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NASCAR Claims to Care about Diversity, Then Does This…

Vashti Hurt

For years NASCAR has had a glaring problem.  It’s literally a dying sport.  In an attempt to hide steadily declining attendance, they even stopped releasing attendance figures for select races, including their most popular Daytona 500.  The last reported attendance at the 500 was 140,000 fans, nothing to snub your nose at, but the year before over 180,000 fans were in attendance – a trend I’m sure has continued.

The folks in racing know there’s a problem and seem to want to fix it.  The typical racing audience isn’t one known for their inclusion and the sport has never been recognized for glowing diversity, but they’ve taken strides to change that.  NASCAR has a wonderful Drive for Diversity program led by black owner Max Seigel and his Rev Racing Team.  And former NBA strength coach Phil Horton has used the recruitment of African American college athletes to revolutionize the pit crew.  But is that enough when you have to go to races and hear an invocation by Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson who had this to say about homosexuality via GQ:

“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”

Or this to say about Blacks in Jim Crow South Louisiana where he grew up:

“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field…. They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, I tell you what: These doggone white people—not a word!… Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”

So what does NASCAR, a sport that’s trying resuscitate itself by broadening its audience, do? They let this man deliver this invocation.

Is it just me, or did EVERYONE shown while he was praying feel uncomfortable?

With that one move you’ve given a giant middle finger to African Americans, gays, non-Christians, non-Republicans or anyone who simply isn’t a “Jesus Man.”  Great job NASCAR.  Way to show the world exactly how much you care about diversity – as if having to see this around the infield isn’t enough.