Vick’s Sentence Shows America's Racist Ways
New America Media, Commentary, Charles Jones, Posted: Dec 11, 2007
Editor’s Note: Atlanta Falcon’s quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to two years in prison for running a dogfighting ring out of his home and some dog-lovers are up in arms over – what they say – is not enough time. But New America Media commentator Charles Jones says that the reaction of some Americans to the Vick case gives away their contradictory views regarding black men.
Michael Vick doesn’t deserve the almost two years the Feds slapped on him this week for fighting and killing pit bulls. But he was lucky to get 23 months – it’s not the five or six years I thought he would get. I’m sure that Michael Vick is as close to elated as possible, under the circumstances.
With Vick’s sentencing out of the way, maybe his critics can back off and stop couch quarterbacking his legal proceedings. If there is any good luck Vick has had over this past year, it’s that the dog-loving world isn’t his judge and jury. If they were, he would have been lucky to get off with the legal maximum.
When I checked out comments responding to an article about his sentencing, I wasn’t surprised to see the PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) crowd disgruntled about how “short” his prison term is. I wasn’t even surprised to see the number of people who actually equate the value of a dog’s life to that of a human. People who seriously feel that Vick should be executed or banned from pro-football for life just rub me the wrong way – especially because a lot of what I’ve heard in the media concerning this case has racist undertones.
Black people have a history in this country of having our lives valued at less than those of dogs. We were only 3/5th human after all.
I know, some of you are thinking: “Race-card! Race-card! Out of context!”
But, consider this contradiction: Vick and co. were fighting pit bulls – a breed that has been deemed so vicious that mainstream America is increasingly working toward eradicating them. Cities like San Francisco have adopted strict neutering and euthanization laws for these dogs. Mainstream America hates, fears and mistrusts pit bulls damn near as much as they do young African Americans like Michael Vick.
Maybe that’s why the hood loves pit bulls so much. Maybe it’s that they are as feared and mistrusted by mainstream society as we are – and they make people think twice about robbing your house.
My neighbor is a 10-year PETA member. This neighbor not only stays away from pit bulls, but even complained (and exaggerated) to my landlord that a “vicious dog” was roaming the complex when I allowed my two-year-old daughter to play outside our apartment with a friend’s two-and-a-half-month-old pit bull puppy. My landlord freaked, the puppy was banned from the property and I was threatened with eviction if he was ever seen within our gates again. I have personal experience with how people deal with pit bulls.
So to feign this care for all dogs and fake like the fact that Vick is black has nothing to do with the public vitriol that surrounds him is just dog doo-doo. Michael Vick is in prison where men and women all over this country are beaten, raped and stabbed daily. And he’ll be there for at least two years. To say that he deserves a murder sentence because he abused or even killed a few dogs belonging to a breed that the powers that be would like to kill off, is ludicrous and shows how very little a young black male’s life means to America at the subconscious core of her being.
Related Articles:
Should Vick Do Time?
Vick's Addiction to Dog Fighting
Voices from Inside on Mike Vick and Dog Fighting
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User Comments
Author on Jan 09, 2008 at 11:08:17 said:
First of all I see that many of you didn't read the peace in it's entirety, or had your sensibilities stabbed at so hard that you completely misunderstood me. Let me say this with clarity, Michael Vick broke the law and therefore deserves punishment. But I personally disagree with the length of his sentence, I feel at most he should have gotten six months or so. THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE HE TORTURED AND KILLED, BUT DOGS. Fuck a dog! Is what i'm saying, last I checked we had a surplus. I've own several pit bulls in my life, loved em' all, fought em' all too and to this day have yet to regret it. We are different people, from different walks of life and dog fighting happens on both sides, it may not be legal and YOU may feel it's not right but that doesn't mean people who do deserve "rapist" time. Second, I love how white people adopt this "get over it" attitude when black people speak about our experience with racim in this country. Because the thing is I can't, the social, educational, and economic desparities we face in this country today are the direct result of our enslavement and subsequent segregation.
Your great-great grandparents passed down land assets
while mine couldn't even own their land. Think realistically and critically about the subject and your opinion before expose yourself as the ignorant racist you are while posting some comment on some website. P.S. This is what's beautiful about this country, the fact that we can dialogue, disagree and truly come away from conversations like these knowing more about ourselves and the people around us. God Bless free communication!
