Kobe: 'Pistons Disappeared Forever'
White Supremacist Faces Charges After Horrific Attack
The symbolism of this moment can't be missed. Here we have an African American male going out of his way to express support for another black male coming out of the criminal justice system. While none of us knows Obama's true intentions, his public support for Michael Vick reminds us of the intricate connections that exist between many black males from all walks of life (Al Sharpton and I discussed this very same issue yesterday with regard to the arrest of the father of NBA star OJ Mayo): educated black politicians/doctors/lawyers who love sports have a great deal in common with athletes, who in turn have something in common with men in the criminal justice system, hip hop, etc. It's all connected at the end of the day (notice the close friendships between men like LeBron James and the rapper Jay-Z and the fact that many artists have friends who deal drugs).
The reasons for these deep and compelling connections of black men from all walks of life stem from the pervasive and incredibly destructive nature of our criminal justice system. One of out of every three black boys born this decade is expected to spend time in state or federal prison during his lifetime. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, black males are incarcerated at a rate that is over six times greater than white men. In fact, most African Americans have a friend or relative who has spent time in the criminal justice system. Therefore, unlike the rest of America, who sees Michael Vick as an animal, President Obama likely understands that he is a human being and an American who simply made a mistake. All the while, those who care so much about the dogs that were harmed by Vick could care less about the real human beings whose human rights are being stripped by a criminal justice system that profits from the "slavery loophole" provided by the 13th Amendment (stating that anyone labeled to be a convict can be made into a slave).
While its easy to chalk up the glaring imbalance in incarceration rates to differences in culture and choices, it's not nearly that simple. Much of the disparity is due to differences in the rate at which black men are searched, arrested, convicted and sentenced relative to whites, even when they commit the same crimes. Also, economic inequality plays a role, since many black males go to prison because they were pressured into taking plea bargains by overworked and underpaid public defenders. Making matters worse is the fact that even after they've paid their debt to society, many of these men are not allowed to vote or work, making it nearly impossible for them to provide for their families. So, rather than having a system that is tough on crime, we have a system that simply creates more criminals, making the world more dangerous for us all.
Barack Obama's statements in support of Michael Vick's right to redemption are symbolic for the other 1.4 million African American males who are disenfranchised as a result of felony convictions. We must stop presuming that the life of a felon is worthless and stop falling victim to the mindset of a society that has taught us that black men are animals who do not deserve access to equal rights. Instead, a system that is focused on justice, fairness and rehabilitation would open the door for those who want to contribute to society to have the opportunity to do so. If we were to throw away Vick's life the way we have millions of other men and women, we would never know how great he could be as an athlete.
I am hopeful that the president can expand the logic he's used to defend Michael Vick to the other hundreds of thousands of black men who are victimized by the modern day slavery of the prison system. The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any country in the world. I was hoping that Obama, Eric Holder, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus would use the recent Georgia prison strike as an opportunity to re-examine whether it makes sense to allow our country to lead the world in such blatant human rights violations like prison rape, denial of rehabilitation and corporate profiteering from slave labor. Our nation has a consistent and storied habit of vilifying black men, which is why both President Obama and Michael Vick have been attacked by lynch mobs who've set out to destroy them. If we don't work together to change the collective reality of our world, we are all going to be affected by the very same inequality that has poisoned our nation for the last 400 years. Obama will hopefully find opportunities to speak up for other felons and not just Michael Vick. Their lives are not worthless and their families need them. We can't keep giving up on America.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (29)
Add a comment
By: vegaspoet on 12/30/2010 4:57PM
First off,Obama called Lurie to commend him for using alternative forms of energy to power the Philadelphia stadium,and the conversation turned to Michael Vick AFTER that.It's amazing to me that all of the people who hate Vick so much see no problem with shooting wolves from a helicopter like a famous Alaskan ex-governor they seem to love so much! (Just because it's legal doesn't make it moral) He didn't mistreat people, it was dogs! The Virginia cops went to his house with a warrant for drugs ( if he's a famous Black athlete, there's gotta be some drugs somewhere, right?),didn't find any, and then the Barney Fife brigade turned him over to the Feds for dog fighting. They were looking to "put an uppity N*gro" in his place any way they could. Some Americans worry too much about dogs and not enough about people. He did his time in a biased legal system and now he's back to work. The racists are just upset he's about to get the contract of the century and they can't figure out why their lives are so pathetic and he's moving on. I’m betting their heads still pointed when they take their hoods off! Steve Stinson is exactly the type of racist who sees his white world crumbling and wants to lash out. What he doesn't realize is that his whining is falling on deaf ears as people of color all over the world take his world over.It's just a matter of time.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Nickole on 12/30/2010 5:07PM
Dr. Watkins,
