Sounding off: $225 million lawsuit

Not surprisingly, a great many of you have an opinion on the $225 million racial discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit former technical inspector Mauricia Grant filed against NASCAR last week.

My take on it is: regardless of whether Grant is telling the truth or not, the court of public opinion won't give NASCAR the benefit of the doubt because by and large America still views NASCAR as a sport rooted in the Confederate flag waving South.

To some degree, I would say this is fair, as you'll see in some emails below. At the same time, it would be naïve to think NASCAR is alone. No doubt bigotry exists in every stadium in America, let alone the world.

It's just at most stadiums people don't actually waive the stars and bars.

Now, onto your emails:

You don't have a clue what you're talking about. I guess they didn't teach about the real world up north in those elitist schools. Blacks are free to be fans of NASCAR, but they don't want to. It's just a different culture. This girl filing this lawsuit is just another one of these Sharpton/Jackson style shakedown artists who tries to play the race card at every opportunity. This is only going to backfire on them if this lawsuit is successful. You won't see a single black in NASCAR if that happens. And if NASCAR gives in to them, fans will move to a different league.

Mike
Little Rock, Ark.

I don't even know where to start …

Is this article a joke? How can a sport or league's "real problem" be a lack of racial diversity? I was taught that the color of people's skin does not matter, that all men are created equal. Who cares if the NBA consists mostly of black players or that NASCAR consists mostly of whites? Skin color should not be an issue at all. Fans are not being turned away at the gates of stadiums because of their color. The allegations that NASCAR has a problem are ridiculous. Fans or players are people, no matter what the color of their skin.

Andrew
Saginaw, Mich.

You'll notice a trend here, that most readers failed to supply their last names. Curious.

Why are you writing a blatantly anti-southern white article in the face of the Duke lacrosse scandal? Are you trying to promote an agenda against the people (southerners) whose support has landed you a job? If all the maximum fanbase stopped watching NASCAR you would not have a job you realize that right?

Larry
Location unknown

My job, Larry (and Andrew and Mike), is to bring perspective to the sport I cover. In this case, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't point out that a good portion of America views NASCAR as the sport of rednecks and racists. Is this fair? Not entirely. But just because you and I know otherwise doesn't make that perspective go away. My only agenda in all of this is to tell it like it is, and the reality is this lawsuit is more fodder for the critics. And by the way, I made a point in my article to warn people not to jump to any conclusions like many did in the Duke case. I urge you to go back and re-read what I wrote.

Comment, I'm a 51 year old Mexican in this countries military, a big fan of NASCAR, the NHRA and many other sports. On a daily basis I've had to endure racial hatred and comments. I wish that I had the courage to make up lies about an organization such as NASCAR and sue them for a quarter of a billion dollars. This person needs to get a life, minorities all around the world are having to put up with idiot racists and their moronic comments.

Ronald J. Garcia
Portland, Ore.

Your article about racism and NASCAR caught my eye and I believe you are right. Whether her claims are true or not NASCAR is going to have a hard time proving otherwise. I am a black female myself who enjoys watching NASCAR. My favorite drive is Dale Jr. and although it is just fun but my friends at work make fun of me because I am black and watch NASCAR. I date mainly white guys and get less grief about that. I would love to see a race live but I am scared of being the only dot. This is why many black NASCAR fans are closet watchers.

Kenetha
Louisville, Ky.

Obviously those who said those things to her are in the wrong and she has every right to be compensated for those wrongdoings. I just find it funny that she remembers these instances so well and that there are so many of them. It seems to me that she decided to record all of these events and take the harassment because she knew in the end she could sue and win a ton of money. The only thing wrong with this is that she is cheating the system if she felt she was wronged she should have quit a long time ago and filed a suit then not stuck around just to add millions to that lawsuit I think she was preparing the whole time.

Adam
Location unknown

I think there's something even deeper here, Adam. Grant's recollection of events is quite detailed, sometimes down to the date. If she is this detailed in her recollection of what and when certain incidents happened, then it would figure that she would be equally as detailed in the when and the where she reported said events to NASCAR. However, if she can't produce proof that she did report these events to NASCAR – she says she did notify NASCAR of the alleged allegations; NASCAR insists she didn't – then her case becomes instantly less credible.

Truthfully. Does NASCAR have any intentions or "reaching out" to get people of color to follow it, or is it just lip service? Personally, I (black man) was really starting to get into NASCAR until some idiot (racist) fans starting saying "White Power" and "F*****g N****r, and I said: Ok, NASCAR can kiss off!!!

Ken Lucas
Oklahoma

I hear what you're saying Ken, but honestly, do you think it's up to NASCAR to make sure its fans present a more tolerant message? The way I see it, the intolerance in the stands – and whether NASCAR fans want to admit it or not, there is a faction of unapologetic, vocal bigots in the stands – will persist as long as others around allow it. Once the bigots know they're in the minority, they'll shut up real quick.