Ryan Pregot on Jan 04, 2008 at 10:39:39 said:
It's people like you that cause racism in america. Vick kills a dog he gets caught he gets thrown in jail it's because he is black. Bonds gets caught cheating they go after him ohh it's because he is black. Donovan Mcnabb has a bad season we boo at him because he is black. How about bad decisions, cheating, and nothing to do with the color of your skin. You make me sick to be an american knowing there are people with ignorant views like you. You cause racism and you keep racism alive along with the Al Sharpton's and the Mcnabbs and the black college football coaches!!
Matt on Dec 28, 2007 at 11:37:52 said:
How can you say that the judicial system values dogs more than people. If Vick had murdered several people he would be facing several life sentences or the death sentence. He is currently serving 18 to 19 months with parole. Cry me a river. He is clearly a cruel, sadistic, individual with no regard for life.
Please don\'t defend Vick just because he is of the same skin color as you. That is racism.
christina on Dec 18, 2007 at 23:13:06 said:
All of you are ridiculous. Every single one of you who had something dramatic to say about how unfair vicks sentence was, wouldn't look twice if vick killed a group of black men. You would care less. By advocating for harsher punishments you plant the seed that a dog's life is somehow equal or even worth more than a human's life. Don't be silly people this judicial system is not set up for dogs to utilize. Believing that someone should go to prison (at all if you ask me) for 23 months is like saying someone should be charged with murdering a police officer for killing a horse used by as transportation by a cop. Love your animals but recognize, their not human.
Riordan M. on Dec 16, 2007 at 08:21:19 said:
For goodness sake. What's with the chip on your shoulder? Get over it. The man broke the law. Period. Playing the victim is easy and a cop out. Teaching the young what is right and wrong and the consequences of breaking the law is more important than blaming society because of the colour of your skin and using it as a cheap excuse.
Greg on Dec 15, 2007 at 01:02:00 said:
This is so not about racism. Classism, maybe, but not racism. As a pit bull owner, and general dog lover, it sickens me when ANYone of ANY race abuse, torture, or mistreat (which includes not training) dogs, ESPECIALLY pit bulls.
I hate the fact that a dog breed with such loyalty and desire to please it's human companions is on the verge of legal eradication because of the stupid acts of the minority of owners, regardless of ethnicity. Michael Vick's sentence was way to lenient. He brutally killed, tortured, and fought dogs for entertainment. Most psychologist find such behavior to be a sign of various socio-pathological disorders. Additionally, he made money off of it.
If anything the Black/African-American community ought to be OSTRACIZING Michael Vick for his actions. He is not a positive role model for children of ANY race. Yes, I understand your anger that there are some white dog fighters that have gotten off with less, but your voices should not be directed to getting this one off the hook. This type of behavior from ANYONE is not only not socially acceptable, it is sick, immoral, and wrong. Instead, why not aim your protest SOLELY, at why there are still some white 'dog men' let off with less? I know I am (and I am white)! People that mistreat and neglect their animals; who not only depend on them for the bare necessities but also for the same instruction as to what is right in the world that we give our children;, are not people, they are monsters.
Angie on Dec 14, 2007 at 19:16:56 said:
Vick is much safer in prison right now than he would be out here. He should have begged the judge for more time. I'll feel sorry for him when he gets out. He's going to be turned loose to defend himself with millions of enemies!
And to AMANDA G. who commented below.....by my calculations, after adding countless more dogs that he killed (and DIDN'T admit to) for not performing well...... hundreds of dogs that were born to his dogs and sold and are still out there fighting and suffering.... many, many bait dogs(and cats) that he went through every week..... and then the hundreds of bully type dogs dying in shelters in the U.S. DAILY because they have been banned because of scumbags like Michael Vick.....I'm coming up with a sentence of an HOUR or less for each crime! He got 23 months for comitting thousands of crimes! Oh, I forgot to add in the gambling....and the tax evasion......What a lucky guy!
Oh and another thing... for all the people crying about it was cuz he black.....Did there happen to be any black people on the jury that found him guilty? Oh really, 4 of them? Ok then SHUT UP!
maryellen on Dec 13, 2007 at 17:50:08 said:
i could care less what color michael vick is , he could be purple with pink polka dogs for all i care.. he deserves to do the maximum time, but due to his large bank account he got off with a slap on the wrist with 23 months in jail.. there is a man in cottonwood tx that basically did the same thing, yet he got 112 YEARS in jail for ALLEGED dog fighting.... sounds to me that money can buy a lighter sentence..
vick is dispicable.. he should have gotten the maximum sentence... do the crime then do the entire time..
Donna M on Dec 13, 2007 at 10:31:13 said:
Do you understand the extreme nature of Vick’s cruelty? He did not “just kill” several dogs, he TORTURED them to death. His behavior was horrendous and he should be scorned by society. He should not be given an opportunity to ever again serve as a role model for children, short of making an example of what not to do out of himself.
