Four Views of Vick

Two student writers from Black College Wire go at the Vick question from different angles:

For Kai Beasley, a recent graduate of Emory, the Vick Case Raises Question of Personal Responsibility. Yes, "'The System' has been a source of worry and woe for black men, since Africans in America learned how to pronounce the word 'system'," Beasley acknowledges. But, while "the system is flawed, [at] what point do we ask ourselves what role we play in our own demise?"

At the same time, Brian Browley, a student at Tennessee State University, urges that Before Condemning Michael Vick, Consider Ignorance, Stupidity — and Insanity. Observing that dog-fighting events "take place on the lowest rungs of society, in the slums and dirt-poor rural communities of America -- places where the living conditions of people mirror that of dogs," Browley is disturbed by the intense media scrutiny given to the case, which may be tinged with class bias. "You won't find [dog fights] on Park Avenue or in the suburbs."

Between the two commentators, though, they are tackling the same question: Can a person be both highly condemning of Michael Vick's actions while also being wary of the intensity and outrage in how the case has been reported?

Elsewhere, on our IMDiversity sister site, Earl Ofari Hutchinson muses over the The Rehabilitation of Michael Vick. "Vick will pay and continue to pay two steep prices for his crime. He’ll do jail time, cough up a load in fines and restitution, and be canned indefinitely by the NFL. That price is fair and warranted," Hutchinson says. "The other price he’ll pay is that he’ll be the permanent poster boy for animal abuse and the bad behaving celebrity. That price is questionable."

However, Kam Williams believes that the Disgraced QB Still Needs Serious Help. Sure, Vick needs counseling and rehabilitation. But Williams is disgusted that instead, a slick PR machine has rolled out the announcement that Vick has abruptly found Jesus, "selling the notion that his shedding crocodile tears and converting to Christianity on the courthouse steps means that his high crimes and misdemeanors are already behind him."

We don't expect this discussion to go away soon, and welcome your thoughts, as well as encourage you to check out any comments posted on the Black College Wire article.