This is your lede? "It doesn't matter whether the allegations Mauricia Grant leveled against NASCAR in a $250 million racial and sexual discrimination lawsuit are true. Even if no one in NASCAR called her "Nappy Headed Mo" or no one ever told her she works on "colored people time," as she alleges, public perception is going to side with her, not NASCAR." Why would this be? Because all southern white people are racists and bigots and the public knows it? Give me a break. YOUR job, sir, is to carve through misperceptions, not create more when it's convenient to your subject matter. Sticking with the notion that a body is racist because of its predominantly-white roots is patently absurd and, to be brutally honest, LAZY … It's just dumb to believe that people say stuff like that these days, but the media laps it up and swallows it hook, line and sinker because it fits a narrative that you believe in. If you want to believe that members of NASCAR called this woman a "nappy headed ho" (which is starkly reminiscent of the term Don Imus used, I might add) to her face as an attack, then go ahead … This lawsuit is about a big, fat payday. Nothing more, nothing less. Otherwise, she would have complained along the way to somebody.

Gaylon Parker
Cocoa, Fla.

Here's what I love about Gaylon's response: He makes a point to acknowledge that he's a journalist, criticizes my journalistic abilities, then throws objectivity out the window by stating, unequivocally, that not only is Mauricia Grant lying, but that the things she alleges could NEVER happen. For those of you reading Gaylon Parker in Cocoa, Fla., here's your warning.

Jay, The part about diversity that always seems to be overlooked is that it's ok to be different. The "fabric of America" comment implies that every organization must resemble the same racial demographic of Americans as a whole. Most sports and organizations do not resemble the "fabric of America" including the National Basketball Association. The most celebrated part of diversity is understanding that it's ok to be different. We all come from different backgrounds with different interests. I am not a NASCAR fan but I am sickened by seeing a $250M lawsuit over harassment. Certainly, NASCAR complies with employment laws and has in place a process to deal with incidents internally. If it bothered her then, she needed to document it and try to deal with the incidents internally. And, if NASCAR employees are at fault, those employees should either be forced to attend diversity training or fired. But, how again is this the NASCAR organizations fault? Her frivolous lawsuit has no merit other than to gain national headlines. No financial damages should be awarded. NASCAR should be allowed to handle this within their organization.

Dan Powell
Indianapolis, Ind.

If what she alleges happened and she reported it and NASCAR didn't do anything about it, then it's most certainly NASCAR's fault. As for resembling the "fabric of America," that's a direct quote from NASCAR, not me. However my guess is this won't come as a consolation to a lot of people – and I happen to be one of them – who think it reeks of political correctness.

As a 33 year old African American male this story has needed to be told. NASCAR is probably the last sporting event I would have to attend just because of the Confederate flag being present. But as Tiger Woods has driven the sport of golf with much more affluent whites they need to open up more diversity in the stands and on the track. Thank you for this piece.

Phillip, Lee
Scranton, Pa.

I am a little troubled about your article about the discrimination suit against NASCAR. I agree that NASCAR still has a redneck country-boy image that I believe will never go away. The problem I have is you seem to insinuate that blacks should be "given" jobs with NASCAR. One sentence you point out at any track across the country at any given time it is hard to find diversity. Another sentence you say to appease the court of public opinion, they should install diversity into their institution. In my opinion, and I could be wrong, if there is a talented driver, mechanic, or businessperson; they should get the same opportunity that everyone else gets. I don't think that you can punish NASCAR as well as MLB because the interest isn't there from a certain race or sex. You can't make people play if they don't want to.

J.D. Bailey
Indianapolis, Ind.

I'm not a proponent of affirmative action, so I have to take issue with you here, J.D. I made it quite clear that the reason there aren't any African-Americans racing full time in NASCAR's elite series has more to do with numbers than anything else. I agree, line 'em up and whoever prevails, prevails. By the way, way to bring it Indianapolis.

Jay, I think your column on the image of NASCAR was on target. I have met great people and some truly horrible people. Two years ago I convinced a friend, who is black, to attend a race. We sat near a group of people who continually made racial comments. When I asked them to stop they said I had only overheard part of a private conversation and, in context, the comments were harmless and not about my friend so I should STFU and sit down. Eventually I complained to a track official. He said that I should enjoy the race and ignore any comments. As we were leaving there was a chorus of cat-calls and racial slurs. In the crowd, along with the normal jostling, I thought someone had pushed me a couple times. When I got to my car and took off my leather Tony Stewart jacket I found that it had been slashed a number of times by someone with a very sharp knife. I wrote to NASCAR to complain. I am still waiting for a reply. As you said: "But when NASCAR is the party involved, people immediately are going to wonder whether there is a fundamental problem, one that's much deeper than a few bad apples." Judging from the response at the track as well as the non-response from NASCAR, I am guessing the problem is deeper than a few bad apples.

John
Maine

I really applaud your article on NASCAR and Mauricia Grant it was open honest and direct. I have been to a few NASCAR races in Dover, Indy, and Pocono as well as little short tracks here and there. I don't know if her story is true or not but I do know from my research and life experiences that "Sundown Towns" aren't a thing of the 30's-40's in the South they are alive and well in the year 2008 in all 4 corners of this country. My concern is that I hope if her charges are true she NOT SETTLE out of court and would really prefer she wasn't in it for the money but as an example to NASCAR and other organizations that it's NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. I think a perfect outcome would be for her to walk away a winner without a cent. For some reason money always puts a slant on everything. Thank you.

Robert Smith
King of Prussia, Pa.