$225 Million Suit Should Open Some Eyes

This woman makes it sound like Nascar is nothing but a white male dominated sport from top to bottom. I am shocked that this day in age people still think that. After all, don't all the girls in the stands or hanging around the garage area count?
MBL

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Mike -

But the women in the stands aren't working in the garage. And "this woman" worked in a specific area with a specific number of men and a specific number of women. I sat down and read the lawsuit. There are a few things in the lawsuit where you'd scratch your head and think "she just needed to brush that off" (and believe me, there were a couple that I was thinking that), but the majority of it is quite horrifying. Lawsuits are generally worded in a specific way by lawyers to prove their case and get hte greatest impact. But this lawsuit specifically targets and the people who harassed her and does point out that a person from the Truck series came to her defense in one instance.

I want to make it clear that while I can't speak for others, I know that most male dominated fields (including other areas within NASCAR, most likely) don't treat women this way. It comes down to the group of people and what they are permitted to do. In this case, I think it was a group of men who were let to get away with a bunch of sexist and racist crap for a long period of time, who happened to finally pick on the wrong person. I've worked with guys who've cluelessly done something that might be construed as sexual harassment, and I've worked with guys that were malicious with sexual harassment. The work environment is key to whether or not a woman (or man) feels they can report it.

I don't want to sound like I'm attacking or anything. Most men in this country were raised right and would never treat a woman so horribly, so it's hard to understand when some man *does* do something like that. Like I have major trouble understanding malicious or demeaning women, even though I am a woman. I had a hard time understanding the whole man/woman divide in the work place for a long time because I was raised to believe women and men were equals, and I'd always worked for people that believed the same thing. (I got an education on that a few years back at the hands of some unwittingly idiotic men. But those two do not represent the majority. They just let me know what it can be like for other women if the culture at a work place encourages the men to treat the women with disrespect.)

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I think you missed the sarcasm in my post, Maveness. As a venue that is totally dominated by white males, if she had not experienced some form of sexual harrassment or some racial bias I would have found THAT to be the big surprise. The question is, "when is it play and when is it a serious problem"? Unfortunately, in this issue that is going to be up to the courts.
Many black friends of mine have made comments to me about my being a country music loving honky or chided me that the reason I cannot dance or play basketball is because I am white. Do I go out and scream RACISM? No! Why, because I know they are just razzing me.
Racism is the big ugly buzz word these days. If someone doesn't agree your point of view on anything and they are of a different skin color than you, then you can bet RACIST is going to be screamed from all sides of the room. It waters down real claims of it by claiming it every time two people of a different color have a disagreement.
I have not had the benefit of reading the above mentioned suit. I will say, if you have read it you have gotten exactly one half the story as embellished by an attorney that stands to take in a 35% fee of the proceeds. I would not call that an independant view of the facts.
All that being said, do I think she experienced some comments regarding her sex or her race? Yes. Was it sexual harrassment and racial discrimination? Maybe, but in todays world all she has to do is make the claim and the question is not, are they guilty, the question is, How guilty is Nascar?
MBL

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Thats what Nascar gets for starting there diversity program.

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Well put by both of you. You both make valid points and I agree with you Mike in that racism is a word thrown around these days that needs to stop.

I know I can't play basketball and I don't care that they would make fun of me if I did. I know that is a BAD example as to compared to the lawsuit but it's all relative.

Good luck to NASCAR as they will be that ones that have the mud thrown at them by the media.

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Mike,

If the allegations are true then I would have to say that the KKK comments go way beyond razzing.

Without trying to overreact I think it is a fair statement that NASCAR (and it's fans) are facing some serious discrimination issues. And I'm not just talking about women. I think there is a bias against Orientals, blacks, and Latins too.

I like the sport, respect the drivers and crews, enjoyed going to races, but I don't always like what I hear from the crowds regardin discrimination.

