It’s time to remember and act upon once again the principles that we fought the Civil War over.
While most Republicans are floundering over their long-held promotion of racism for political gain among angry whites, one large organization long rooted in the south – NASCAR – has affirmed its commitment to an inclusive environment at its events. Is this sincere or just a desire to escape the political maelstrom now sweeping across the land as attacks on blacks continue unabated with the stars and the bars as a symbol of white racism?
Ask NASCAR about what it has actively done to integrate the sport and its businesses over the decades – once you get past the self-interested ticket sales aspect of its alleged minority policies. How many black drivers are there in NASCAR? How many black team owners are there in NASCAR? How many minority owned businesses participate in its prosperity? True, there is considerable risk for NASCAR given its southern fan base for it to become more proactive in fighting racism.
NASCAR said in a statement today that it would continue its previous policy as being against the use of the Confederate Flag in any official NASCAR capacity, a flag of dishonor in our view that was first used during our bloody Civil War that was fought over slavery.
Simply put by NASCAR, “all fans are welcome at our races.”
It is not that simple, though. NASCAR needs to lead the laps run against racism, not hang back on the track while the leaders against racism charge ahead.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
