Why is the Vick issue torn between racial lines?

Question

In Atlanta it's a huge racial issue.

Answer 1

Didn't know it was, thought it was about him fighting dogs.

Answer 2

I will begin by saying I am a white man. Now that I have put that out there I am also the father of three boys who are bi-racial (mother is a black woman).
Now with both of those things being noted I have a couple of things to say. The reason the person asked that question is because if you look back over the last few days there have been ALOT of people on Y! Answers who have been pulling the race card. You've had some ignorant whites spurting racial slurs and are just as happy as they can be because a rich black man is going down. On the other side you have had some black people saying that Vick is being picked on because he's black. The sad part is those people on both sides are the minority. The majority of people on this forum feel that Micheal Vick should be treated like any other citizen an punished if found guilty.
I have said this part before but I will repeat myself once more.
Even though my kids are half white and half black society has a whole will see them as black men when they are older, you can argue that point all day long but I know plenty of bi-racial atheletes who are considered black. That being said my kids just like millions of other kids out there look up to these atheletes and will emulate their actions. When they see Vick or Allen Iverson walking around like thugs and then you see them on the news being arrested but at the end of it all you still see them playing the game and making millions they think that it is ok to duplicate their lifestyle. Thats when someone needs to step up and say "Hey Vick you are a role model to our youth, stop acting like this" whether it be by supsension or fines or whatever.
I am just glad that I have taught my kids well enough that they like to watch Vick play but they idolize a class act in the sport like Donovan McNabb.

Answer 3

This has been going on for a few years even before the dog fighting thing. Vick has always had the image of of ghetto/thug. The white people don't like it. Atlanta has the largest black fan base of any city. The black kids actually like the Vick image and buy his jerseys in droves! Vick also fills the stadium with his black fans. Whites believe that Vick would not still be the starting QB if he was white, and that the black fans would rather have Vick than Joe Montana! This has been boiling under the surface for 2-3 years now as Vick has pretty much shown that he isn't much of an NFL type QB. Then you throw in the flipping off kids in the stands, the stash water bottle thing, and now the dog fighting, and it has blown up into a real racial divide. QB in the NFL is the #1 position in sports, and most people want to see their QB's associated with their Mom feeding them Campbell's soup - not dog fighting and a crack pipe!

Answer 4

A few black sports reporters are saying it is not based on race it is more based on the "ghetto thug" thing. Explaining that their are black and white pet owners who love their animals and treat them as a family member. They explain the "ghetto thug" theory is animals are animals and are of no importance. Personally, I don't see it as a a racial lines theory. I do see people who are Vick fans supporting him even if he is found guilty. I think he will serve no jail time, his lawyers will cut a deal or he will be found innocent. I HOPE I AM WRONG!! I want him to be forced to fight trained pit bulldogs butt naked with steak blood all over his body. Hey, maybe they would put it on pay per view and show the dogs eating him.

Answer 5

There are very few people, black or white, who are defending Michael Vick.

It should be noted that Michael Vick has family members who certainly have the ability to get online and make posts, and do you think they wouldn't, considering they are in danger of losing their meal ticket??? Even Sick Vick himself could be inciting some of this racial divide--

Too many blacks, Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons to name two, are completely in favor of a suspension for Michael Vick for this actually to be divided among true racial lines.

Answer 6

This is in response to "Yak"
I'm sick of this "White America " crap! Last I checked it was just plain America. The United States of America. How long are people going to play the race card? Dog fighting has nothing to do with race. I think artists in the hip-hop community target themselves. Look at the way they dress, and the "image" they portray. Perhaps if they didn't act like criminals or hang out with them, then they'd be left alone. Maybe if Adam Jones would have rid himself of his bad influence friends he'd be playing ball this year. I don't feel sorry for anyone who gets themselves in trouble. I don't care if they are black, white or pink. By the way, I am not racist. Just tired of the "White America" crap. It's everyones America, make the best of it for the few short years you're here.

Answer 7

I'm black and I live in Atlanta and I don't think this is a race issue one bit.

The reaction to the Vick situation is split between those people who are outraged by the allegations and feel that Vick deserves to be punished immediately and those people who are saying that he is innocent until proven guilty.

In my opinion, a majority of black people are outraged that black people are assumed guiltry prior to their day in court. They are frustated that any black person wtih a "thug" image who is accused of a crime must be guilty of that crime because of their apperance.

By no means are black people supporting the torturing of animals. This disgusts us the same way it disgusts any other human beings. If he is found guilty, black people feels that he deserves equal punishment that any other guilty person received. Whether the punishment is severe or minor, it must be equal.

So please don't confuse the notion of allowing a person to be innocent until proven guilty with the notion of being an supporter of illegal activity.

Answer 8

torn between racial lines, is it, did he kill more brown pitbulls than black and white pitbulls combined?

its not really a race issue, the fact that vick is black is irrelivent, there is not a white running back in the league, do i think that the owners and coaches are racist, most of the coaches are white, is that make the owners racist, most, if not all players suspended are black, does that matter?

Answer 9

I'm white and not a mike vick fan but I think he deserves his day in court before peta and all the wackos that send peta their money convict him. this is America, no matter what peta would like he is still innocent until proven guilty

Answer 10

Anytime something bad happens to a black person then it's a race issue. I'm just thrilled that Al Sharpton is taking sides with PETA this time and not playing the race card he keeps up his sleeve.

Answer 11

I'm black/African-American....I don't necessarily think that it is a racial issue....but I do think that white America does not like Mr. Vick's image (***the so-called "thug" image***).....If you look at the news these past few months...... you will see that the media i.e. white America has targeted everyone with the "thug image" in public judgment (Hip Hop community, Allen Iverson, Adam "PacMan"Jones) Is dog fighting wrong? YES.....but everyone is acting like the man is a serial killer....let the courts do their job.....DO NOT RUSH TO JUDGE....i.e. the Duke Lacrosse case

***As far as Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.....I believe that they are anywhere a microphone is...... In my personal opinion they do not represent the black community as a whole.....I believe that we as African-American community lack quality leadership (((((as a black male I hate to say it….. but its true)))))