While your commentary is truthful in that you point out the lynch mob attacks that occur whenever powerful men like the President speaks up and out for others, would you not agree that Black men are making themselves victims in their choices? Granted we have a history that speaks volumes of injustices; however, the conduct, the statistics and again choices Black men make seem to put them back on the treadmill of victimhood that eventually becomes self inflicted. The commentary almost sounds like, "Poor Black male: Victimized Once Again"
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: acura2010 on 12/30/2010 7:18PM
White men killing dogs, cockfighting, none of them served time in jail or prison. This is where professional black athletes and black men with wealth need to get a grip of reality stop being gullible to white folks who's pimping them for the athletic abilities & growing their wealth. These people can't stand to see black men earning wealth playing professional sports, so they sell the bling the things that makes these men from poverty go haywire & just spend. My prayer to all black men, open your eyes & take a stand. Fear none of these bigots and protect yourself and your own. Take your wealth & pick others up by the boot strap. Sin is Sin and being a "Bigot" is a sin! No doubt Michael Vick wasted wealth over foolishness and could've helped thousands of underpriviledge in education. Help black communities to become economic empower.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Benjamin Dix on 12/30/2010 10:31PM
It's amazing how the Vick episode ever even started. I was raised in the State of Virginia not far from where Vick supposedly committed the dog-fighting crime. I grew up observing whites who bred dogs especially for dog-fighting and there was never a word uttered. If this became a pasttime for blacks after I left the area (1950s)they surely picked it up from their white counterparts. Now since a black man was revealed as doing this acitivity, it suddenly became a heinus crime. It has less to do with animal cruelty and more to do with racism. You know about Virginia. When the racist Europeans first hit the shoreline in Virginia, it all came home to roost.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Zulu on 12/31/2010 2:28AM
Good points. MV did the crime and the time, so let him do his sports thing. And Obama, go on to speak to the issues of the Black community. When is it a crime in America to speak up for another Black man? It should never be.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Willie on 12/31/2010 11:45AM
Dr. Watkins,
I greet you with peace . . . I ask that you continue to voice your thoughts, they are powerful and confirming, as we read some of the comments, they are positive and negative. Many would rather you be quiet and allow the system to continue the bombardment of degrading propaganda to ensure their unnatural and false position as being superior to all. Those who won't embrace the realization of systemic slavery, are in fact( my opinion) undercover oppressors. The color of their skin has no relavance. Your article on President OBama and Mr. Vick was a good read . . . I saw nothing that indicated "ghetto thought" or racism, I did see compassion and forgiveness; by the way --- what is ghetto thought? Guilt and hatred . . . will consume the soul . . . well, maybe the negative comments represent a soul that has already been destroyed. Stay strong in your convictions Dr. Watkins . . . there are more of us who understand than the few that don't. This year, the decibals of those who believe that equality should not be based on the color of ones skin, will be higher than ever. Not because we have a President who represents a particular class or ethnic group . . . we will be heard because it is time. In everything there is a time and a season . . . May GOD Bless your mind and your spirit. Stay true to course!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: david on 1/02/2011 12:57AM
All animal lovers and anyone with a shred of decency should boycott all Eagles games. I refuse to finance Mike Vick. He should be forever barred from playing any professional sports.
Did Mike Vick give dogs a second chance as they lay there whimpering for mercy? No, all dogs who didn’t perform well were executed in a brutal manner.
Take a look at photos of the mercy Mike Vick showed the dogs.
http://www.animalrightsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/loveofdogs31.jpg
http://www.jollybengali.net/theconfluence/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/gypsy.jpg
The Bible says, “You will reap what you sow” which basically means what goes around comes around. He should receive the same kind of mercy. He should stop being such a cry baby as if he is a victim and take what he has done like a man. Mike Vick will not change but find a way to continue dog fighting under the radar of officials. I say this because for years he participated in dog fighting and only stopped because he was caught. Even his own Father urged him to stop in 2001 and he refused. If a Son will not listen to his own Father, then who will he listen to?
Boddie told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that around 2001, Vick was staging dogfights in the garage of the family's home in Newport News and kept fighting dogs in the family's backyard, including injured ones which the father nursed back to health. Boddie said his son had been urged to not engage in the activity, but continued. He stated: "This is Mike's thing. And he knows it."
If Obama wants Mike Vick to have a second chance then let the government give it to him. Recruit him in the military so he can observe REAL men and women doing REAL work and not for the absurd amounts Mike gets for tossing a ball around.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Barb on 1/03/2011 8:48PM
Who cares - they were dogs. dogs (animals)no big deal. Only an idiot would be protesting and raising hell over animals.
Report This
By: plzzz on 1/04/2011 11:36AM
@DAVID judging and quoting the Bible at the same time?? Are you God? we all know what he did was wrong, but he has gone to jail and apologized many times.
@BARB What Vick did was horrible and anyone who sits back and says "there just dogs" needs to have their head examined. You don't treat any living thing with such disrespect and cruelty.
Report This