If Michael Vick Were White: How Media Is Responding to Controversial Photoshop

In today's new age of online media and interactive technology, Photoshop is definitely the devil's tool of choice.

This was made no more evident by the controversy that quickly spun around the world—or in other words, Twitter—after an ESPN article about Michael Vick that discussed race featured an image of a white Michael Vick.

The article, which can be found here, was written by respected author Touré who claimed to have no clue about the image or even why it was chosen for his article.

The Author's Reaction

The author of the piece, Touré, has been quite active on his Twitter profile, and he's not exactly defending his employers.

The tweets that stand out in particular are:

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"I wrote an essay about Vick & race. ESPN the mag titled it & added art without me (normal procedure). Judge me on the story not the art."

"My essay on Vick is nowhere near as inflammatory as the pic of him in whiteface which contradicts me saying you can't imagine him as white."

"I had no idea they'd put a pic of Vick in whiteface. Makes no sense w an essay saying it's impossible to re-imagine him as white?"

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Touré has also been very active retweeting other's views, here are a select few:

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"Did the art department and editors even read @Toure's piece?"

"RT @TheAkronHammer: So I read the @Toure Vick column. Once you get past your instinct to mock the headline & art, the piece is really good"

"@Toure They changed the image to a regular shot of Vick. Wise move on their part."

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It's obvious for all to see that Touré is not willing to take any responsibility for what others have done. It's a little surprising how strongly he has reacted to the issue considering he was employed to write it and presumably paid to do so for ESPN in the first place.

Whether you agree with him or disagree with him, it's nice to see someone so openly air their views.

Chris Chase—Yahoo! Sports

Chris Chase of Yahoo! Sports had a fantastic reaction to this in his piece, which can be found here:

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"If you ever wonder why it's difficult to have intelligent, measured discussions about race in this country, look no further than the picture above. A fine author writes a thought-provoking piece about how the color of your skin has some bearing on the person you become. It molds you like a number of other factors like upbringing, class and parenting. He goes beyond the usual platitudes that we throw into racial discussions so as not to seem insensitive or trite. And all of that is ignored because of a race-baiting headline and a cheap Photoshop job."

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I quite enjoyed Chase's comments and observations on the piece. The fact is that it is very difficult to convey or openly discuss race in this world.

Something as simple as changing the hue and color of a photograph and a poorly thought out headline will ultimately outweigh what was a very well-written piece from the author.

The Big Lead

An article over at TheBigLead.com appears to insinuate that ESPN the Magazine's editor, Chad Milliman, knew what he was doing by putting up the controversial photograph.

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If you want people talking, you pull stunts like this. Congrats, Chad Millman, that’s a job well done.

It’s tough to sell an essay on Mike Vick and race, but with that headline and photo illustration, ESPN the Magazine will have people talking. For all the wrong reasons, though. This was the sub-headline:

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Since the day he was arrested, people have been asking that question.

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Really? Have people said that? Has anyone said, “If a white QB killed dogs, he wouldn’t have gone to jail!” or anything remotely close to that? Must have missed that discussion."

 

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DeadSpin.com

DeadSpin have taken a somewhat lighthearted view of the whole thing trying to find white Michael Vick's doppleganger.

The first comment from the story reads:

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"NEXT MONTH: What if Peyton Manning were black?"

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What Twitter Is Saying

@BlkSportsOnline—"This is a garbage pic and a garbage self hating article, don't blame Michael Vick 4 being an idiot on being black, but because he was dumb"

BlkSportsOnline—"And while ESPN pulled the White Vick from site, it is still in the MILLIONS of magazines going outhttp://lockerz.com/s/132773035"

@WhitlockJason—"This "White Vick" article seems pointless, stupid and forced. http://j.mp/nj8K71ESPN found a new Scoop Jackson?"

@drewmagary—"WHAT IF MICHAEL VICK WAS A GINGER???? | Kissing Suzy Kolberhttp://bit.ly/nSnhHS"

Michael Schottey—Bleacher Report

You can find the reaction of Bleacher Report's very own Michael Schottey here.

Serial tweeting about everything and anything  @Cianaf.

I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.