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Thanks Al. I am not sure which crowds you are referring to but race relations as a whole in our country need a little help. And when I say that I mean all the way around. The problems are equal across all races, it does not just go one way. However, the squeeky wheel gets the grease. How would it go over if tomorrow there was a new organization started up called the National Association for the Advancement of White People? Or, if there was a contest for the White Miss America? Or, a United White People College Fund? Or a TV channel called WET for White Entertainment Network? People would rightly be outraged. I can hear the people now. RACIST RACIST RACIST would be the chant with Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Louis Farakhan leading the chant. Why is it OK then to have those exact same things for blacks? It is not. Yet, we have had these things for decades in this country and it is the very existence of these types of organizations that help to perpetuate the divide between races.
While when it was written it did not actually apply to ALL people, Thomas Jefferson said it best when he wrote "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable [inalienable] Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Now, as a person with an extensive math background I understand the meaning of "equal". It is such a simple concept I expect everyone else to be able to understand it as well.
As for the KKK comments, I did not read them. If the lady in question actually thought the man that said them actually has connections to a local chapter of the KKK and was actually using that as a threat of bodily harm, then she has every right to be scared. Anything short of that fear she should have seen it for what it was, stupidity on the part of the person that said it.
MBL

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Okay, I have thought about this blog entry off and on all day. I know what I want to say, but also worry about offending others. So before reading any further, please know....I mean no offense!

First, I am a woman. I am white, not black, however I have some black family members. I do not believe in "racism." I believe in hatred! There are hateful people all over the world that hate others for the dumbest reasons, rather it be the color of their skin, their religion or lack there of, whether they are woman or man and so on and so on.

I will agree with Mike. We are only hearing ONE side of this story, and I am sorry, I do believe it to be a "story." I am willing to bet that 80-90% of her claims are falsities.

Look, we women can't have it both ways! We can't ask for equality and then turn around and yell sexism or worse yet, racism when something doesn't go our way. I always say, if you want to run with the big dogs, then you better know how to bark! I have a difficult job in management. I don't have too many employees that work under me, but the ones that do are all men. There isn't a day that goes by that there isn't some kind of comment slinged my way, usually regarding my breasts. Hey, they're big. I can't hide them so don't try to. At the same time, since I put them on display most the time, I can't then cry about it when they are noticed! If someone gets out of hand with their comments toward me, it's MY job and nobody else's to put that person in their place! Like everyone, there is someone "above" me. I have never once felt the need to go whine to my boss (the owner of our company) over the many sexist remarks I receive. I handle them myself! There have been several men who have had my position before me and you know what? My owners have been in business for over 30 years and they say I am better than ANY man they ever had! I am confident! I am intelligent! I am independent! I am opinionated (we all know that), and I can, will, and DO stick up for myself!

I am willing to bet that this woman (being black has nothing to do with this) underperformed for whatever reason. She is bitter about losing her job and some lawyer got a hold of her and is looking at her as a "gold mine." This lawyer is making a name for himself. NASCAR is a huge organization with TONS of money and no, they don't have many Black employees or Women employees for that matter. But do you all believe it is honestly because they are racist or sexist? I am sorry, but I don't for one second! If you have the skills, the talent, the ambition and the drive, then you are just as qualified as the other "guy."

This woman will get no defending from me until I hear both sides of the story in its entirety!

JMO

Kim

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I am going to add one more comment to my above post. I know this isn't a political blog, but I must point out that for the first time in our American history, a Black Male is running for President of the United States of America. In addition for the first time in American History, a Woman almost beat him to be the first woman to run for President of the United States of America. If people don't see this as progress, then I don't know what else is!

Kim

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I'm not smart enough to get into a debate on this subject but I do have one issue that I feel needs to be addressed. First I want to say that I am very anti-discriminatory but I think it is time for Affirmative Action to go. I no longer see the need for it and nothing says that more than this county's presidential race. The only problem I see in disposing of it will be the ranting of Sharpton and Jackson. The more you stir shit the worse it smells and these two have stirred up more shit than anyone. They just need to sit down and shut up. JMO

Ron

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Ron,

You certainly are smart enough my dear. :-) And you are correct, too. Affirmative Action needs to go! It doesn't help anyone and only causes animosity in the work place. My hubby was up for management positions numerous times. He has worked for the same company for 10 years, never missed a day of work except for vacation and for when I had our children, never been late. His work performance has always been rated outstanding. However, when he would go up for a promotion, (hubby is white) he would not be picked. He was even told face to face by a higher up in management that his promotion would come through once they were able to find and hire a minority. They put his promotion on hold for six months until there was finally a "qaulified black man" for a management position. Now I am sorry, but just who in this scenerio was discriminated against? It sure wasn't the black gentleman who was far less qualified than my husband, had less years on the job, and didn't have near the work ethic my husband has. If this isn't a case of Affirmative Action gone bust, then I don't know what else is! The most qualified person for the job, SHOULD GET THE JOB! Period!

