George Cook of African-AmericanOpinion.com wonders whether there's going to be as much outrage over the kidnapping and torture of a 20 year old black woman in West Virginia than there is over Michael Vick's treatment of dogs.
Sadly, Cook already knows that the answer is no.
Part of the reason is racism. Black feminist writers like bell hooks and Patricia Hill Collins have long argued that the stereotyping of black women in the mainstream mass media makes it more difficult to view black human as valuable and fully human beings. That will probably make it harder to sympathize with the victim.
Just as depressing is the role of the sheer volume of violent crimes against women in possibly militating against outrage. In some ways, the torture of dogs is a bit of a "man bites dog" story because violent crimes against dogs are (relatively) rare. But violent crimes against women are so pervasive that it may be more difficult for people to get outraged about these cases. I've even some some feminist writers pooh-pooh violence against women.
And, of course, there's no celebrity involvement. Reckless driving was a national crisis when Paris Hilton was the driver. The same with dogfighting when Michael Vick was bankrolling the action.
Much of the weight of American culture would militate against there much focus on this crime.
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8 comments:
Things going against mass coverage of this story....
1. This story doesn't pertain to any celebrity.
2. No one is particularly attractive
3. Duke Lacrosse is still fresh in everyones memories and is probably influencing media towards sying away from this story.
Of the 3 only the third directly pertains to race. Since it is a case where the victim being a black female directly led to the major coverage, it sorta blows a hole in this the MSM hates black folk theory. It is possible that had the Duke lacrosse case not blown up because of the racial identities of those involved this case would now be getting covered. I wonder if the Duke 88 might weigh in on that theory.
Nope, the Duke 88 still think they are right.
Comparing this story to one of the largest personalities in the most popular major team sport in the country is just ridiculous. Vick was a bona fide superstar, for his ability and personality, not his performance. The idea that he tortured and killed dogs, at the pinnacle of his career, was mind boggling, and will cost him well in excess of $100,000,000. That you cannot understand the allure of that story to people who are not even sports fans is remarkable.
This is one of those issues that moves me in more ways than one. I am a great believer in animal rights and humane treatment of animals. Accordingly, I consider Vick's "recreational astivities" depraved and inhuman.
On the other hand, this is not a question of one's views regarding animal rights. It is a discussion about how the media, and by extension, the public will ignore what has happened to this woman.
It is dodging the subject of this post to say that Vick's conviction will be more publicized than the rape and torture of this young woman due to his celebrity status. The question rather is how did we become so jaded as a society that a woman can be held hostage for days and that's not news?
The answer of course is sexism, racism, and sensationalism.
We don't hear of a fraction of sex crimes perpetrated against women in this country. We never have.
When that woman is African-American, it is a non-story in an even more insidious way because the lives of ordinary every day African-American women are irrelevant and nonexistent. This is not a new phenomenon.
You mentioned bell hooks and Patricia Williams whose works are published though ignored by far too many people. But what of the words of Harriet Tubman or Soujourner Truth. It was years before they were recognized for their contributions to civil rights for women and African-Americans.
Historical context matters here. African-American women who are/were strong have always and still are ignored and marginalized in our culture. That's what is happening and the fact that mainstream media outlets ignore stories both of achievement or victimization tells us that as a culture, we have a long way to go before we can claim to be an egalitarian, just society. We're just getting started and the story of the young woman to whom you referred Ric, illustrates this very well.
The answer of course is sexism, racism, and sensationalism.
Reading along, I had a feeling that this charge was forthcoming, and sure enough ... predictable as tomorrow's sunrise.
How difficult is it for you to make it through the day with all of that guilt you carry around for something you were never involved in?
When that woman is African-American, it is a non-story in an even more insidious way because the lives of ordinary every day African-American women are irrelevant and nonexistent. This is not a new phenomenon.
Did you pay any attention to any news source over the last year and a half. This comment, in light of the duke case, has to be one of the most willfully ignorant statements I have seen here at RSI. Since it directly refutes your whole line of reasoning, it would appear that you have discarded it from your memory in order to complete your line of reasoning.
I repeat... willfully ignorant.
It is dodging the subject of this post to say that Vick's conviction will be more publicized than the rape and torture of this young woman due to his celebrity status.
Since Caric mentioned that as a factor in his original post it hardly seems to be dodging the original argument.
We don't hear of a fraction of sex crimes perpetrated against women in this country. We never have.
We also don't hear of a fraction of the sex crimes against men, robberies, murders, kidnappings, racism in any direction, corruption, child abuse, human smuggling or any other crime you can think of. Is that evidence of media obfuscation of the important topics related to those crimes? Absolutely not. The absence of this story in major media does not prove a cultural cover-up of the story. It could potentially be a factor, but that would have to be supported by other facts. Again, the recent coverage of the Duke case is one example that directly refuted your claim.
These are the consituents of former Grand Kleagle and current US Senator Robert Byrd (KKK, WV).
It is interesting that they are not pursuing hate crimes at this point, but it is my understanding that even with the Federal hate crimes included, the State charges carry a far stiffer penalty.
ef - How long until todd mayo or Ric tries to say that we are defending the actions of those animals, or that they represent modern Conservatives?
Jacksonville FL - I am so disappointed in American. This story of Megan is unthinkable and we are still hearing the story of Michael Vic and the crooked refs. Do we not value humans anymore. America is one of the largest portals for human traffic and it seems we keep letting out molesters and murders who go right back and ruin someone else's life emotionally and physically.
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