May 30, 2011
Danica Who? First Black Woman Driver Is Gunning for NASCAR
By Jeanne Sager
The future of femalekind in NASCAR has arrived. And her name is ... Tia Norfleet. Ah, you were expecting Danica Patrick?
It's no wonder. For years, the IndyCar Series and Nationwide Series driver has been the only female name associated with the sport. She was the first person with a uterus to lead a lap at Daytona. The first one with breasts to win an IndyCar race. But just as Danica has paved the way for more women to climb into a car, Tia Norfleet stands the chance to do something just as big. She's gunning to join the Nationwide Series in the near future.
The 23-year-old is a black female in a sport where only one of the top NASCAR races has featured more than one driver of color. Ever. To put that in perspective: this is a sport where they race weekend after weekend from February to fall. And only once, in 1971, there were two drivers -- both men, it should be noted -- who were black driving in one race. Otherwise, there has been, at the most, one black man in the seat ... if that.
NASCAR has a female problem. But in 2011, racing still has a race problem. But Tia Norfleet's just another name we haven't heard of, so why such faith that she could be a bigger deal than Danica? Take a look:
1. The race thing. It isn't racism to say it matters. Tia is essentially a double minority -- female and black -- and taking down two barriers at once. That's history making.
2. She's got talent. A driver who has mostly done drag racing and driven in NASCAR late model series, Norfleet has a record of 52 starts with 37 wins as a drag racer, and two top 15 finishes in 18 starts in late model series.
3. She's got a legacy. Norfleet isn't just a nobody off the street. Her dad is Bobby Norfleet, a controversial driver who fought with NASCAR in the '90s about racial issues. She's got something to prove, and not just for herself.
4. She's driven -- no pun intended. Tia says she takes messages from little girls and other women to heart. “I try to tell them you can do it, no matter where you grew up, no matter how you grew up," she told AOL's Sporting News. Speaking of which ...
5. She's from racing country. Raised in Suffolk, Virginia, Tia is from southeastern Virginia, the same general area that produced NASCAR greats like Elliott Sadler (Emporia), Jeff Burton (South Boston), and Ricky Rudd (Chesapeake).
Will you be keeping an eye out as Tia charges her way up to the Nationwide Series?
May 29, 2011
Blacks Children Can Grow Up To Be Anyone in America except A Nascar Driver?
Nascars Celebrates 100 Years Of Remaining As They Always Were.
This Memorial Day weekend means the Indianapolis 500. Thousands of mostly white Americans pile into the Indianapolis speedway today to watch several dozen white race car drivers get behind the wheel of powerful race cars that go at speeds of close to 200 mph. They will also see all white, mostly male pit crews.
The Great African American Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, making it possible Blacks to participate in almost all American sports except Nascar, yet no one seems to ask why? Could this fan's t-shirt be at the heart of why Nascar has remained an almost all white sport?
Here's a racist internet listing of the top 10 reasons why there are no Blacks in Nascar
Top Ten Reasons There are No Blacks in NASCAR
# 10 - Have to sit upright while driving.
# 9 - Pistol won't stay under front seat.
# 8 - Engine noise drowns out the rap music.
# 7 - Pit crew can't work on car while holding up pants at the same time.
# 6 - They keep trying to carjack Dale Jr.
# 5 - Police cars on track interfere with race.
# 4 - No passenger seat for the Ho.
# 3 - No Cadillacs approved for competition.
# 2 - Can't wear helmet sideways.
AND THE #ONE REASON WHY BLACKS CAN'T BE IN NASCAR...
# 1 - When they crash their cars, they bail out and run like hell!!!
Demographic analysis found that while blacks represent only 8.6% of NASCAR's audience, it's a 12% spurt since 2005. There have been a few Black drivers that you never heard of in the name of Darrell Wallace.(Click here to read about him and other Black race car drivers who have tried to break in) Wallace certainly didn't get the Danica Patrick. first women treatment upon his arriival.
