Whoopi Apologizes for Vick Comments, But Avoids Wider Question: Why Do So Many Black Folks Stand By Him?

UPDATE: Whoopi Goldberg clarified her comments about Michael Vick on today's View, claiming that press accounts exaggerated her explanation of Vick's involvement in dogfighting as "part of his cultural upbringing."

"I was not condoning...I did not say that I thought (Vick) was good about what he did," Goldberg said during the show's Hot Topics discussion segment today. "I condemn what he did."

Goldberg said she was trying to discuss the why of what Vick did without supporting him. "If it had been somebody from New York City, my feelings would have been very different," she said Tuesday, calling the 27-year-old Vick "a kid." "Instead of just saying he's a beast and a monster...this is a kid who comes from a culture where this is not questioned."

Of course, Vick actually grew up in a housing project in not-so-rural Newport News, Va. And, despite dropping a couple of disclaimers about Vick's activities, she seemed awfully forgiving of his transgressions, generating national headlines on her very first day replacing Rosie O'Donnell. It will be interesting to see how Goldberg weathers a job where her often-contradictory views will be picked apart daily.

Barbara Walters also dropped the bombshell that the show will welcome another person to their panel permanently on Monday (just in time for the start of the syndicated TV season). Have they finally cut a deal with Sherri Shepherd? Did they rethink initing Mario Cantone in as the first View dude?

Here's what I originally wrote about Whoopi, which I think still fits...

I always knew my column could be influential, but I never expect Whoopi to follow my advice on the same day it ran.

But there she was, bringing a bit of heat to her debut on The View by offering a bizarre defense of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick -- who has already admitted that participating in and funding an illegal dogfighting ring was "a mistake."

Here's the exchange, as reported by the New York Daily News:

"Goldberg said dogfighting "isn't that unusual" in the Deep South "where he comes from. ... It's like cockfighting in Puerto Rico. There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the country."
Co-host Joy Behar looked horrified.
"How about dog torture and dog murdering?" Behar asked.
"Unfortunately, it's part of the thing," Goldberg said.
"Part of the fun, right?" Behar shot back.
"I don't think they see it that way. I just thought it was interesting, because it seemed like a light went off in his head when he realized this was something that the entire country didn't appreciate," Goldberg replied."

But Goldberg's defense of Vick echoes something I've seen elsewhere in black America: a deep discomfort over the football player's fall, ranging from skepticism about the charges to outright rejection of his guilty plea and speculation about a conspiracy to bring him down.

This first surfaced when civil rights organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP offered words of support for Vick before his guilty plea, urging against a rush to judgment for a guy who would eventually admit his role in bankrolling a dogfighting ring. Even after Vick pleaded guilty to a felony, the president of the NAACP's Atlanta chapter insisted the quarterback shouldn't lose his place in the NFL.

At least, ESPN writer Jemele Hill had a more thoughtful take, noting that NFL stars accused of murder and driving while intoxicated -- offenses which threatened human lives -- got less condemnation than Vick. But at the core of many of these arguments is an uncomfortable assumption: That people are making too much of Vick's crimes because he's rich, famous, successful and black.

It's something I spoke about last year with University of Florida professor Katheryn Russell-Brown; the rush by black folks to protect other black people, especially black men, accused of crimes or wrongdoing. She wrote a book on the subject, Protecting Our Own: Race, Crime and African Americans, and noted something important:

"This really is a protective mechanism for saving community members. But also at the same time, it's an acknowledgment that the justice system is flawed and black people have been treated shabbily.Now it's about figuring out when it's in our best interests to provide this protective cloak. The cloak makes sense. I think we need to be a little more circumspect, a little more critical about who gets to wear it."

I agreed, then and now. Saying everybody does it or other crimes are worse or the justice system isn't fair doesn't cut it. And I wish prominent mouthpieces like Goldberg would stop wasting their precious media capital on a guy behind the deaths of untold numbers of dogs and who knows what else -- because dogfighting rings are tied to all manner of other organized crime activities.

