Black Group Glad NASCAR Cut Ties with Jesse Jackson; Doesn't Need to Pay Off Jackson

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[chance33_98]

Black Group Glad NASCAR Cut Ties with Jesse Jackson; Racing Organization Can Continue Minority Outreach, But It Doesn't Need to Pay Off Jackson

7/29/03 2:14:00 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk

Contact: David Almasi, 202-371-1400 ext. 106, for Project 21

WASHINGTON, July 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- NASCAR has severed its financial ties to the Reverend Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, ending what members of the African-American leadership network considered little more than a shakedown of the professional auto-racing organization. Project 21 members encourage NASCAR to continue its outreach to minorities, but consider Jackson9s past relationship more hurtful than helpful.

On July 29, USA Today reported that a NASCAR insider confirms the organization has not and will not make a financial donation to Jackson groups in 2003.

"This is a major win," said Project 21 member Horace Cooper. "Supporters of NASCAR and advocates for good government alike can cheer this decision. No longer will an outstanding sports league support an individual whose moral failings make him unfit to promote progress on race relations and personal responsibility in our urban communities."

Project 21 joined a campaign begun by the National Legal and Policy Center to urge NASCAR to end its financial relationship with Jackson. NASCAR reportedly gave Jackson's groups more than $250,000 in recent years. During that time, NASCAR introduced internal diversity programs and began minority outreach efforts. These efforts were effectively dismissed in late June, when Rainbow/PUSH board member Bill Shack called auto racing "the last bastion of white supremacy" in professional sports and Rainbow Sports director Charles Ferrell called NASCAR "a good ole' boy's Southern cracker sport" in July.

Jackson claimed credit for helping black driver Morty Buckles in a single race in 2001 and is reportedly helping put together a black motorcycle racing team. However, Project 21 was contacted by a high-profile black driver who said he had never been contacted by Jackson or his associates and by black team owners who believe Jackson's intrusion in the sport is having a negative impact on getting black drivers on the track. In interviews, Project 21 members and staff pointed out that minority outreach is a benefit to NASCAR. Furthermore, Jackson -- with his business ties -- can do more to find the sport's "Tiger Woods" by helping drivers find financial sponsors rather than dictating policy to racing officials. Finding sponsors would show Jackson9s true interest in diversifying the sport, and would not require a cash donation from NASCAR (which doesn't fund teams or individual drivers).

Project 21 member Reginald Jones added: "I'm happy to hear that NASCAR is progressing in separating itself from Jesse Jackson. They are moving away from political correctness by moving away from Jackson."

Project 21 has been a leading voice in the African-American community since 1992. For more information, contact David Almasi at 202-371-1400, ext. 106 or Project21@nationalcenter.org, or visit Project 21's Web site at http://www.project21.org/P21Index.html.

[Cold Heat]

Occasionally you read something that makes sense.

[chance33_98]

Ping

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[Tax-chick]

Good job, Project 21!

[ibbryn]

"a good ole' boy's Southern cracker sport"

Wow. As a cracker I guess I should be offended. But it just doesn't seem worth it.

[pabianice]

What ever happend to the NRA's plan to garner pro-gun support from NASCAR members?

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? I wonder how many NASCAR fans (like myself) wrote to them and expressed outrage.

Looks like it worked!!

[meowmeow]

Good.

kb2614, I'm proud to wear your NASCAR hat that I kept for myself :)

We'll get you another one next time. Really.

[cake_crumb]

ACK! I didn't even know NASCAR HAD ties to Je$$e Jacka$$ and his rent-a-riotors!

[risk]

Project 21 is awesome, taking the fight against racism up to a new level. I checked out the press release on the "cracker comment" here: http://www.project21.org/P21PRNASCARComment703.html

There are a lot of position papers and press releases there. I can't think of anything better to do, as one suggests, than for individuals to carry on the work that was once only possible collectively. To be black and successful is the best way to show racism is stupid. And of course to show other blacks how to do the same is all part of the process.

Keep up the great work. I think Dr. Martin Luther King would have been a champion of these same ideas, because his "I have a dream" speech wasn't about victimhood, it was about the opposite: achieving the kind of excellence that all human beings seek. It's time for optimism now, not pessimism!

[Moose4]

NASCAR isn't nearly as "good ol' boy" as it used to be. Ask the good ol' boys down here at Rockingham and Darlington that are losing races that they've held for decades, and seeing them given to cookie-cutter tracks like Chicago.

In all honesty, though, 99% of NASCAR fans aren't going to give a flying crap what color the drivers or crewmen are. It will take time to get black drivers up through the feeder circuits like the local NASCAR track championships and regional series, or sprint cars/World of Outlaws, or even the open-wheel series. Not many black people seem to have an interest in motorsports, for whatever reasons. But it'll happen, I really believe that. It took women drivers a very long time to make it to the higher levels of motorsport, but you're starting to see them now (Shawna Robinson, Patty Moise in Busch Grand National, and Sarah Fisher in IRL).

If they find a black man who can drive the wheels off a race car and is personable and semi-articulate--requirements for a top-level racer these days--the sponsors will come, the endorsements will come, and then the driver will get his shot at the big-time.

}:-)4

[farmfriend]

Project 21 bump.

[al_c]

Rainbow Sports director Charles Ferrell called NASCAR "a good ole' boy's Southern cracker sport"

Wow!! Imagine if the opposite was said by a white about the NBA. Heads would roll.

[lowbridge]

bump

[kb2614]

"a good ole' boy's Southern cracker sport"


Why thank you, Mr. Ferrell!!!!

CRACKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!!!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Finally, someone stodd up to JJ's blackmail

[aomagrat]

NRA Racing

[AlaskaErik]

I'm waiting for the first one of the Rat Pack 9 to publicly denounce Nascar and to promise to introduce legislation after the election to punish them.

[GOPrincess]

This is really great news.

Now I just want to know, why did NASCAR allow Bob Graham to buy sponsorship of a truck? Ugh.