Mauricia Grant beats NASCAR, sort of

Back in June of this year I spoke about an issue that hit the headlines. It was big news, especially if you are a fan of NASCAR. Mauricia Grant filed a lawsuit based on sexual and racial and gender abuses as well as discrimination. This was no simple little issue either. She was asking for $225 million dollars.

Mauricia Grant is one of a handful of individuals in NASCAR that is Black or female. She is both. And according to the suit the harassment she went through would have made you think that we were living in the 1950's as opposed to 2008. Obviously NASCAR jumped on this and launched an investigation immediately.

As you might expect there were denials across the board. Ms. Grant was explained away as a bad worker and there were plenty of reasons given for her termination. Yet NASCAR fired Tim Knox and Bud Moore who were named in the suit for exposing themselves to Ms. Grant. David Duke was fired shortly thereafter. In each case NASCAR denied to reveal why the men were fired, but claimed they had nothing to do with the lawsuit. How odd.

As Much as NASCAR tried to keep this quiet it would not go away. And based on the firings, they knew if this reached a courtroom they would lose fans, potential new fans, and a boatload of money. None of these reasons were in their favor. And God forbid that Al Sharpton jumped on this bandwagon. The press coverage would be devastating for this sport.

So today, just in time for Christmas, NASCAR made a settlement. The amount of the settlement has remained unspoken at this time. If I had to guess I would say that Ms. Grant will not have to worry about getting a new job. Ever. Even with President Obama's proposed new tax plan. Even if she were in New York State.

But NASCAR did say

"We're glad to have the case settled on mutually acceptable terms," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday. "NASCAR remains dedicated to maintaining a professional work environment for all employees at all times, and we wish Ms. Grant well in her future endeavors."

I bet they do.

I said in June

"I would like to believe that NASCAR as a whole is not like the allegations that have been leveled against them. I would like to believe that the fans of NASCAR do not share such beliefs. But I am hard pressed to believe that.

Were NASCAR to present the various trophies swaddled in a confederate flag, I would not be surprised. Nor would multitudes of the fans who carry their own flags, cars adorned ala the General Lee (name of the Dukes of Hazzard car), and robed in confederate flags made into shirts, shorts, pants and more. Were NASCAR to have a KKK night, handing out white robes to fans and lighting the track with burning torches, I would be mildly shocked. Not because they did it, but that inevitiably it would be televised. I’m sure some of the NASCAR fans dream of such a night."

Perhaps this will open up NASCAR in a way that it has steadfast refused to do for decades. Perhaps now it will be an environment that not only is open but non-hostile. Because there is always the option of another lawsuit, and Reverend Al.

Besides, NASCAR drools for the day that rappers and hip hop entertainers show up at a race or event. They aren't fools, they want a piece of the nearly $1 trillion that African Americans spend every year. But they have to earn it. With our trust and inclusion. Not a lot to ask for I think.

In a year of injustices and some of the worst judgements I've seen in a while, it's nice to see that Ms. Grant won. Because when it comes to NASCAR every African American has won. Now it's just a wait-and-see game.

You'll know if things change the first time you see a NASCAR event and it's not plastered with Confederate Flags.