Vick's Ascension Magnifies Racial Divide
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Vick's Ascension Magnifies Racial Divide
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
I was talking to an ex-NFL player last week, guy I hadn't seen in a while, and eventually we got around to Michael Vick. The ex-player is African-American, from the rural South. His take was that Vick's prison term for dogfighting was way too harsh, and that people should let that go, as Vick remakes himself as the quarterback of the Eagles. The ex-player recalled seeing Sunday afternoon dogfights in a park where he grew up, witnessed (and presumably wagered upon) by the local police.
This was not an isolated occurrence. I think if you surveyed the largely African-American Eagles locker room, that guy's take would be the perspective of a huge percentage of the players.
Race is such a tricky, hot-button thing, so many of us just try to pretend it isn't a part of the issues we deal with, even when it obviously is.The Eagles' locker room shocked much of the (white) fan base by voting Vick the Ed Block Courage Award last year. Hmmm. What do you think that was about?
Another conversation last week, with a (white) agent. He was talking about going to a Super Bowl party many years ago, when Vick was near the start of his career. The party was largely African-American, and the agent remembered being surprised at how Vick's presence resonated with other famous players and guests -- "it was like Michael Jordan had walked in," the agent said.
One of the reasons Roger Goodell was so interested in Vick's rehabilitation was Vick's standing in the African-American community. Predogfight scandal, by 2007 much of white America might have seen Vick as a sideshow, a quarterback who never took his craft seriously enough to win anything. Black America saw an artist, an elegant, unstoppable performer. (They now see him as an elegant, unstoppable performer who has been persecuted by white people.)
This was much like the split that surrounded Allen Iverson in his prime. (A guy from the exact same background, a few neighborhoods over.)
So, here we are, with Vick starting for the Eagles, and playing well. All over the Internet, people (mostly African-American) argue that he has paid his dues and should be embraced. Other people (mostly not African-American) argue that torturing and killing dogs over a period of years isn't something you just shrug off because a guy went to prison for a while and is now playing real well.
I don't see any easy answers, an unqualified yes to one and no to the other. Obviously, I didn't grow up black in the rural South. I grew up white in the suburban South. I think I understand a little of the "cultural" argument. I never saw a dogfight, but in my family, dogs were not cuddly little foo-foo things; they lived outdoors, didn't come in the house. One neighbor had a kennel of hunting dogs, and gave us one who couldn't hunt.
Still, I found myself wanting to ask the ex-player last week, "So, after these dogfights in the park, did you watch the dogs being hanged and electrocuted? Did you think, 'Gee, that looks like fun, I'd like to kill some of those dogs myself!' Over and over and over again?"
Vick has been nothing but decent and courteous to me. I can't reconcile what he has done with the guy I talk to in the Eagles' locker room. I'm really hoping to get a better handle on that as we move forward. And as a sports reporter, I can't let my discomfort with what he did make me discount what he does on the field; if I let that happen, I am not doing my job.
But I'll admit, I find the idea of Vick "sticking it to" his critics by playing well a really perverse, obnoxious notion. He can throw for 100 touchdowns this year, and he still did what he did, and it was still really, really, really wrong.
The only hope for something good coming out of Vick's ascension that I can see is that maybe Vick will gain a greater platform to somehow explain himself, that he can give us a better notion than he has so far of how these things can possibly happen, and demonstrate through his words and deeds he is really a different person now.
But I think it's going to be a bumpy ride.
**
To read our earlier post about Donovan McNabb's radio show, click here.
Follow me, my brothers, as your leader of the "White People Michael Vick Supporters (the WPMVS for short). Michael Vick has brought more attention to the subject of Animal Rights than any human being in the history of the world. It just depends on how you were brought up, all my relatives grew up on a farm in South Dakota and they chop heads off animals like it's nothing.— brmorgen81- Whites react the way one would expect people to react to dog torture. Blacks defend Vick because he is black. So tell me where race comes in.— bobbyd24
- Good article. Very rare that race is addressed in reasonable manner.— Jim C.
