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Lawsuit: NASCAR Doesn’t Make Room For African-Americans

Critics say NASCAR needs to be more inclusive of minorities

 Tosten Burks
09.22.16

NASCAR has long been a predominantly white sport. Now a lawsuit is trying to prove that’s intentional.

On Sept. 16, Diversity Motorsports Racing sued the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) for $500 million, claiming the sport prevents black-owned teams and drivers from competing. Diversity Motorsports Racing is also asking the court to require the defendants to “fully integrate the African-American community.” The case was filed in Manhattan’s U.S. district court.

The lawsuit argues NASCAR and its teams have “engaged in unlawful intentional racial discrimination by refusing to sanction African-American owned racing teams,” as well as “refusing to hire African-American drivers for its racing teams.”

In a statement, NASCAR responded, “Diversity both on and off the track continues to be a top priority for NASCAR and its stakeholders. We stand behind our actions, and will not let a publicity-seeking legal action deter us from our mission.”

Terrance Cox, the co-founder of Diversity Motorsports—a stock car racing team devoted to driver diversity—is also the founder of Minority Youth Matters Movement, a national campaign of protests at NASCAR events, which started last September. “Our goal is to design, develop, and manage a program sponsored by interested corporations to meet diversity and inclusion milestones within the sport,” MYMM wrote in the campaign’s announcement.

In NASCAR’s 68-year history, only three black drivers have ever competed in the sport’s top series, now known as Sprint Cup. When Darrell Wallace Jr., who currently drives a Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (the second-tier league), won a 2013 Camping World Truck Series (the third-tier league) race in Virginia, he became the first black driver to win a race on any of the sport’s top three national levels since Wendell Scott took first in a Cup race in 1963. NASCAR’s own diversity program produced recent Cup race-winner Kyle Larson, who is of Japanese-American heritage.

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The 6 most important quotes from Hillary Clinton's epic interview with Howard Stern

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Former Secretary of State, first lady, and winner of the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, sat own for an epic, two-and-a--half hour interview with Howard Stern on his SiriusXM show Wednesday.

She was there to promote "The Book of Gutsy Women," a book about heroic women co-written with her daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

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6 attractive alternatives to everyday products that are better for the environment

Bans on plastic bags and straws can only go so far. Using disposable products, like grabbing a plastic fork when you're on the go, can be incredibly convenient. But these items also contribute to our growing plastic problem.

Fortunately, you can cut down on the amount of waste you produce by cutting down on disposable products. And even more fortunately, there are sustainable (and cute) replacements that won't damage the environment.

Coconut bowls


Cocostation

Who says sustainable can't also be stylish? These cute coconut bowls were handmade using reclaimed coconuts, making each piece one of a kind. Not only are they organic and biodegradable, but they're also durable, in case your dinner parties tend to get out of hand. The matching ebony wood spoons were polished with the same coconut oil as the bowls.

Cocostation Set of 2 Vietnamese Coconut Bowls and Spoons, $14.99; at Amazon

Solar powered phone charger

Dizaul

Why spend time looking around for an outlet when you can just harness the power of the sun? This solar powered phone charger will make sure your phone never dies as long as you can bask in the sun's rays. As an added bonus, this charger was made using eco-friendly silicone rubber. It's win-win all around.

Dizaul Solar Charger, 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank, $19.95; at Amazon, $19.95; at Amazon

Herb garden kit

Planter Pro

Put some green in your life with this herb planter. The kit comes with everything you need to get a garden growing, including a moisture meter that helps you determine if your herbs are getting the right amount of food to flourish. All the seeds included are certified to be non-GMO and non-hybrids, meaning you can have fresh, organic herbs right at your fingertips.

Planter Pro's Herb Garden Cedar Planter, $39.00; at Amazonedar Planter, $39.00; at Amazon

Reusable Keurig cups

K & J

Keurig cups are convenient, but they also create a ton of plastic waste. These Keurig-compatible plastic cups are an easy way to cut down on the amount of trash you create without cutting down on your caffeine. Additionally, you won't have to keep on buying K Cups, which means you'll be saving money and the environment.

K&J Reusable Filter Cups, $8.95 for a set of 4,; at Amazon

Low-flow shower head

Speakman

Low-flow water fixtures can cut down your water consumption, which saves you money while also saving one of the Earth's resources. This shower head was designed with a lighter flow in mind, which means you'll be able to cut down on water usage without feeling like you're cutting down on your shower.

Speakman Low Flow Shower Head, $14.58; at Amazon

Bamboo safety razor

Zomchi

Instead of throwing away a disposable razor every time you shave, invest in an eco-friendly, reusable one. This unisex shaver isn't just sustainable, it's also sharp-looking, which means it would make a great gift for the holidays.

Zomchi Safety Razor, $16.99; at Amazon

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