More NASCAR: Lawyer for Harassed Negro Speaks

Benedict Morelli, the lawyer for Mauricia Grant (former NASCAR official), allowed for an interview with cnnsi.com.

Mr. Morelli shed some light on the highlights of the law suit, and candidly stated that NASCAR would have to pay a lot of money. A bit unusual not to wrap his client strictly in the 'I am trying to change the world' banner. But, he did go on to voice those intentions as well.

"It's appears to be an old boys' club with a lot of people who have known each other for a long time," he said. "Some of the executives have people working for them who they've known for 20 years and they used to race cars together. This isn't a sophisticated operation; this is a bunch of nudniks hanging around together who just happen to be onto something because they were enterprising what is now a billion-dollar business. And they haven't caught up with the fact that America actually has laws protecting women, people of color, people over 40 years old, etcetera."

Certainly, our more enlightened readers will notice that this is not unlike what is going on right now in Washington. A broken system that is designed to benefit the chosen few being met head on by a dark cloud of change.

We foresee many of the barriers in NASCAR that are confronted by Ms. Grant as being similar to those that are awaiting Halfrican-American President soon to be elect Obama. Well, minus the genitalia being exposed.

But Brother Obama certainly will be the punchline to many racist jokes. His accomplishments will be diminished, and his shortcomings certainly accentuated. And the good ole boy insiders will certainly do their best to make him uncomfortable.

"It only takes one woman with courage to stand up and say this is unacceptable," he claims. "I said [to my client], she's going to have to have a lot of courage, because this is going to get very intense before it ever gets resolved. I explained this to her and she said she understands; but I swore to her that she really doesn't understand ... she really doesn't."

Again, a not dissimilar characterization also of that which Brother Obama has undertaken.

We're in a world -- 2008 -- the first time a woman ever came close to getting the nomination for the presidency," he said. "And a black man did. [With that in mind,] it would probably behoove NASCAR to really be into diversity. We know that America is changing, but we have to change all the important institutions within America for us to have respect not only for ourselves, but for other people to have respect for us. And we have to do it with a real eye toward doing the right thing.

Indeed. Mr. Morelli has found wisdom in his suggestion for us to do the right thing. And the right thing is normally to diversify. Those ironclad institutions, guarded so closely by the persecutorial powers so desperate to maintain their deathgrip control over freedom and civil rights, must be overwhelmed by a tidal wave of diversity. Day after day goes by with a large segment of the population's need going unmet. Needs that must be addressed. Needs that hold the future of our country in the balance. Just as Obama intends to meet the variety of needs that can be addressed from the Oval Office, Mr. Morelli will take the baton being passed by Ms Grant to meet the needs of the disenfranchised and under served minorities so desperate to be fans of and play a role in NASCAR.

"I'm a lawyer approximately 31 years; this case will not change my life. But I want to change the culture at NASCAR. And so does my client. You can't just hire women or people of color and not change the culture. You just can't get Magic Johnson and put his name to [NASCAR's Diversity Programs] and say you're diversified. You can't get one black woman, give her a job, and say you're diversified. You can't have five black officials out of 200 and say you're diversified. It doesn't make sense."

And, what about the damage done to Mr. Johnson. Misleading him into believing he was a part of true diversity program. Attaching his name to NASCAR under the guise that the intention was to develop and invigorate a robust and meaningful plan to provide for the opportunities for Negroes to be employed by NASCAR; and then eventually watch NASCAR.

Mr. Johnson may well be as much a victim in all this as Ms. Grant and Brother Obama.

"You know, when people have already said to me and to her: Well, you probably knew what you were getting into when you went to NASCAR; you have to have thick skin and all of that. And you know what my response to that is? No and No. You don't have to have thick skin when someone's calling you 'Nappy-headed Mo.' You don't have to have thick skin when someone says, 'You're on colored people's time.' OK, you don't have to have thick skin when someone pulls their pants down and shows you their penis. You don't have to have thick skin. What you have to do is tell these people that are doing these outrageous things -- can you imagine that one of these officials said to her that [his buddy's daddy] is high in the KKK and he wanted her to know that. And I don't believe that she has to have thick skin. I believe they have to abide by the law.

Here, Mr. Morelli speaks directly to NOIS. We were those people who said Ms. Grant should have not been surprised by what happened. We were those people who still counsel the Negro to run the other way when they hear KKK, NASCAR or FBI.

We agree that, regardless of history or image, the individual can not be faulted for attempting to chase a dream or to help in the diversification process. We also agree that those attempting to thwart the increase in diversity should abide by the law.

The notion that it is fair or just or even reasonable to attempt to stall the winds of change by illegal action is simply misguided.

Clearly, this will all be addressed in court. The evidence will be brought to view. And a decision will be reached.

NASCAR could avoid all this by doing the right thing. By being more diverse and providing Ms. Grant with funding to begin her initiative.

Or, NASCAR could tarnish its image and fight diversity. Alienating a large segment of the population in the process.

The winds of change are upon us.

America is at the cusp of putting a Negro in the White House.

It's time for NASCAR to step into the same century.


Pay the lady.