Jamie Foxx Attacked for Supporting Michael Vick

Jamie Foxx received tremendous criticism from animal rights activists for defending Michael Vick.  Vick, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, has been charged with illegal dog fighting and faces 12 – 18 months in prison.

"It's a cultural thing... I used to see dogs fighting in the neighborhood all the time... Mike probably just didn't read his handbook on what not to do as a black star," said Foxx.

"I know that cruelty to animals is bad, but sometimes people shoot people and kill people and don't get time... I give Mike the benefit of the doubt," he added.

Ingrid Newkirk, President of the radical organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) stated, "It is cheap and dirty and wrong to call this a cultural thing, unless Foxx believes that cruelty is a black thing - when it isn't. "It may be his thing, but it is not a black thing," she said.

Dr. Boyce Watkins of Syracuse University disagrees.  Appearing with New York Knics star Stephon Marbury on Hot 97, Dr. Watkins felt that Newkirk and others are simply doing what the rest of America is doing “Working as hard as they can to attack, embarrass and humiliate any African-American who provides any degree of rationalization for Vick’s actions.  For her to say that ‘dog fighting is not a black thing’ is her subtle way of race baiting to provide support for her point of view and to embarrass Foxx for providing any element of support for Michael Vick.  Jamie wasn’t saying that dog fighting is a black thing.  He was saying it’s a cultural thing.  That’s different.”