It's already being hailed as "The miracle of the Meadowlands." Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles came back from a 31-10 fourth quarter deficit to defeat the New York Giants on their home field. Vick started the game slowly, but turned into a beast toward the end, passing for 242 yards and three touch downs. At 10 - 4, the Eagles now stand at the top of the NFC and are poised to make things happen during the playoffs. In fact, Michael Vick has gone from prison inmate to a shoe-in for the All-Pro team, and might even find himself with an MVP trophy at the end of the season. What a difference a year makes.

In another part of the country, embattled superstar LeBron James had a great deal to prove after angering half the earth with his move to Miami. James had the interesting idea of teaming up with fellow All-Stars Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, pulling together an awesome amount of talent in a quest for a title. The problem was that the engine on this great team wasn't starting.

After beginning the season with an embarrassing 9 - 8 record, LeBron and company have reeled off 12 straight wins to be at 21 - 8. They now lead their division and are second in the Eastern Conference. As Katt Williams might say,"now that's pimpin."

The success of LeBron James and Michael Vick, along with that of Kobe Bryant, reminds us how persistence and focus can help anyone overcome adversity. Also, it reminds us that most anyone is redeemable if given a chance. If Vick were still locked up in the system, he wouldn't be in a position to repay his debts as the successful player that he is today. Some wanted to ban him from life and keep him from making a living, which would make him like hundreds of thousands of other black male convicted felons who've been victimized by the modern day slavery of the penal system.

LeBron and Michael experienced first hand the peculiar throne that is preserved for the black male athlete in America. The black male athlete, to some, is seen as a nasty, arrogant, ignorant beast of a man who doesn't love his children, has no respect for others and is only an inch away from belonging in a jail cell. America's commitment to the extermination of the African American male has its roots in slavery, which is not disconnected from the reasons that black men are at the bottom of every statistical category in education, economics and criminal justice. The athlete is hailed as a hero when he stays in his role, dances in the end zone and provides exciting entertainment. But when he steps out of his role by speaking out, being self-determined or making a mistake, the fire of heaven and earth rains down upon him.

America loves to hate the black athlete and to behave as if the his indiscretions are the worst things that a human being can do. When Michael Vick was caught dogfighting, America's reaction would have led you to believe that he'd murdered 14 people on their way to church. LeBron's misstep during his sudden switch to the Miami Heat was viewed as if he'd done something beyond simply exercising his right to go to another team. Since that time, LeBron's image has suffered tremendous damage, and he has committed an even greater crime of not graveling for forgiveness for something he didn't do wrong in the first place. His televised special on ESPN didn't benefit him financially and instead put money into the hands of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He has nothing to apologize for and I am proud of the way he has handled the controversy.

I am also proud of LeBron and Michael for becoming world beaters again. I also encourage other young black male athletes to be strong and proud as they pursue their endeavors. Most importantly, being educated about America's troubled history with the black male can put much of the public backlash into context. In fact, no black man in America should choose to deliberately be uneducated, for doing so would be an almost certain guarantee of social, psychological and spiritual death. America is a complex puzzle.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the Athlete Liberation and Academic Reform Movement (ALARM). To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.