So what if some of the individuals who expressed opinions about the case are racist and/or speciest? Vick’s crime, and subsequent sentencing, have nothing to do with either.
Vick is serving a very short sentence. Assuming he behaves himself, he will be eligible for parole in 18 or 19 months. If he had killed several humans, he would have been looking as successive life sentences. It was the extreme nature of Vick’s cruelty that got him what time he did get, otherwise, he probably would have gotten off with probation.
Pit Bull and Kitty Bunch on Dec 13, 2007 at 08:15:43 said:
I read your story and to listen to you comments on how you used the racial intentions being the reason Vick is sitting in jail and not the fact that he violated the creatures of God that I dearly love is hideous. I have a APBT and My daughter happens to have 4 of them, notice I did not say own! These babies are not our pets as most people call their dogs but we see them as apart of our family. My little girl I have had since she was 2 weeks old and bottle fed until she was 7 weeks old because she was a sick baby. She lives in my house with me and my 3 cats, she is a member of my household and is like a child to me. How anyone could mistreat and harm one of these loving and loyal creatures is beyond me. How anyone can mistreat an animal that has intrusted them with their lives and loyalty, that depends on them for care and compassion. It is the human race that brings these wonderful creatures into this world and teaches them what we wish them to be, not the other way around. Don't you dare exspect me to feel sorry for someone who was more of an animal than the precious baby I have living with me in my home. My Pit Bull weighs 70 ounds and she is so gentle that my 7 pound cat is able to tell her when she is finished playing. So tell me who betrayed who in that home that he provided for those wonderful animals?????
Stephanie Loehr on Dec 13, 2007 at 01:58:00 said:
I love my pit bull. She is sweet and gentle, and would not think of harming my cat. we live in the ghetto. We can not afford to live elsewhere. So my family is kept safe by 1 of "those dogs", and we love her dearly for it. Anyone who would torture an animal for the fun of it is sick and needs to be put out of their misery! Black, white, or polka dotted! Makes no difference.
Paula on Dec 12, 2007 at 17:19:58 said:
All of you who dont think this is about race must not know the definition of racism. Yes, what Michael Vick did was wrong,cruel and undeniably needed to be addressed. 2 years for killing bull dogs who are notorius for killing and attacking children i think is a tad bit excessive. Michael Vick made a mistake that he has to pay for. I know white supremacist who get less time for killing,rapeing and torturing young black women (maybe their lives arent valued as much as a pit bull ). It breaks my heart to see what America has come to. We are more concerned about dogs than humans. Oh and for that person who seems to think that children need to look up to Superstars, try teaching your children to look up to u considering you are the closest person to them.
bestuvall on Dec 12, 2007 at 15:28:50 said:
sorry Harely.. you are wrong the HSUS wants to eleimate "PIT BULLS' and says so every chance they get.. they also called for the killing of all of Vicks dogs.. but not before they begged for money to care for them.. ( whaich they didn't). Lucky for the dogs.. they were temperment tested and found to be stable and all but one will be placed.. not KILLED.. says a bunch for their stability and temperment..and of the temperment of the breed in general
Vick KNEW he was breaking the law.. didn't stop him.. also KNEW he was breaking the law when he did drugs AFTER being arrested.. now that is what i call bad assed stupid.. or should I say.. bad assed "I am better than you and don;t have to follow your stupid laws" stupid.. sadly enough many dog fights are RUN FROM JAIL.. so Vick won't be out of the picture on that front...but let's hope that he will be out of football... there are many deserving up and coming young men both black and white who will be willing to fill his cleats.. and many who will have a :pit bull" as a pet.. not as a punching bag.. or worse.
by the way author.. SF does NOT have any euthanisia policies on "pit bulls".. in fact SF and Oakland have some of very best stats on adopting out "pit bulls".. not killing them
Amanda G. on Dec 12, 2007 at 13:24:30 said:
This is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard in my life. Michael Vick shouldn't have gotten the punishment he did? What are you, new? He got MUCH less than the maximum. And why don't you do the math on his sentence, sweetpea. For the 66 original dogs seized, he will be doing 10.5 days in jail per dog. Excluding the dogs that he hung, ELECTROCUTED, drowned, or kill by repeatedly slamming into the ground. Get off the race card. I don't care what race you are, to do some of those things to animals, you have to be a sadistic freak. Serial killers start out torturing animals too - Michael Vick is just stupid enough to be a late bloomer. His stupid ass just hasn't climbed that far up the sociopathic totem pole yet. He didn't just fight dogs. He didn't just kill "under-performing" dogs, he TORTURED animals. And not "chickens, hogs, deer", etc. like someone down there pointed out. He did not kill for a food source. He killed because it got his jollies off. Someone who is THAT mentally incapacitated will not be rehabilitated by 20 months in Club Fed.
