Current:Home > ScamsClaim of NASCAR bias against white men isn't just buffoonery. It's downright dangerous. -EquityExchange
Claim of NASCAR bias against white men isn't just buffoonery. It's downright dangerous.
View
Date:2025-04-16 15:18:51
If you haven't heard about this, it will sound like a joke. But it's not. I mean, it is a joke. But it's real. Anyway, you ready? Here it is:
America First Legal, led by former Donald Trump goon named Stephen Miller, has requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which investigates allegations of discrimination against employers and has the authority to file lawsuits, investigate NASCAR for “illegal discrimination against White, male Americans.”
It seems like a joke because NASCAR has one Black driver in its Cup Series in Bubba Wallace, and just one non-American, Mexican driver, Daniel Suarez, racing full-time in its Cup Series. It also has no women Cup drivers since Danica Patrick retired following the 2018 Daytona 500.
NASCAR isn't known for being a beacon of diversity among its drivers. It's been attempting to change that with a series of diversity initiatives designed to bring more drivers of color and also diversify its staff.
But no one, absolutely no one, would look at NASCAR and say: You know, I think NASCAR doesn't have enough white people in it. So instead of its drivers being 99.999999 percent white, we need them to be even more white. Is it possible, Miller might ask, for NASCAR to be 2,000 percent white?
This is all goofy and weird and foolish. Elements of this story are funny, too. But what Miller is doing is also abhorrent and immensely dangerous.
We can laugh at the blatant stupidity but the larger message Miller and his group are pushing is a frightening one. That message is that white people are under attack and need protection.
This, of course, isn't true. But people like Miller say it is and unfortunately Miller, extremist politicians and right-wing media push the same garbage to tens of millions of Americans. They've been doing this for years.
Former Fox host Tucker Carlson acted as a conduit for one of the ugliest conspiracy theories in existence: the "great replacement" theory. The idea behind it is that white Americans are being replaced by people of color for political gain. The reason right-wing extremists attack diversity, equity and inclusion programs is because they see them as another way white people are being oppressed. Which is laughable.
Read moreWhy is F1 second to none when it comes to inclusivity? Allow 'Mr. Diversity' to explain.
Over the past year Miller's group has accused over a dozen companies, including some of the biggest like McDonald's and Starbucks, of using their DEI initiatives to discriminate against white people. Another organization Miller has targeted is Major League Baseball. Bloomberg reports that the EEOC has yet to publicly respond to the group’s inquiries.
With NASCAR, as he's doing with other entities, he's attacking its various diversity programs, as Bloomberg notes, including “diversity driver development program,” “diversity pit crew development program,” as well as the “NASCAR diversity internship program." He claims it violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race and sex.
Miller's group accelerated its efforts after the Supreme Court essentially gutted race-conscious admissions decisions at colleges across the nation. He wants to spread this ugliness beyond that realm.
Please understand what Miller's group is doing here. He's attacking NASCAR for wanting to diversify itself. A company trying to look more like America is a wonderful mission. Instead, someone full of rot and bile wants to stall that kind of progress. Not sure what's scarier. The fact that Miller is doing this or that millions of people applaud him as he does.
Miller's group has also gone after Kellogg. That's right. Kellogg. Which makes cereal. Apparently, Coco Pops aren't white enough.
"Kellogg’s is yet another big corporation that will break the law and hurt its shareholders’ interests to serve the twisted woke ideology of its officers and directors; like Disney, Budweiser, and Target, Kellogg’s management has shown nothing but contempt and disdain for American families and American workers. America First Legal will keep fighting for big corporate accountability," the group said.
Kellogg's said in a statement to NBC.com: "At Kellogg, our aspiration is to better reflect the diversity of our consumers and to strengthen our inclusive culture. We are committed to compliance with all applicable employment laws, and we have policies in place that prohibit workplace discrimination."
In its letter to baseball, AFL actually had the nerve to bring up Jackie Robinson. The group claimed that baseball has “reversed the progress that it has made since 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier” by utilizing “discriminatory” diversity programs.
Yes, this is all stupid and a joke.
But it's also dangerous.
veryGood! (552)
Related
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Rebecca Black leaves the meme in the rear view
- U.S. women's soccer tries to overcome its past lack of diversity
- Natasha Lyonne on the real reason she got kicked out of boarding school
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Berklee Indian Ensemble's expansive, star-studded debut album is a Grammy contender
- Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian woman to win best actress Oscar
- 'Wait Wait' for Feb. 11, 2023: With Not My Job guest Geena Davis
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- And the Oscar for best international film rarely goes to ...
Ranking
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- While many ring in the Year of the Rabbit, Vietnam celebrates the cat
- Shania Twain returns after a difficult pandemic with the beaming 'Queen of Me'
- More timeless than trendy, Sir David Chipperfield wins the 2023 Pritzker Prize
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- 'Table setting' backstory burdens 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 debut
- Shania Twain returns after a difficult pandemic with the beaming 'Queen of Me'
- After 30+ years, 'The Stinky Cheese Man' is aging well
Recommendation
South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations
'How to Sell a Haunted House' is campy and tense, dark but also deep
In India, couples begin their legal battle for same-sex marriage
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
'Laverne & Shirley' actor Cindy Williams dies at 75
'Wait Wait' for Feb. 25, 2023: 25th Anniversary Spectacular!
'Whoever holds power, it's going to corrupt them,' says 'Tár' director Todd Field