JMO

Kim

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This lady filed the lawsuit in New York state instead of her or Nascar's location. She was able to do that because of Watkins Glen. If this goes to trial then she will probably have a great jury.

I don't want to talk politics either. But listening to the New York newscasters and pundits describe the people from varying states was insulting. Andrea Mitchell had to apologize for calling West Virginians rednecks. Ohio went for Clinton and they kept talking about the southern Ohio rural people. It was that way in state after state and they would use Appalachian to describe it. It all came down to the white uneducated blue collar people from Appalachia that voted for Hillary.

I only bring that up because that is the mindset of many New Yorkers.

A few years ago I applied for college aid for my son. They came back and estimated 1 year costs would be $ 26000 and he was eligible for a $ 2150 loan. Affirmative action hurts kids attending colleges.

I hope that I haven't offended anyone. My step-sister adopted a bi-racial child that we all love.

JMO

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Don't sugar coat it Ron. The truth is you are smart enough to stay out of it!!!!
mbl

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Susan, just would like to point out that (I live nearby Watkins Glen, NY) the way NYC votes / thinks / acts / lives / works / commutes / talks / ect. has very little in common with us here in the rest of the state. If you ever come to the track, look around the surrounding towns and nieghborhoods they are full georgeous scenery and hard working, common sense people who judge a man or a woman by their actions and abilities not skin color, gender, religion. I think most of rural America is that way. These "race baters" are the ones that keep the subject alive. Where I live, if youre blind enough to judge with your eyes, it proves that your intellect is small. I'm sure there is racisim still out there in this country, but for the most part it comes from those who are weak, insecure and very dim- these people cant propel anyone anywhere anyway, and their way of thinking is viewed by the rest of us as cavemanish. Those who cry out the loudest about being held down by it are just as bad, the only thing holding them down is themselves and are making excuses for their own lack of ambition to go out and make something of themselves, wanting a hand out or a big lawsuit.

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just want to add that there are some really good points on this page and Ron and Kim point out something that is very disturbing but getting more and more common- why are the hardest working, most honest and law abiding segment of our population being punished with more and more laws and regulations? The white male worker has to put up with far too much politically correct B.S. to try to lift some other group up or give somebody a tax break they didnt earn. I have some black family members too and I love them dearly as well as black, asian, you name it, friends- but it's time we took a stand on somethings. Let the best man win- thats what they used to say in the old days. This country's going to hell because of the weasel politicians and Hollywood freaks that tell us what to think, how to act, what to eat and people are listening. Hell, this blog isnt "GREEN" enough to even exist.I'm off track but what I wanted to say is common friggin sense must of went out of style or something because I'm not seeing any of it anywhere. Our founding fathers didnt have this in mind for this country. Look at the price of gas--- if they were here, they would sink those ships as they came to shore and tell them to come back when they can bring back $1.00 per gallon gas to sell us like they did in Boston with tea. But anymore, were just ants marching, not taking a stand, forgeting how we were all raised and what we belive in, because the papers and t.v. tells us it's not like that anymore.-- I'm only 36 years old and I miss the good old days- tell me were not in a downward freefalling spiral! Thats why people like us watch and go to the races. It still makes sense (usually) and we know like minded people we can relate to are watching it too. We dont care if the guy next to us is black, white or seafoam green, as long as he or she doesnt ruin the show.

