July 28, 2016
Audra McDonald and Abigail Adams Shut Down Bill O'Reilly's 'Well-Fed' Slaves Comment
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Hell hath no fury like a six time Tony-Award winner and the second first lady scorned.
When Fox News host Bill O'Reilly decided to trivialize slavery by "fact checking" Michelle Obama's address to the Democratic National Convention this week, he set off a firestorm of criticism. Not only is his comment that the slaves who built the White House were "well-fed" trending on social media, but his claims are also being refuted from two very prominent Americans - six-time Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald and second First Lady of the United States Abigail Adams.
In First Lady Michelle Obama's widely praised speech at the DNC Monday night, one of the most touching moments came when she said: "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."
The following night, O'Reilly discussed Mrs. Obama's speech and trivialized her comment about the slaves who built the White House. O'Reilly said that the slaves who built the executive mansion were only part of the work force and were "well-fed and had decent lodgings." He also referenced over 400 payments made to slave owners by the government during the construction period.
Backing up Mrs. Obama's statement that slaves built the White House was another first lady - Abigail Adams, who lived there while it was still under construction.
Of 12 slaves working outside her window, Mrs. Adams wrote:
Two of our hardy N England men would do as much work in a day as the whole 12, but it is true Republicanism that drive the Slaves half fed, and destitute of clothing, ... to labour, whilst the owner watches about Idle, tho his one Slave is all the property he can boast.
While Mrs. Adams retroactively shut down O'Reilly's claim, six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald took a more 21st century approach.
Taking to Twitter, McDonald wrote:
