“I am utterly filled with anger at the sight of such blatant disregard for the lives of our people. The injustice that we witness our brothers and sisters endure all over the world repeatedly is abhorrent and MUST cease.” – Lewis Hamilton, 2021
February Marks Black History Month
Black History Month involves reflecting on the deeds of our forerunners as much as it does anticipating the future with optimism and honoring every achievement accomplished by members of the Black community.
While it may appear that the Jim Crow era is far in the past, let’s remember that the Civil Rights Act was signed into law a mere 59 years ago, and it took several years for full implementation thereafter. To put it in perspective, that’s not so long ago, and even though the law was enforced, the detrimental impacts on the Black community continue to resonate today. Despite our desire to believe that “things have changed”, for many of our fellow Americans, this is far from the reality.
A glance at motorsport reveals a striking absence of diversity across every series, but as Bob Dylan once sang “For the times they are a-changin’”.
Let’s explore some of the finest Black motorsports athletes and commemorate their achievements collectively.
Wendell Scott
NASCAR originated from bootleggers in the segregated south, which was also the epicenter of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Due to oppressive laws and outdated attitudes, Black Americans had little chance of breaking into traditionally white sports such as NASCAR, but NASCAR hall of fame inductee Wendell Scott never got that message.
After serving as a mechanic in World War II, Wendell returned to Virginia, opened a mechanic shop, and engaged in moonshine running to make a living. Following an encounter with a promoter seeking to recruit black drivers in 1952, Wendell participated in his first race, triumphing over the competition and earning $50. He was hooked.
Despite the persistent challenges of being Black in the south, Wendell and his family persevered until he joined the NASCAR series professionally in 1961. He secured his first victory in 1963, amidst controversy when NASCAR initially awarded the win to the runner-up, only to correct it later due to a “scoring error”. Subsequently, it was revealed that NASCAR sought to prevent Wendell from receiving a kiss from the event’s White beauty queen.
By 1966, he had become a solid mid-pack driver, a remarkable feat considering his family served as his mechanics, and the old Fords he raced were mostly secondhand. It would be many years before Bubba Wallace broke barriers in NASCAR, but Wendell displayed incredible courage in an era with scarce allies in the pit lane.
Willy T. Ribbs
Hailing from San Jose, California, and being one of five siblings, Willy T. Ribbs was destined for the racetrack.
During his teenage years, he would race down mountain passes in his modified muscle car, and after completing high school, he ventured to Europe to pursue his dream of becoming an open-wheel racer. After clinching victories in amateur series in Europe, Willy returned to America and participated in the Formula Atlantic series in Long Beach, finishing in 10th place. From thereon, Willy traversed various series and forged an illustrious career.
In the early 1980s, Willy dabbled in NASCAR and even tested for Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team in Formula 1. This historic event marked him as the debut Black driver to pilot a Formula 1 car, a remarkable feat in itself. By the early 1990s, Willy was competing in CART (now INDYCAR) and became the inaugural Black driver to partake in the Indianapolis 500. The 2000s witnessed Willy’s return to NASCAR, this time behind the wheel of a Dodge-powered truck in the truck series.
Despite sponsor apprehensions and racial barriers, Willy enjoyed a remarkable motorsport career spanning nearly three decades.
Lewis Hamilton
Wendell Scott and Willy T. Ribbs blazed the trail that Lewis Hamilton would transform into a five-lane superhighway.
There’s little dispute that Lewis stands as the greatest Formula 1 driver in history, validated by his seven World Drivers Championships, but Lewis’ journey was not devoid of challenges. In his formative years, Lewis harbored ambitions of being a race car driver, but the constraints of limited finances meant that Lewis and his father Anthony had to tread a harder path. Lewis often reminisces about the initial days of arriving at the circuit with a second-hand kart, while his white counterparts possessed the latest state-of-the-art equipment.
Commencing his racing career at a tender age of eight, Lewis secured his first karting championship by ten, thereafter joining McLaren’s young driver initiative, triumphing in nearly every race until the age of fifteen. Following victory in the F1 feeder series, GP2, Hamilton joined the McLaren F1 team in 2007. His rookie campaign saw him finish second to Kimi Raikkonen, albeit by a narrow margin. In 2008, he clinched his inaugural driver’s championship and remained a contender during his McLaren tenure, but it was the F1 hybrid era that truly showcased Hamilton’s prowess.
Upon joining Mercedes-Benz Petronas in 2013, Lewis swiftly acclimatized, securing his second title in 2014. Subsequently, Hamilton enjoyed a reign of dominance, clinching five additional championships in the ensuing years until Max Verstappen halted his glory in 2021.
Beyond his exceptional performances, Lewis remains a stalwart advocate of Civil Rights and is a staunch proponent of boosting diversity.in a conventionally white, and male-dominated sphere. His organization, Mission 44, aims to increase involvement from typically underrepresented groups in STEM programs that cater to the automotive and motorsports sectors. He has utilized his platform for positive impact right from the start, earning him recognition not just as a remarkable driver but also as an exceptional individual.
The legacy of Lewis Hamilton is still in the making, and we are eagerly anticipating his future contributions to the sport and beyond.
African American Racers Association (AARA)
Back in 1972, Leonard W. Miller alongside Wendell Scott (previously introduced), Ron Hines, and Malcolm Durham joined forces to establish an institution that highlighted the achievements of Black drivers. Additionally, BARA made concerted efforts to enhance interest in racing careers within the Black community and increase Black attendance at motorsports events globally.
Even though it had a brief existence of five years, BARA succeeded in capturing the attention and support of 5000 members and organized 4 annual conventions. Chairman Leonard W. Miller would later become one of the prominent figures in the racing community, including being the first black open-wheel race team owner to enter a vehicle into the Indy 500. In the ensuing years, the African American Racers Association (AARA) was established to prolong the mission of African Americans in various motorsports, ranging from drag racing to NASCAR.
Explore their hall of fame to peruse bios of some of the most exceptional and promising track stars ever, including a new generation of racers poised to make waves in the racing world.
Further Progress is Imperative
Despite living in an era of enlightenment and apparent inclusivity, the Black community continues to encounter significant hurdles across different fronts.
Just last year, Lewis Hamilton faced a deplorable racial comment from Formula 1 icon Nelson Piquet, in addition to confronting online and in-person hate speech. A quick look at social media reveals numerous videos where racial slurs are shamefully directed at Black individuals. Despite the repugnance of this conduct, there persists a troubling level of silence and tolerance.
This underscores the importance of sharing narratives and spreading admiration and support for exceptional members of the Black community. Motorsports happens to be an undiscovered realm of Black accomplishments where the narrative is still unfolding and evolving right in front of us. It’s crucial to honor the trailblazers who paved the way for individuals like Lewis Hamilton to attain greatness, even as he contemplates passing the baton to a new wave.
Will Lewis Hamilton clinch that eighth title to surpass Michael Schumacher as the greatest racer in history? The answer lies in following the 2023 season closely and witnessing whether Lewis and the new W14 can secure the highest accolade in motorsport.
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