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I worked on and off for over twenty years with the folks at NASCAR as a cameraman/technician for the races in Charlotte. When I first started working the races as a cameraman there where a total of three Black crew members involved. I left Nascar to venture into another part of the entertainment industry that was also dominated by white males. It comes as no surprise that this happened,because it's been going on for so long. As for reporting to the proper avenues, that's a joke...because the powers that be saw these things happen on a daily basis and most of the time they gave token positions to say that they had a few on staff to keep the NACCP off there back or the local business community happy. The Smith's and France clan knew excately what was going on and if you complained guess who didn't get the calls to work freelance gigs within the NASCAR family?

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Blueman, you dont say what it is that "happened". To me, it is not enough to just hurl out accusations from afar and not prove or say what exactly happened that was so offensive. Also, the industry that was so dominated by white males- could it be that 20 years ago,they were the ones most qualified to have the job?

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Joe Austin,

I am sorry that I made it sound like I meant all New Yorkers. It irritates me when people view Southerners as rednecks and having a lower IQ than others.

I read the allegations after I posted the above. They are terrible and horrible accusations. She has named so many people and named others that she said witnessed the incidents. I believe that at least some of the accusations have to be true.

Nascar's first step should be to eliminate confederate flags from the tracks. There are a lot of people offended by that flag. It's hard to think they are seriously attempting diversity when they allow that flag at the tracks.

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I Have to make a comment. I also worked for Nascar I am a 61 year old white woman and worked for NASCAR when I was 56. Just some back ground. I had worked on the TV end or the sport for 25 years and decided to try the other side of it. Well I was put in a position that reported to the chief Scorer for the division. My Husband worked for the TV Side. So We were at all the tracks at the same time. I had decided to leave because of the continuing harassment of fellow employees and Chief Scorer. I was told that my Cell Phone would be taken away if I did not quit talking to my Husband. The TV would come in to install their cables and I would talk to them if I had my work completed. I was told that I was not to talk to THem. I was told that I could not go visit my friends with TV even on my breaks. On my Last race the Tempature was in excess of 100 and I was told that I would have to work on Pit Road helping Teams with their feeds from Scoring. I had never done this and had no IDEA how to do this JOB. In addition I had High Blood Pressure and family history of Stroke and Heart Attacks. But this did not matter I was sent out in the Heat for at least 3 Hrs. Now some of you will think this is sour grapes but it is all true. And no one from NASCAR cared if I had a Heat Stroke or not. I have never frogiven this High Ranking Offical and She has never called me to say she was sorry. I have also never heard for a former friend that I got a job for and she was the employee who gave me the most Grief!!! So do not believe that things do not go on in NASCAR. They are still a GOOD OLE BOYS CLUB.

Gram

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Susan, we are going to seriously disagree on one issue. That of removal of the Southern Cross. I am sorry if there are stupid people that may use that as a symbol of anything other than what it is, the flag of the Confederte States of America. However, some lessons in history and government will go a long way to help people understand the truth on the ar between the states, which has been seriously distorted over the years.
Feel free to read some history books on the causes of secession. Not the history books they give to your children in school, real history books without an agenda other than the truth. You can thank the naacp for what is taught in schools on the issue. In 1861, when 13 states seceeded from the United States of America to form the Confederate States of America there was no requirement at the time requiring the states that had joined the USA to stay part of the country. Abraham Lincoln did not want to go down in history as the President that allowed the US to be divided and so waged war on the new Country. By anyones standards it was an illegal action as the states that seceeded were not required to be a part of the Union.
The war is over, the Union won, and to the victors go the spoils. But don't tell me I cannot fly the flag of my homeland. I have no problem flying the stars and stripes at the top of the flag pole, but right under that flag you will find the Southern Cross.
We can argue till the cows come home on whether or not the fact that the CSA were forced to rejoin the USA was a good thing or a bad thing but the reasons for the war were most certainly not the popular reaon given; that of slavery. The reasons were many but to sum it up the war was mostly over states rights. There is little difference in fact between the secession of the south and the Boston Tea Party. Slavery would have been probably number 5 or 6 on the list. It was a disgusting part of our nations history but the Europeans that sailed to Africa and traded Rum for captured slaves did not invent slavery. It had been in existance for thousands of years in Africa and continues today in Africa.
Sorry, I have digressed but suffice it to say I really do not like the idea of people saying I should give up the flag of my homeland.
MBL

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