The Negative Ieographs: The Life Of Michael Vick

When people hear the name Michael Vick, many thoughts come to mind. First overall NFL draft pick, first African American quarterback ever to be taken first overall, Pro Bowl quarterback, and worst of all dog fighting felon. Michael Vick served 21 months in a federal prison for funding and aiding a dog fighting ring that operated for over five years. Even though Michael has served his prison sentence, helps the Humane Society by being a spokesperson to reach different audiences to raise awareness to end dog fighting, he has many negative ideographs that still surround him. The power of these ideographs, how they demonize Michael Vick and how some of these intractable ideographs will stay with him for the rest of his life will shape public belief and behavior.

Ideographs are very powerful in the sense that they are not invented, but socially constructed. Ideographs can skip the argument altogether by securing the point without really making it. Dog fighting, felon or even prison are all ideographs that you do not want attached to your name. Negative ideographs can affect your life in many ways. You can lose your job, lose your family or even lose your money. Michael Vick experienced all of these in his life from having these negative ideographs attached to him.

Five years later, in 2013, Michael Vick was ranked the most disliked player in the NFL, according to a Forbes survey. There are people who will update blogs and make videos as a relentless reminder of Michael’s sins. I understand the attitude of the people who are upset. Michael Vick made millions of dollars playing in the NFL and was willing to throw it away for killing dogs. It does not seem like it makes any sense. Everything that happened at Bad News Kennels before the arrest of Michael Vick was a disgusting, sadistic action that should put anyone involved straight into