Why Do Black People Care for Their Dogs Differently than Us?
The dog has always been seen as Man's Best Friend. Well, white man's best friend perhaps. Let's be honest: haven't you noticed that white folks are just a little more caring and loving towards their dogs than black people? Have you ever watched Lassie? That show could never have been casted with Black people. It simply wouldn't work. The most obvious reason being that we only own two types of dogs: pitbulls and rottweilers. Seriously, when the last time you saw a brotha walking a chihuahua (image #2) or golden retriever? But anyways, why do we not share the same general love and affection towards dogs?
Let's look back to the 1960s - 1970s Civil Rights Movement. Dogs were our biggest fear and threat right up there with police and fire hoses (see image #3). Since then, Black people have not been so fond of dogs. You never see us hugging and kissing them, or frolicking in the snow with them, or anything of that sort.
Moreover, why DO white people like dogs so much? Well, honestly, I have no idea. I suppose it's just one of those things I'm not meant to understand, like why they love mayonnaise and/or feta cheese on just about anything.
What I do know, is that white people have an affection hierarchy. The hierarchy is as such:
Dogs -> Black people -> Mexicans
How do I know this is true? Just look at recent history. Michael Vick (image #4) was villanized like we have never seen for operating a dog fighting ring. After serving his jail 2-year sentence, many (white) people felt he shouldn't be given a second chance and allowed to play professional football again. That's what the whole point of jail is, to give people a second chance after getting out!
Not too much later, another NFL player who is also Black, Donte Stallworth, gets charged with a DUI and vehicular manslaughter after hitting and killing a pedestrian with his car, who was Hispanic. Stallworth plead guilty and received a 30-day jail sentence. Thirty days?!?! I would get more than that for stealing a pack of cookies out the grocery store! This just proves my point: kill a dog, everybody hates you; kill a mexican, you barely make headlines.
And if you thought I was making this love affair up between white folks and dogs, I leave you with images 5-7 of families in their family portrait ... with their dog. Search Google images for this type of photo with a Black family (not including the Obamas). Go ahead. I bet you that you can't find one.
