Big Willie Robinson https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Big%20Willie
Don Prudhomme https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Don%20Prudhomme who you might not know raced in the Baja 1000 in Steve McQueens buggy.
Wendell Scott https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Wendell%20Scott
Stone Woods and Cook https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/variety-of-photos-of-stone-woods-and.html
Victor Green https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-racist-american-south-eastern.html
Madam C J Walker https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/02/black-history-month-none-of-bullshit.html
George Wingate https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2021/02/in-important-win-for-fourth-amendment.html
Josephine Baker https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2019/06/1936-josephine-baker-was-in-red-cross.html
Eugene Bullard https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/12/eugene-bullard-forgotten-hero-ignored.html
Chuck Wiggins https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-black-cat-1920s-race-car-of-chuck.html
Bessie Stringfield https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/08/bessie-stringfield-finally-getting-some.html
Protests https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/07/protesting-to-be-effective-you-must-be.html
and special respect and recognition of Waldo Fidele https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2021/02/standing-applause-for-waldo-fidele-who.html
Those are the ones I could remember.
In the "things with wheels" vein, let's not forget Bessie Stringfield
ReplyDeletehttps://www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/bessie-stringfield
I've posted about her too, please see the last line in the post, "Those are the ones I could remember"
Deletehttps://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/08/bessie-stringfield-finally-getting-some.html
Regarding the Wendell Scott link, the remarks by the blogger point out there was racist shit in the south all the time. True. But let's not overlook the fact that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation only spoke to freeing southern slaves and said nothing about that generosity extending to northern slaves. The north had its very ample share of responsibility for the evil institution of slavery which continued well into the 20th century. The demonization of the south as the source of institutionalized, racist policy is not only unfair, it's bad history. Lincoln was no friend of slaves. His idea of addressing the slavery issue was to ship them all to Africa, and notwithstanding what the relatively recent film "Lincoln" portrayed, Honest Abe opposed the 13th Amendment...the record is clear. For anyone thinking this writer is just a misguided lunatic, I have one question. Why would Abe, if he gave a shit about the indignity of slavery, allow it to continue in the north, and how did he come to believe freeing slaves in the south was even reasonable given that he had no authority there? The Proclamation was cheap political rhetoric, from a cheap political hack. A northern one at that who promised he would never interfere with slavery. See numerous books, articles etc. by Thomas J. DiLorenzo, among others.
ReplyDeleteafter the word "true", the rest is summed up, in "oh yeah? Well they were bad too" which just doesn't belong here in respecting the history of the people I posted about, but I guess you needed to vent how Lincoln was not as whatever as some believe. Thanks for raining on my parade. I hope you blog about something.
DeleteI didn't realize that Don Prudhomme is black, or part black, until now. I found a review of his autobiography on the NHRA website, and it says that his parents didn't tell him about his background, for uncertain reasons.
ReplyDeleteI also found that Don won his class in the 2021 NORRA Mexican 1000.
The article also says that Roland Leong, The Hawaiian, is actually three-quarters Chinese and only one-quarter Hawaiian.
https://www.nhra.com/news/2020/everything-you-always-wanted-know-about-snake-were-afraid-ask
to your credit, that clearly shows you're not racist. I only came across the matter a couple years ago when some drag racer was touted as the first black to win whatever... and the article was making the point that no, Don was, and never made an issue about it due to the awful amount of racists when he got started in racing, while the civil rights movement was ongoing. That no one was acting like a McCarthy, getting all activist about anyone suspected of something, helped to never bring the subject up. I think drag racers are a bit less nosey about stuff like that, and less racist, than Nascar types who gave Wendell Scott so much trouble.
DeleteI haven't heard of the Stone Woods Cook Willys owners having racists give them trouble either
Thanks, I try not to be.
DeleteHis life would have been more difficult in many ways if he had identified as being black during the 60's. There were a lot of "Good Old Boys' clubs" back in the older days. Look how difficult it was for women to get into racing until Shirley Muldowney broke through. But drag racing is the only series that has many women in its top tiers today. (It helps if your last name is Force!)
In a perfect world, whoever can drive the best and bring in sponsors should get a seat. Drag racing seems to be better than other types of racing in that regard.
Jesse,
ReplyDeleteLook up Charlie Wiggins, he is the main subject of a book and documentary entitled "Charlie Wiggins and the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes". Both were put together by author and filmmaker Todd Gould. The G&G race was a black driver event held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in the 1920s and 1930s. Charlie and his fellow black racers were not allowed to race or be mechanics at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but Charlie was very well known to in the racing world as a builder and mechanical genius. Wild Bill Cummins' team would bring Charlie in after hours as a "janitor" and he would work on the racecar that won the 1934 500. The book is a very good read, it details Charlie not only as a racer, builder, and mechanic but also a man dedicated to racial equality.
Hey! THanks Ned! Have you commented before? Because you just gave me a really cool lead for a post! I love the innovative cheating, and sneaking a guy in as a janitor, who is really working on your race car? Is a great example!
DeleteHowever, I actually DID post a photo of him, and didn't know that there was a story to go with the race car driver!
Lol, when someone tells me to look up something, the 1st thing I do is to see if I've already posted about it, and in this case, https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-black-cat-1920s-race-car-of-chuck.html it was only a photo. The source never mentioned anything but his race car and his truck
Thanks again!