Whoopi, if you're still reading my stuff, take heed: There are better ways to make the nation forget Rosie O'Donnell than standing up for a dog killer.

Comments

[susie]

Thats intresting about you pretty much said it all.CELEBRITIES stars accused of murder and driving while intoxicated OR RACING (NICK HOGAN)-- offenses which threatened human lives -- got less condemnation than Vick.
The world goes crazy over dogs. But Nick Hogan constantly using FLORIDA public streets to RACE putting lives in danger. Now a friend still laying in a hospital in a COMA and I still dont hear anyone complaining. /WHERE'S THE JUSTICE IN THAT. black /white ooo yea i remember why now.

[chip k.]

I'm curious, why do you refer to African Americans as "black folks" so often. I don't hear people use the word "folks" too much. Why not "people" ? ... you may not realize you're doing it. But look back over your posts, you may surprise yourself.

[Eric Deggans]

I like the sound of "black folks." I think it makes people sound more human. Also, it's the way I always refer to black people when I speak, and I often write the way I talk.

I do also use the term "white folks."

Why does it matter whether I use the word "folks" or "people"? African Americans sounds awfully sterile to me...I rarely use that term, I'm sure...

[Gretchen]

Eric- I have to totally disagree with you on this issue. I don't know where you were raised, but it DEFINITELY IS a cultural "southern" thing. It's not a black/white issue. What really upsets me is when people try to generalize ALL southerns or blacks just b/c some believe it's acceptable. Not every black person fights dogs nor do they agree but I do believe that most are aware that this type of behavior goes on in southern areas. Different strokes for diiferent folks- plain & simple.

[Eric Deggans]

Nobdy's saying dogfighting is a racial issue. But I think there is a strong sentiment among many black people to defend Vick -- and it doesn't have much to do with dogfighting's roots in southern culture.

I think some black folks believe he's getting harsher treatment in the press and the criminal justice system because he is a successful black male.

And that is what the blog post is mostly about....

[Gretchen]

"I think some black folks believe he's getting harsher treatment in the press and the criminal justice system because he is a successful black male." ---And you don't? Really?!

In other post you've written how blacks recieve harsher sentences for lets say drugs (cocaine vs. crack cocaine) so I don't think Vick being successful has anything to do with it. I agree that many blacks will see it as if he were white the punishment would be less severe, which is true to a certain extent.

People ARE saying this is a racial issue, maybe just not you. I for one appreciate the diversity of cultures & think that we shouldn't judge unless you've walked in that persons shoes.

Another note- Whoopi should NOT have apologized. I'm so sick of people expressing how they really feel than retracting their statements.

[Eric Deggans]

i think dog fighting is a horible sport which has documented ties to gambling and organized crime. He was in it long enough that many people in that world knew of his activities. And he is one of the best-known -- and best-paid -- football players in the country.

So no, I don't think he's getting an inordinate amount of attention or penalty.

Just goes to show how dangerous it is to make assumptions about anybody's positions...

[stacy]

I grew up in Virginia Beach, Va which is about 20-30 minutes from Newport News and I have NEVER heard of any dog fighting going on around here. So I really don't understand this being a "southern thing".

[dorie]

you are so much worse than rosie it stinks

[Gretchen]

stacy- maybe you weren't part of the culture I described earlier but it definitely IS happening in Southern areas. Unfortunately has & will continue to be. Like I stated earlier, you can only go by what you have experienced. I'm pretty sure you weren't raised where Vick was, no were you?

Eric- You never answered where you were raised?

[Eric Deggans]

Didn't realize you asked. I grew up in Gary, Indiana.

[janet from vancouver]

I love this news article! It shows the writer is in touch with reality & expressing a deeper understanding, as to why anyone would defend Michael Vick.

Whoopi can try to deny what she said, but all the news reports in the country quoted her "exact words!"

And while she did attempt to veil her defense of Vick...a million or so people didn't buy it.

She coyly defended his actions using the "deep South" and "culture" as explanations...which in my world = excuses ...which = defense.

And no level-headed human being using their full brain's capacity appreciated her defense of Vick.