The topic of diversity is not only in Motorsport, just large in the topic. The black live matter movement is not only in the media, but will also lives by Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes pre -. Hamilton is regarded as the first dark-skinned driver in the formula 1, but the other Pilot came to him already a good 20 years before: Willy T. Ribbs.
The Americans had the chance to test in 1986 for Bernie Eccles tone Brabham Team in Estoril and is amazed by the commitment of Hamilton’s: “I think it’s wonderful what this young man makes,” says Ribbs in the Podcast ‘Beyond The Grid’.
Because Hamilton do for his concerns – something that would not make a lot of athletes in the United States. Out of fear that they could lose their commercial value and, therefore, money. “But Lewis addresses this risk. And also the other driver in the formula 1 young driver, be a grown-up. They grow up and do the Right thing.”
That the other driver show edge, makes Ribbs proud of. “I am proud of the formula 1,” he says. Because his own career in Motorsport wasn’t thanks to his skin color is the lightest. “Anyone who claims the opposite is lying.”
Ribbs of Letters amused
Ribbs was marginalized, and says that he has been denied due to his skin color Cockpits. “Absolutely. There are riders who have gone to England and have a Chance to get. Opportunities, I did not get it. This is a fact. But I have not stopped. I have more made.”
The Americans wanted to do what he thought was his right and his goal – in spite of all the circumstances. Ribbs even received death threats, especially when he wanted to go in the NASCAR series. “I got letters and phone calls,” he says.
The letters have amused him, but always, rather, because the spelling was a disaster. “You could not write sentences, but you could spell the N word correctly. The N-word do you manage to always be right. But ‘kill ya’ was only written with an L – plug it but two L in the word ‘kill’!”
in Spite of racism-statements: Ribbs “loves” Ecclestone
A man gave Ribbs but at the time, even a Chance in formula 1: Bernie Ecclestone. The former Brabham team boss left him in Estoril, one of his cars test, and I wanted to bring him in the formula 1. Sponsors, the Italian driver wanted to see, languages wishes but on the other hand. “Bernie has seen the value of diversity in formula 1,” says Ribbs today.
recently, the 89 caused a-Year-old, however, with a controversial Interview caused a stir when he said that Blacks are in many cases more racist than White, what’s dismissed Hamilton as an “ignorant and uneducated” back.
“Oh, uncle Bernie, I love him”, doesn’t see Ribbs the statements of the former formula 1 boss so bad. He believes that Ecclestone had only brought a few terms mixed up and wants him to explain the difference: “no, uncle Bernie, the Black hatred, no racism develop. Racism creates hate.”
The formula 1 had distanced himself to Eccles tone’s Interview and his statements and stressed that the Briton is no longer in the series. In terms of diversity, the king class for Ribbs is already at the front, at least in comparison to his homeland. “The formula 1 is ahead of all, what America is doing at the Moment, light years. Light years,” he says.
Nothing changed in America …
since he made his debut in 1990, successfully in the IndyCar World series, and made it also into the field of the Indy 500 race, have changed nothing. Nothing at all. The formula 1 have caught the issue thanks to Lewis Hamilton by the horns, the Rest was all freeloaders, says Ribbs.
“over there, The guys here, specially in the IndyCar series, can talk about it. As a guy in a Bar who meets a girl and with his manhood brags and later she finds out that he has but a Short time”, he draws the comparison.
A curious incident, there had been recently in the NASCAR series. In the Box of the dark-skinned driver Bubba Wallace was found in Talladega a rope with a noose. Immediately racism was suspected scandal, the FBI turned on, Statements are published, and Wallace at the race in the centre of solidarity made.
Hamilton good opportunity for the formula 1
In retrospect, however, it was found that the rope was hanging in the previous year, there had been no crime. According to the Ribbs drivers like Hamilton and Wallace had no idea how difficult it had been to his time: “Lewis has a lot to get wind, but no death threats received,” he says.
Nonetheless, Hamilton could change today, really something. A driver with dark skin dominates the color of the Sport, is a great way to find Ribbs, and compares it with the sport of Golf, could be reached by Tiger Woods to a new celebrity. “It is only with Tiger Woods, he was really big. And the the formula 1 with Lewis.”
And the Momentum needed for you to maintain, also what are other ethnicities. “Get the next Lewis Hamilton”, calls for Ribbs. “The formula 1 driver from around the world. The formula 1 looks progressive. No other Sport has, even if NASCAR Bubba has Wallace. But Bubs is just for Show or for Sport? Lewis is in formula 1 for the Sport.”
This article was written by Norman Fischer
Vettel wanted Hamilton of world titles to hold, to Schumis records to save FOCUS Online/Wochit Vettel wanted Hamilton of world titles to hold, to Schumis records to save
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