I am not a big football fan, but you can't escape the ongoing media coverage and crucifixion of Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick. Personally I was tired of the coverage. What is it about our culture, that we insist on running a story into the ground, until life has been slowly and painfully drained. Do I dare type Paris Hilton (that was painful). Make no mistake, what Micheal Vick did was wrong. I am mad that he didn't man up and tell the truth in the first place. He was stupid. It seems to me, he only admitted guilt because his cohorts began to roll on him. The evidence was just too much. This was something he had been doing for a long time. Does that make his admission less genuine. I don't know.
Now be honest. How many of us would admit to wrong doing, if we knew we could get away with it. Remember be honest...I thought so. Do you really think the executives at Enron were losing sleep about the pensions they stole. I believe Vick should be punished for his crimes. However I am disturbed that he could serve jail time for killing an animal but sex offenders, murders, and rapists get probation, and not see the inside of a jail.
It is common knowledge justice is not blind. Nor is she consistant. I overheard someone say, "it would have been better if he had killed a human being." Paris Hilton got a day pass from jail because of her "nervous breakdown." Somehow I don't think this will be case for Michael Vick. It may sound cruel but he did not kill a human being. Why does he deserve jail time? Would'nt it be better if he had to do community service at an animal shelter or be on call to rescue dogs. Does he deserve to be banned from football? I don't know.
Does the media play an important part in how Vick has been viewed? It is interesting that he had to cut his braids. Let's be honest, if he kept the braids public scrutiny would have been more harsh. It would not have mattered if he had on a suit and spoke the queen's english. The braids say to white america, THUG. Did him cutting off his braids make a difference. In my opinion, no. I overheard a white woman in a public bathroom say to a friend, "I don't give a shit how much he tries to clean up that nigger deserves what he gets. His money ain't gonna make a difference on this one."
The incident with Vick once again takes us, as a nation against racial lines and how blacks are portrayed in the media. I imagine Vick was relieved when the media began to focus on Senator Craig. I imagine Micheal Vick and his laywer, Billy Martin were saying "thank you God" for different reasons. Let the feeding frenzy begin.
6 comments:
Ouida, I agree wholeheartedly that the media puts way too much emphasis on celebrity misdeeds. It's repulsive. I'm not sure if any of it is racially motivated, though. It seems like stupid things that white people do generate just as much publicity, but maybe I'm less aware of the difference. Some examples that come to mind include the whole thing with Hugh Grant and the prostitute, Britney and her (lack of) underwear, Clinton and Monica, etc etc etc.
On the other hand, killing dogs is a cold thing, worse than some of the other celebrity escapades, but not necessarily deserving of jail time. I like your idea of making Vick do community service --I'd make him go to counseling too.
Hi Ouida, I think that race plays a huge part in this dance, it has to. People can walk around in this world all they want with a 'I'm blind to color' attitude. Generally speaking those are people who have never ventured outside their white suburban backyard, whose racial experience is limited to MLK and that one 'African American' kid who they took 3rd grade history with. Everyone looked on as young Jamal explained, at the insistence of his white teacher, to the rest of the class about how slavery made him feel. Celebrities are crucified everyday of the week, but celebrities of color are supposed to be the emissary for their entire race. Sure, that isn’t how it should be but then again there really shouldn’t be a market for dog fighting, it just is. Michael Vick’s braids crossed the lines of cultural propriety. It makes white people uncomfortable and the truth is most white people are much more comfortable with pictures of Denzel Washington or Kanye West, both of which have more traditionally white styled hair. Have you seen Condoleezza rockin’ the braids? No, I didn’t think so. Public perception (and I do NOT think that it is exclusively white people but that is a debate for later) tied to this particular trait of culture, is that this signals thug, trouble, gangsta. Barrack Obama wouldn’t get elected if tomorrow he decided to sport braids. In fact I guarantee that his entire image management team would jump of a bridge collectively if he decided to. It’s not even that Barrack would WANT to wear braids (he doesn’t strike me as a braid wearer, but what do I know, I’ve never met the man), but it doesn’t matter because if he wants to get elected the choice is not his. If you want to be perceived in a certain manner the choice is not your own. And while this is true for a number of things (power suits vs. pajamas, long skirts vs. mini skirts, blonde vs. brunette, etc) this particular facet is tied to a cultural root that white people don’t have to worry about. Racism abounds in America, and do I think Michael Vick and his attorney cleaned him up because of it? You bet. I didn’t see Senator Craig change his hair, manner of dress, etc, did you?
Good point about the "braids" and image thing, Tyann. But lawyers will also tell their white clients on trial to look "professional" "cleancut" etc. Yes, a form of not-so-subtle racism and "classism"
I'm not saying that racism doesn't exist in America--it does. It's just that I don't think it's a big part of this case. But then I live with animal rights folks (vegans, vegetarians and a veterinarian) who are huge football fans but were totally upset by the fact that Vick killed the dogs (drowned them, hung them, etc.) It's hard to overlook that whether the perpetrator is black or white. Maybe we should use this case as a reason to examine the way we treat animals in the U.S.--I think a white player who did this would be viewed the same way by the public and the news media.
It is a scary world in which a man who killed dogs would do more time than a man that beat or molested a child. If this weren't a celebrity case, it would be open and closed without all the media coverage.
I really found your analysis of the media coverage interesting. I agree that race had a huge factor. I'm sure there was some press agent behind the scenes insisting the braids come off and the manners come out. Act like the respectful, remorseful football star and America will forgive you. I think it is also sad because you can tell from the presentation who the target audience is. Conservative white people. I don't have much more to say that hasn't been articulated so well already, but I hate the whole situation. I would rather be informed on the truth, the real truth, braids and all. At least it would be something real, not just the reality the stars, their agents and the TV networks want us all to see.
I'm going to have to agree with Ouida on this one. Rather than being himself, Vick has "cleaned up" his physical image to portray himself in a more positive light. I think that there are a few other underlying (or prominent in some cases) factors here at work too. He is an African-American male, which, whether we like it or not does convey certain stereotypes in this country. And, to a large part, the media does play a significant role in these perpetuations. When was the last time you saw a film or tv show that didn't? Also, he is a very public figure. Being a sports star in and of itself has certain stereotypes. The thing that bothers me the most however is how angry the American public has become over the heinous deaths of these animals, and yet we are not as angry over Darfur.
It does strike me as interesting that the amount of attention that Michael Vick's case has received in comparison with some of the more pressing social issues going on both nationally and globally. I think that what he did was sick and he should be punished. But punish him outside of the media spotlight. Instead the media should be should be used to inform about much more important issues. In a perfect world...
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