babies are born to single mothers, that's a correct assumption... 

 Of course.



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