As another aside. Nascar wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the big corporate money sponsors who's logos are plastered all over the cars ,helmets and overalls of the drivers. Many of these corporate sponsors get a fair amount of business from Black consumers. Click here to see what corporations use Black dollars to maintain this all white American sport.
Ever wonder why you don't see any Black Nascar drivers or members of the cockpit crews, let alone Black NASCAR officials. NASCAR relies on corporate sponsors more than any other sport. The responsibility of corporate sponsors like Ford, Walmart, and Home Depot who Black consumers spend their dollars with is to let it be known to the Nascar teams that they sponsor, that they want to see diversity and racism won't be tolerated. With the changing demographics of America, you would think that it would be in NASCAR's long term economic interest to increase its Black and minority fan base through employment diversity, but as usual, racism tends to cloud good judgement.
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NASCAR reaches deal to settle $225 million suit filed by former employee THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: December 19, 2008 CHARLOTTE -- NASCAR has settled a $225 million lawsuit filed by a former official who said she was subjected to racial discrimination and sexual harassment during her two-plus years working for the stock-car organization, The Associated Press has learned. The suit was settled during a Dec. 3 mediation held in New York between Mauricia Grant and NASCAR.
Settlement terms were confidential. Grant, who is black, worked as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series from January 2005 until her October 2007 termination. In the lawsuit filed in June in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Grant reported 23 specific incidents of alleged sexual harassment and 34 specific incidents of alleged racial and gender discrimination during her employment.
Among Grant's claims, she said she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba," by co-workers, was often told she worked on "colored people time," and was frightened by one official who routinely made Ku Klux Klan references. Grant also said she was subjected to sexual advances from male co-workers, two of whom allegedly exposed themselves to her, and graphic and lewd jokes.
there are always gonna be racists in the world. i dont think it has anything to do with why there are no black people in NASCAR though. this website seems to be run by a black supremacist who cries out racism over every issue while holding prejudices himself. its quite unfortunate. people could of said it was sexism why a woman wasnt in NASCAR, but it wasnt. it was just because no woman had ever been in NASCAR. danica patrick changed it. quit looking at the world and dividing it by race, otherwise you are no better than the person wearing that despicably racist shirt.
Posted by: Hektor | May 31, 2011 at 06:06 PM
Hector I'm glad you're so consumed with my blog since you've taken the time to post multiple comments.You'll enjoy today's article I posted about Nascar's recent diversity efforts. I'm sure you don't have any problems with everyone getting a fair chance as long as they're qualified, regardless of race especially when it makes good marketing sense. If you do, then we both know what your comments are about after all.
Posted by: BlackJesus.com | May 31, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Well my sister and I are black and we both have degrees in Motorsports from HBCU's in NC...I have a degree in Motorsports Engineering and she have a degree in Motorsports Business and Marketing..she is the top of her class.I also carry and high GPA. We applied to dozens of internships, jobs, we got a lot of emails about positions, they were ready to work with us but when they found out we are black no call backs.....Diversity in NASCAR only means white women..When you go to the NASCAR R&D Center, or the Corporate building that is all you see...I'm from NC and that is what I see! I volunteer every race and event..in Concord..the only black person you will see is answering the phones or sweeping. I work hard to be the first black female with a engineering degree specialized in motorsports technology...I can do fab/welding work on race cars, but do you think I get a call back..hell no...my sister is the TOP of her class..Bernard from INDY loved her ideas to bring minorities into open wheel..Hidi from Shell love her...cause her work is amazing.they make excuses on the reason why they will not hire us....or give us a intern..we are willing to do a free internship....but anyways..we have a plan..we will not give up....
NASCAR is all about who you know...and when black people trying to get into NASCAR we don't know anyone...so it makes it extra hard for us...I love motorsports but to be honest..what is the percent of black people working in circle track....less then 5%..and I'm being nice....I have the degrees but no job in Motorsports....I'm a girlie girl..I'm love pink but I can turn a wrench just like the next dude...in High Heels!
Thanks!
Posted by: Black Lady in Motorsports | June 11, 2011 at 03:39 PM