Oh, and as far as being banned from the NFL - go whine that BS to someone else. He BROKE his contract with the NFL by gambling and doing illegal drugs. He did this to himself, and he's not sorry he did it. He's sorry he got caught. He shouldn't be glorified because he happens to "run really fast". To hell with him.
JusticeforAllDogs on Dec 12, 2007 at 12:53:44 said:
The only people I see pulling the Race card out is Black Americans. This man spent time, effort & money in an Illegal act! He had full knowledge of right & wrong and still he chose premeditated cruelty, abuse & murder.
I am not a PETA member (in reality they do not support the bully breeds either & would have them exterminated). I do own dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers among them, and I am a responsible owner.
What Vick has done is violate his status as a roll model, as a human being and should have received a much harsher penalty. As you pointed out MY RIGHTS to own a particular dog is in jeopardy due to the antics of so called
"DOG MEN", gang bangers, and every other irresponsible dog owner! I am mad as hell, as I should be. Why should I have to loose my beloved dogs for the inhumane, disgusting acts of a few?
Michael Vick should Never be allowed back on the playing field. He made a choice about what his life would entail. Those dogs didn't have that chance. When they showed no inclination to fight (kinda messes up the whole -they were bred to fight to the death theory doesn't it??) he killed them. Without a second thought, without any remorse, and certainly in the most inhumane way possible.
I hope every day is a living hell for him in jail, its just a shame he didn't get more time in.
It has nothing to do with Race. It has nothing to do with breed.
Its all about being humane.
David O on Dec 12, 2007 at 12:36:32 said:
Vick got SLAMMED. Google Charles Smallwood-- his pit bulls ripped a woman apart and killed her and he wasn't charged for anything!
B.Corbin on Dec 12, 2007 at 09:48:52 said:
Yes you are right-we are calling this a race card because that is what it is. You are saying maybe that is why people in the hood like pits-get serious-that is NOT why they are liked there. Vick brought this on himself-and the way he treated his animals is not acceptable. He is a public figure that kids are suppose to look up to and want to be like-and he drowns, starves, and hangs, and beats his animals to death because they are property so what are we teaching these kids! Get serious and stop with the black card-it is really old and tiring. The people living on this earth today have not ever owned a slave nor would want to so stop! We all know the history. If you choose to own animals you treat them with the love-no matter what the breed.
Angela on Dec 12, 2007 at 06:45:33 said:
What the author is trying to say is that there is nothing wrong with abusing, torturing, and murdering something that \\\"mainstream America\\\"n people are ignorantly fearful of. So is it okay for people to go out and kill a bunch of idiotic racist animal hating hysteria-spreading journalists? They put me in fear daily that my neigbors and the rest of the world are going to think it\\\'s ok to murder my dog, who is a sweet pit bull, that is cuddled up next to my rat terrier right now in the living room. Charles Jones, you should be in there with Vick, and so should the rest of his supporters.
trw on Dec 12, 2007 at 06:40:08 said:
Absolutely stupid and misinformed commentary. Vick tortured and killed animals for "sport" and "entertainment". If a white QB did this, he would be just as equally reviled. Do your reserach - The Humane Society and ASPCA both are AGAINST banning pitbulls (or an breed) by misinformed politicians. Any dog can be trained to be aggressive if evil and sadistic people like Vick train them to be mean. Go to www.pitbullsontheweb.com to see all of the good things that these dogs do to help people. Instead of defending guilty millionaires, you should be defending innocent poor people - regardless of their color.
Harley on Dec 12, 2007 at 02:12:53 said:
Vick got off easy. Google the name David Tant.
Johny Hopeful on Dec 11, 2007 at 21:35:19 said:
Michael Vick is the only person that has ever received this kind of sentence for killing animals. The rest of us kill animals every day. Chickens, hogs, deer, squirrels, racoons, snakes, bear, etc. No one cares what we do because we are not black millionaires. The system always makes a circus out of black millionaires at every opportunity. They tried to do this with Clarence Thomas with Anita Hill, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, Barry Bonds, and many others you can probably think of. You don\'t have to be a rocket scientist to see that we have a racists system in place that always targets black stars.
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