This past weekend, we watched as NFL owners across the league put on a charade in the name of unity and inclusion.
The image of owners who have purposely blackballed Colin Kaepernick, issuing statements, kneeling, and locking arms with players was the epitome of hypocrisy.
Which is why I can at least appreciate the realness that some NASCAR owners recently expressed.
“Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period,” said team owner and retired driver Richard Petty at the ISM Connect 300 in New Hampshire. “If they don’t appreciate where they’re at … what got them where they’re at? The United States.”
Richard Childress informed his employees that a protest would get them “a ride on the Greyhound bus when the national anthem is over.”
“I told them anyone who works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people have gave their lives for it. This is America,” he said.
Honest forms of bigotry are easier to deal with than subtle ones. And no one personifies that more than our president.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones goes through the motions with his players prior to the anthem Monday.
(Matt York/AP)
“So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won’t put up with disrespecting our Country or our Flag – they said it loud and clear,” Trump tweeted on Monday.
Just two years ago, NASCAR was in the news for their efforts to make their races more of an “all-inclusive” atmosphere when they attempted to ban Confederate flags.
“To do that, we are asking our fans and partners to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events. This will include the request to refrain from displaying the Confederate flag at our facilities and NASCAR events.
“We are committed to providing a welcoming atmosphere free of offensive symbols. This is an opportunity for NASCAR Nation to demonstrate its sense of mutual respect and acceptance for all who attend our events while collectively sharing the tremendous experience of NASCAR racing.”
Confederate flags can still be seen at races.
“The Southern, white sport has integrated slower than any other major American sport after decades of racism and discrimination,” said Jonathan Jones in the Charlotte Observer last year. According to a 2014 report by NPR, 60 percent of NASCAR fans are men, while 80 percent of them are white.
NASCAR has struggled to shed its white, southern roots – confederate flags and all.
(Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
Yet still, NASCAR is trying to fight the stigma that the sport has rightfully earned over the years. Earlier this year, Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. became the first black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series since Bill Lester did it in 2006. Along with Wendell Scott and Willy T. Ribbs, Wallace Jr. and Lester make up the only black men who’ve ever driven at that level.
“Sports are a unifying influence in our society, bringing people of differing backgrounds and beliefs together,” read a statement that NASCAR released on Monday.
“Our respect for the national anthem has always been a hallmark of our pre-race events. Thanks to the sacrifices of many, we live in a country of unparalleled freedoms and countless liberties, including the right to peacefully express one’s opinion.”
To combat the negative connotations, NASCAR as a company has been diligent in trying to change their image. At this year’s National Association of Black Journalism Convention in New Orleans, NASCAR sponsored a panel about how they partner with brands to engage with a younger and more diverse fan base. The company also made a presentation at the NABJ Sports Task Force business meeting.
Their Drive for Diversity program focuses on training minorities and women that might be interested in a career as a driver or a member of a pit crew.
And even one of NASCAR’S biggest names has come out on the side of inclusion.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of the few in the NASCAR community to stand up for free speech.
(Charles Krupa/AP)
“All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests. Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable-JFK,” tweeted Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Monday.
However, the irony of everything that took place this past weekend, is that the NASCAR owner that’s been the loudest voice against national anthem protest, Richard Petty, is also the same person that the only black NASCAR driver works for.
It’s just another example of how NASCAR is fighting a battle they’ll never win, and despite their efforts as a company, admitting to themselves that the culture of the sport will never change, maybe the easier pill to swallow.
As someone who has covered a NASCAR event before, I can assure you it is not the most welcoming place for a person of color, even in the media room.
But I knew what to expect before I even walked in, which is what made the situation easier to deal with.
I tip my hat to all of the efforts NASCAR has employed over the years.
But as the saying goes, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
And this past weekend, NASCAR owners let us know that they’re not the least bit interested in evolving, or inclusion.