Minorities in NASCAR: Whose Responsibility?
I am no expert on NASCAR that is for sure. But, I have learned a lot about the organization throughout this semester. Recently in our business of NASCAR class we had a discussion about whether it is NASCAR’s responsibility to make the sport more diverse. So far we’ve seen just one non-white American male in the sport since its start. But does NASCAR need to establish rules or requirements for teams in order to get minorities and women into the sport?
My opinion may be a little old school, and a little surprising being that I am female, but I think no. If you start trying to make too many rules or establish quotas, you’re taking the realness away. People who shouldn’t be racing and people that are only interested in getting a paycheck will be out there on the track taking the place of someone who should be there. It won’t matter who is best, whether they’re a better racer, or if they’re more dedicated to the sport. This is not to say that there aren’t a few drivers out there that don’t belong there already, but that’s another thing.
I have always been a strong believer in the idea that people will become what they want to be. Everyone makes choices and decisions, works hard at a young age or doesn’t, gets involved with certain activities or subjects in school and as a result excels or doesn’t, becomes dedicated or lets their interest wane. I think people and industries should be left alone with little toying to direct what they become. That approach is the only way you can surely know that it’s pure.
Especially with the results of this year’s election, we can see now more than ever that things are changing. And it’s not because the government imposed a new amendment to the Constitution saying that one out of every 44 presidents must be a minority. Our country elected a non-white American president all on its own. The United States, a country that half of a century ago was in the midst of a civil rights movement where women and minorities were fighting for their rights, is changing. Who’s to say that NASCAR, a sport tagged as the redneck’s entertainment of choice, won’t one day be just for the South.
If NASCAR wants to get more involvement from minority groups and women, then I think the thing to do would be start children’s programs that make racing available to young kids of all backgrounds. Many minority groups may not think about a sport like racing as something to get their child involved in. Not to mention the price. If NASCAR decides it wants to become an equal opportunity racing league, then all it needs to do is make racing available by sponsoring children’s events and developing carting leagues.
And that’s the view from here.
SK