What's Race Got To Do, Got To Do With It?
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by Ufgators
- Please excuse the failed attempt at a Tina Turner reference.*
What's the purpose of the " race card" in sports? Is it to further our ignorance and separation as a society? If I were to use the term "my people(s)" in describing, say, a group of white players on the Cleveland Browns, I would come off sounding as an ignorant, racist, white jerk. So, then, why is it acceptable for Stephen A. (The Inquirer), Scoop Jackson (The Leader), Mike Freeman (CBS), and a slew of other black gentleman, to refer to African-Americans as "my people" ? I know this idea has been dealt with before, but the thing that pushed my buttons is reading this from ESPN writer Scoop Jackson.
"A young black man at a public library had on a Michael Vick jersey one day last week. I walked up to him, thinking about my Bonds jersey. Said, 'You big for wearing that.' He simply said, 'Thanks.' Then, almost as an afterthought, he said, "I think he's guilty as hell, but I still got his back.'"
I fail to comprehend how, or why, the Michael Vick dog fighting allegations is now a black/white issue. Animal Cruelty is defined as "the treatment or standards of care that cause unwarranted or unnecessary suffering or harm to animals."
Nowhere in that definition does it mention race or ethnic background.
I researched on google the statistics that represent the amount of blacks in America that participate in dog fighting festivities. You know what I found?
Nothing. There is no website on the internet that has statistics to indicate that dog fighting is, in fact, a "black people sport". But, for the purposes of this article, let's "assume" that dog fighting in America is predominantly practiced by African Americans...
If so, then why does Michael Vick, who may or may not be guilty of dog fighting charges, have to have the backing of black people, and the hatred of white people? Of course, everything in the world is subjective, especially the view towards dog fighting (see: Clinton Portis defending Michael Vick), but dog fighting is generally thought of as a bad thing in society.
Mike Freeman, columnist for CBSsportsline.com, frequently makes use of the race card in his articles. He once wrote a column suggesting that Urban Meyer, coach of the Florida Gators, utilized the uber-talented Tim Tebow at the expense of then-Heisman candidate Chris Leak's playing time, and therefore his chances at winning the Heisman, because Leak is a black man.
In his Junior season at UF, Leak struggled with Urban Meyer's offense. Being that he was a drop back passer and not the ideal choice to run Meyer's spread option offense, Meyer tweaked the offense to tailor it to Leak's abilities after the Gators struggled throughout the first half of the season. Yup, sure sounds like Meyer has it out for his star black quarterback.
All I'm asking for is to stop making everything in sports black or white. Sometimes there can be gray areas, too. (I'm a talented pun-maker, didnt you know?) Just because an African American athlete commits a crime, doesn't mean that he should have the white community hating him, and a (majority) of the black community on his side. Likewise, if a white athlete does something stupid and finds himself in jail, we shouldn't have to endure a race war because of it. We have enough drama and hate in the world as it is, so why include sports--my only escape from the stressful world--in those discussions?
"Like" doesn't always have to stick with "like".
Or maybe, I just don't understand these instances because I'm white? I am far from the rich, white, jerky American that comedians such as Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock portray. In fact, many of my friends are black. But, maybe, as Stan from Southpark says: "I get it now : I don't get it. I've been trying to say that I understand how you feel, but, I'll never understand [...] I DON'T get it!"
