Posted on 06/07/2020 1:15:58 PM PDT by McGruff
NASCAR utilized much of its pre-race show at Atlanta Motor Speedway to address the recent social unrest and the issue of systemic racism in the United States.
NASCAR Hall of Famer and FOX commentator Jeff Gordon opened the broadcast with his own statement, saying: "We are listening. We are learning. We are ready for change."
Bubba Wallace, the only African-American driver in the Cup Series, was wearing a shirt on pit road that read 'Black lives matter' and "I can't breathe," referencing George Floyd's plea to officers in his final moments.
(Excerpt) Read more at motorsport.com ...
During the pace laps, NASCAR went even further and stopped the field on the frontstretch. NASCAR president Steve Phelps then shared the following message with drivers:
"Thank you for your time. Our country is in pain and people are justifiably angry, demanding to be heard. The black community and all people of color have suffered in our country, and it has taken far too long for us to hear their demands for change. Our sport must do better. Our country must do better. The time is now to listen, to understand and to stand against racism and racial injustice. We ask our drivers ... and all our fans to join us in this mission, to take a moment of reflection, to acknowledge that we must do better as a sport, and join us as we now pause and take 30 seconds to take a moment to listen."
All team members lined up along the pit wall for the powerful moment of silence, some getting visibly emotional during the pause. A video then followed with several drivers addressing the issue of racial injustice and pledging to 'listen and learn' more about the struggles faced by people of color every day in the United States.
Will NASCAR now become the NFL on wheels????
NASCAR takes a knee, for ratings.
I gotta go pull some weeds.. silently.
“””””and it has taken far too long for us to hear their demands for change””””””””””””””””””
Just a hunch but maybe they should change and join civilized society. Just a thought.
Their revolution continues
Jeez Louise, enough already. When do the canonization proceedings begin?
Gee. I didn’t catch that. Maybe when NASCAR goes back to running real American cars that actually come from the showrooms, I may. Not until then, though.
Family and I were considering going to a nearby NASCAR race but just now decided against it. Smaller tracks are more fun anyway.
It is happening now.
I was raised to be color blind. I suppose this kind of thing is good for those that are not color blind. But my life experience is that if someone is racist they seldom change. That experience is based on having met less than a half of dozen really racist people.
It seems people are trampling each other to out “woke” everyone else.
Me? I just don’t care what color skin someone has.
I’d apologize like others but I have nothing to apologize for.
And it was at that point that I turned it off.
I will not be lectured to.
This country has become one giant re-education camp.
Ratings?
They just pissed off thousands of Nascar fans all over the country. Me included.
Can’t wait until baseball season starts. Think of the possibilities with that?
Black baseballs?
Black pitchers get a free shot in the head of a white player?
That is why I am no longer interested in NASCAR.
NASCAR has decided that ratings haven’t sunk deeply enough. Soon, these sheeple will be racing each other for kicks, not money.
What racial injustice?
NASCAR president Steve Phelps. Meet the guy who just killed off NASCAR. I am sure that all the ripple effect industries appreciate him as well.
Good thing there are no fans in the stands. He could have been booed out.
Change...hard work, sacrifice, thrift, no drugs, getting married before kids, staying married, no alcohol, getting an education, respecting authority, doing as directed by the police, not breaking the law.
Is that the sort of “change” they are talking about?
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