Despite the media's, the Humane Society's, the NFL's and the court sytem's attempts to destroy the influence of and support for Michael Dwayne Vick, American youths have resoundingly united in solidarity and acknowledgement that Mr. Vick is a man they look up to and admire.
The TRU Study asked teens to name their two favorite athletes(professional, amateur, active, or retired). African-American teens ranked Vick their favorite NFL player and fifth-favorite athlete overall...ranking ahead of such sports luminaries as Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Reggie Bush,Peyton Manning, and Tim Duncan, among many others.
Vick's perception by teens did take a dive in one area:
In a separate survey question, teens were asked to rate a list of 63 athletes based on familiarity and liking. Results yielded athletes'"TRU*Scores," showing the percentage of teens who are both familiar with an athlete and like that athlete "very much." While Vick's TRU*Score among African Americans (40) was still higher than that of Jeter (37), A-Rod(35), and Kobe Bryant (39), among others, it was dramatically lower than the watermark 72 TRU*Score he earned from African-American teens in the Fall 2005 survey, and even his 64 from the previous Spring 2007 study.
Certainly, the drop in his 'score' in this question can be related to the media bombardment of negativity in reporting with an unstated policy to ignore all the good things in which Mr. Vick has taken part.
However, clearly the media mission was not a complete success, as his score did remain high among the Negro teens.
TRU Trend Manager Blair Fischer said, "The fact that his score is still significantly higher among black teens indicates that some don't consider dog fighting a serious crime, or believe his involvement in it is minimal."
These certainly must be relevant reasons that Negro teens still haven't completely abandoned Vick. Obviously, the media never fully completed the character assassination.
Another explanation for Vick's relative popularity among black teens lies in the fact that survey data show that significantly fewer African-American teens pass judgment on star athletes under suspicion of wrongdoing. In fact, 23% of white teens and 26% of Hispanic teens say they 'don't like' suspected steroid-user Barry Bonds, compared to only 9% of African-Americans who say the same. Likewise, more than one-fourth of white and Hispanic teens (both 27%) say they don't like Kobe Bryant, acquitted of sexual assault earlier this decade. Only 12% of African-American teens, on the other hand, say the same.
Certainly, the data makes the statement (in bold) above plausible. It would be difficult to extrapolate anything else from the data. Although smaller minds might try to somehow connect the numbers with the inference that Negro teens are inclined to be more sympathetic to their own race. But that would be a gross and biased generalization. Obviously the numbers are a product of the culturally less judgmental Negro teens. While, we suspect that the willingness of white teens to negatively rate star Negro athletes is based on the media's negative portrayal of the Negro and the other cultures' willingness to accept it.
While 'popularity' polls are generally best looked at as a fun diversion, these particular numbers do send a clear message:
Michael Vick's career may be currently derailed, but the next generation of paying sports fan is waiting breathlessly for his return.
The numbers don't lie.
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17 comments:
so, because a few black kids still think it's ok to kill dogs for fun, you think that America is anxiously awaiting Vick's return?
put down the pipe.
this information is just quite sad for the african american community. Most black youth do not have a positive male role model in their home so their expectation of acceptable behavior is much lower than it should be. They dont have fathers to tell them right from wrong so the thug-life becomes something desirable. The negative male role model has become something engrained in todays african american culture and it is really heartbreaking.
"Obviously the numbers are a product of the culturally less judgmental Negro teens."
Well said, Sir.
In the end, those who love him still do, and those who didn't were given an excuse.
"The negative male role model has become something engrained in todays african american culture and it is really heartbreaking."
you're a negative male role model, and you don't seem to care about your impact on anyone.
"The negative male role model has become something engrained in todays african american culture and it is really heartbreaking."
you're a negative male role model, and you don't seem to care about your impact on anyone.
hey malcolm..its 10pm, do you know who your daddy is? the statistics would say you probably dont...so if black youth dont have positive male role models in the home how can you expect them to idolize positive role models outside the home? this post just underscores how bad things are in the african american community.
"this post just underscores how bad things are in the african american community."
and your attitude personifies how bad things are in general.
racism and ignorance are a deadly combination.
rest in peace.
racism and ignorance are a deadly combination.
the ignorance is in the fact that NOIS seems to be proud that black youth idolize criminals.
"the ignorance is in the fact that NOIS seems to be proud that black youth idolize criminals."
naw, the ignorance is that YOU think that that is what NOIS is saying....
"the ignorance is in the fact that NOIS seems to be proud that black youth idolize criminals."
naw, the ignorance is that YOU think that that is what NOIS is saying....
let me ask you then...you proud that, when there are so many upstanding african american athletes, the youth still look up to a convict? dont you think that is a sad commentary on the state of the community?
"let me ask you then...you proud that, when there are so many upstanding african american athletes, the youth still look up to a convict? dont you think that is a sad commentary on the state of the community?"
let me ask you this:
you proud of the fact that, despite the fact that their are countless black athletes doing incredible things, that the white controlled media only covers the handful that fuck up? are you proud that the white controlled media doesn't bother to try to showcase the ones that ARE good role models and only jams the convicts down our throats?
i bet you are.
let me ask you this:
you proud of the fact that, despite the fact that their are countless black athletes doing incredible things, that the white controlled media only covers the handful that fuck up? are you proud that the white controlled media doesn't bother to try to showcase the ones that ARE good role models and only jams the convicts down our throats?
i bet you are.
didnt you ever learn not to answer a question with a question...dopey.
All the things you write are your perception because as long as you play this victim card expectations cant be raised. So now the reason black kids admire Con-Vick is because of the white medias coverage of him? sure...couldnt be the cultural romanticism of thug behavior could it? or the lack of positive male role models at home?nah then you would have to take some responsibility to change things. The fact is it wasnt the white media that makes these guys commit violent crimes...so dont kill the messenger clean up your house first.
"All the things you write are your perception"
Sir, HAHAHAH.
As if what YOU write are FACTS...LOL.
You've made many ridiculous statements, but this is your all time dumbest.
And that says a lot.
"so dont kill the messenger clean up your house first."
hmmm, you are more than happy to kill any messanger that give you information that you disagree with.
i seem to remember you denying vigorously that the remnants of almost 400 years of slavery and discrimination in this country has left any effect on society today...you have turned that messanger away....but since you are white, it's ok, right?
clean up YOUR house...ya'll make us sleep out in the barn.
i seem to remember you denying vigorously that the remnants of almost 400 years of slavery and discrimination in this country has left any effect on society today...you have turned that messanger away....but since you are white, it's ok, right?
blah blah blah...again...totally off the point but the racism card is your trump card...keep those vick posters on your walls...continue to follow convicts down the drain.
"blah blah blah...again...totally off the point but the racism card is your trump card...keep those vick posters on your walls...continue to follow convicts down the drain."
blah blah blah...and your love of being a racist is your trump card.
if it ain't white it aint right justifies everything for you...
check the demographic direction of america, pal, if blacks go down the drain...you're coming with us....
good analysis-don't listen to the haters.
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