In 2014 the NFL was once again the center of scrutiny as one of the most popular and talented running backs in NFL history was indicted on charges of child abuse after a family physician reported the injuries to child protective services. Adrian Peterson admitted hitting his son with a switch, or tree branch, however, Peterson denied that his actions were abuse and insisted he was merely disciplining his son. Although Peterson did not attempt to hide the injuries and was truthful about the incident when questioned, his guilt in committing an act which is harmful to a child is obvious as seen by photos of injuries on the child 's back, legs, buttocks, and scrotum. The punishment executed by Adrian Peterson on his four year old son was not appropriate
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Many communities, including the black community to which Peterson belongs, are rooted in the practice of administering harsh physical punishment with children or corporal punishment. As Michael Eric Dyson asserts “Beating children has been a depressingly familiar habit in black families since our arrival in the New World. ” When Adrian Peterson was charged with “reckless or negligent injury to a child” there were mixed opinions coming from the public and sports world(Dyson). Some, like the sports commentator and retired professional basketball player, Charles Barkley, view his acts as an satisfactory cultural tradition in punishment that has been passed down by generations of parents in the southern christian community(Meyers). Peterson 's public battle to be cleared of the charges of abuse and to be allowed reinstatement to the NFL have proved to be a catalyst in the fiery debate over what constitutes child abuse. Although it is understandable why Peterson is confused about his actions being termed as abuse due to the community he was raised in, it does not condone the use of physical violence as discipline. The type of penalty which Peterson exercised as punishment is detrimental to his child 's development and misses the target of instruction and preparation for the real world which the punishment is supposed to
Many communities, including the black community to which Peterson belongs, are rooted in the practice of administering harsh physical punishment with children or corporal punishment. As Michael Eric Dyson asserts “Beating children has been a depressingly familiar habit in black families since our arrival in the New World. ” When Adrian Peterson was charged with “reckless or negligent injury to a child” there were mixed opinions coming from the public and sports world(Dyson). Some, like the sports commentator and retired professional basketball player, Charles Barkley, view his acts as an satisfactory cultural tradition in punishment that has been passed down by generations of parents in the southern christian community(Meyers). Peterson 's public battle to be cleared of the charges of abuse and to be allowed reinstatement to the NFL have proved to be a catalyst in the fiery debate over what constitutes child abuse. Although it is understandable why Peterson is confused about his actions being termed as abuse due to the community he was raised in, it does not condone the use of physical violence as discipline. The type of penalty which Peterson exercised as punishment is detrimental to his child 's development and misses the target of instruction and preparation for the real world which the punishment is supposed to