- Poor Les. Its gonna be a bumpy ride for ya alright...just you though.— mlr710
- important article Les. must be hard for some blacks who don't culturally identify with dogfighting to defend this guy. Im sure in any minority community there is a lot of internal pressure to stick up for "one of your own." Unless that guy is McNabb - who got savaged by the NAACP and TO and Bernard Hopkins for being too corporate. Something is diseased with a culture that lifts up lawlessness and thuggery while mocking success, education, and values. Also the reason why all the (white and non-white) immigrant groups outpace AA's in every measurable way. But its all good - 'cause that's just diversity man...— dragoon6
- I'm white and loved AI. I have his jersey which I wore for big games, and an AI bobblehead that I would sit next to me when I watched the games. Also think McNabb was the best quarterback the Eagles ever had. I don't like Vick because he's an above average quaterback. Exciting for a couple plays, but not going to win us the SuperBowl. I am annoyed by this article because it's only about race to the extremes of the fan base.— Vote for Dickie
- Whatz worse...rapping a girl, killing a dog OR HITING SOMEONE WITH YOUR CAR AND KILLING THEM...Its funny how people judge people and behind close doors..there is chicken fighting, dog fighting, deer killing, duck hunting..and more that goes unnoticed because NOBODY KNOWN WAS CAUGHT...LOL..LEAVE THE MAN ALONE!— riza1976
- Gotta agree with the article. The headline, however, says "magnifies." The racial divide hasn't grown because of Michael Vick's crimes or comeback. It has stayed closer to the surface where everyone can see it. The OJ trial was another story like this. Everywhere I went, people had their minds made up, often based on their skin tone. Truth was, even those who wasted time watching every minute of the trial on TV could not fairly reach a verdict in their minds. Because they didn't get all the info the jury got. (Didn't stop them from reaching a verdict anyway.) It'd be nice if black people could be spoken about based on their actions alone, but in the U.S. so many conclusions are still drawn based on color. And any time we do this, our conclusions are wrong, even if accidentally we're right about which guy should start at quarterback. Say one thing for Andy Reid, he didn't seem to make this decision based on skin pigment.— tacklinjoe
- Almost ALL black racism/ignorance.— sepsl45
- While to some people this is a black/white thing, to many it's not. I understand the whole thing about serving his time, 2nd chances, etc. But the dog fighting/gambling is horrific to me and to many other people. For a lot of people it's hard to root for someone who did these things, and the color of his skin certainly doesn't matter. But the one thing that bothers me about all of the commentary I hear and read from media, fans, etc. is how Vick made "mistakes" and he has paid for his "mistakes". A mistake is an accident, not something that continues to occur with your approval. The fact that the dog fighting/gambling ring went on for YEARS means that this wasn't a mistake, it was a calculated decision on his part to start and continue this. And the whole "culture" thing, where it's accepted where he's from? Another excuse. If it was accepted, why did he and his buddies hide it? Why did he buy the house and build the fighting/training rooms in a rural area with no neighbors? Why did he lie to Roger Goodell when he was asked about it? Why? Because he KNEW IT WAS WRONG, and HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD GET IN TROUBLE IF HE GOT CAUGHT!! That isn't a mistake, that is willingly engaging in criminal activity that he knew was illegal. And THAT'S why I don't like him, THAT'S why I can't root for him or his team! Knock yourselves out if you want to root for Vick, I would rather remember a very successful quarterback who played here for 11 years, no trouble, no criminal activity, great community guy, gave to charity, etc. (McNabb) that many teams would love to have as their qb. And if most of you nutjobs could get your heads out of your butts, you would realize that too.— mjc1
- Pugna _ killing dogs is not a felony. It has become one. What made it a felony is the illegal gambling. the government doesnt care about the dogs at all. or anyother animal for the matter unless they are about to become extinct. Money has always been the focus. You do more time for illegal gambling and robbing banks it seems than for actually k1lling people. The question i want to have answered is between 2 choices. would you rather have your dog k1lled or your daughter, mother, sister, aunt, or niece raped. lets see how big ben is received by the fans in pittsburgh and then you decide if race doesnt play somewhat of a part. I feel it does. skin color, size and shape, age,wealth, education,religion, upbringing, looks,dress,nationality and gender all plays a part in how anyone is perceived to say it doesnt would be foolish— rockwild
Good job, Les. Tough subject -- and I bet the comments on here demonstrate exactly the wack racial split your article covers.— Leegles- I really don't understand how he is sticking it to anyone, his critics said he was never a student of the game and therefore lacked the discipline to take his game to the next level, Vick HAS admitted he never looked at film and did not do what was necessary to get better. No one except him truly knows if he remorseful, only time will tell if he has turned his life around. He broke the law and served his time, he also put himself into a bad situation with the party so his decision making is open for discussion. He is playing for his football life and playing well, he thinks he has been through a lot so far wait until his next huge contract when the hangers on return.— keepitreal1234
- I'm sick of these dog stories.— an observer3
- is it ok for me, a white male, to hate the idea of Vick playing QB for this team because I don't think they are going anywhere with him this year or in the future? And that while Klob may suck, he has at least a chance to take them somewhere in the future? I could be wrong, but I assure you my opinion has nothing to do with race. Les, you are a dope.— fishthing
