UPDATE: NASCAR strikes back at Mauricia Grant with a 29-page report.
8/12/2008
As we peek in on the latest episode in the Mauricia Grant vs NASCAR imbroglio, NASCAR has struck back with a 29-page response defending itself against Grant's $225 million discrimination lawsuit. If the details of the rebuttal are true, then Grant has some big time explaining to do.
NASCAR's key assertion is that Grant never filed a single complaint about any harrassment she allegedly endured throughout her time at NASCAR. Further, NASCAR claims that Grant often described herself using racial stereotypes and was repeatedly reprimanded for tardiness and other behavioral problems. Read more.
Mauricia Grant, a former "technical inspector," has filed a $225 million dollar lawsuit against NASCAR. Grant claims that she was routinely subjected to sexual and racial harassment and that when she finally complained to her bosses, NASCAR fired her.
If the details are true, Grant's story tears the covers off a workplace more like an old boys club than a premiere sports organization. What Grant describes is a workplace hell that anyone who's experienced sexual or racial harassment knows well.
For NASCAR, more than money may be at stake. As Grant's experiences fly in the face of NASCAR's efforts to portray itself as an organization that welcomes black people. ...
Racism and Sports
Mauricia Grant, pictured here working during the Stater Bros 300 in 2006, is suing NASCAR for $225 million, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Click through to see other racially charged incidents from recent sports history.
Mike Basso, US Presswire
In a newspaper nterview in April, Los Angeles Angels star Torii Hunter said he had heard racial taunts from Red Sox fans at Fenway Park in the past.
Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images
Kosuke Fukudome has become a sensation in his first season in Chicago, but shirts emblazoned with a stereotypical caricature of Asians and the words "Horry Kow" (a play on ex-Cubs announcer Harry Caray's home run call) offended the Japanese outfielder.
Nam Y. Huh, AP
Earlier this year Golf Channel analyst Kelly Tilghman said on air that other golfers should "lynch [Tiger Woods] in a back alley" to better compete with him. In the aftermath, Golfweek Magazine ran a cover with a hanging noose, for which editor Dave Seanor was fired.
Golfweek / AP
Radio host Don Imus caused a stir in 2007 when he referred to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." CBS canceled his long-running show 'Imus in the Morning,' but he returned to airwaves with ABC later in the year.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Rush Limbaugh was hired as a commentator for ESPN's NFL pre-game show Sunday Countdown, but he lasted only a few weeks after implying that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb received great praise mostly because he was black.
Getty Images
Former golfer and current CBS commentator Bobby Clampett made waves at this year's Masters when he referred to golfer Liang Wen-Chong as "the Chinaman" on air.
Mike Powell, Allsport / Getty Images
African soccer players, like Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o, are often the targets of racially charged taunts in Spain. Fans of Real Zaragoza made monkey-like chants at the Barcelona striker during a 2005 match, and he nearly walked off the pitch during a match against the club the next season.
Phillippe Desmazes, AFP / Getty Images
In an interview with HBO's Real Sports last summer, former Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield claimed that manager Joe Torre gave white players preferential treatment during his time in New York and said that biracial shortstop Derek Jeter wasn't "all the way black."
Mark Mainz, Getty Images
John Rocker's inflammatory comments in a 2000 Sports Illustrated article made him one of the most despised athletes in recent memory. Rocker described riding the New York subway as "looking like you're riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS."
Matt Campbell, AFP / Getty Images
Grant's allegations are very specific and she claims to have kept detailed notes about what went down. NASCAR on the other hand is not denying Grant's account, but claims Human Resources "didn't know" about Grant's situation.
The lawsuit states Grant was subjected to "virulently racist harassment, a racially hostile work environment and insidious and pervasive race discrimination reflective of a former, uglier era in our nation's history."
The lawsuit also states Grant was subjected to "lewd and obscene sexual harassment, a sexually hostile work environment and rampant gender discrimination." It goes on to state that all manner of NASCAR officials, including supervisors, "perpetuated, condoned and actively participated in perverted and disgusting sexual conduct designed to demean and diminish (Grant) and the handful of other women employed by NASCAR as officials."
Grant, who was the only black female official and began with NASCAR in January 2005, said in the suit she was fired for her "poor work performance" but said she had received positive performance evaluations and had received no warnings aside from one about her use of "street" language.
She contends in the suit that NASCAR officials would send her obscene e-mails or text messages, such as this from official David Duke last November: "I love all Yall mofos, i am that nigga, HAHAHA, Holla, PIMPALICIOUS." Or, she contends, Duke would say in her presence, "What up, my nigga?"Some commenters on other sites, say Grant should have just quit or toughened up. They say that she stayed just long enough to gather evidence for a lawsuit. What do you think? Should she be suing? Or should she have just walked away and gone to the press or NASCAR executives?
When she complained to NASCAR officials, Grant told USA TODAY on Tuesday, "I was basically told to deal with it because the men that I was working with, a lot of them were military men and I needed to learn how to act like they act if I wanted to be successful.
"I felt like I was in it by myself and that I had to make an attitude adjustment. It hurt because I basically just tried to do my job and tried to avoid co-workers. I was hurt and disgusted by the whole thing."
"I don't want this (lawsuit) to be my legacy as the first African-American female to do this job," Grant told USA TODAY. "I did (the job) in a way that I can hold my head up high with pride. That doesn't mean I have to put up with race discrimination or sexism or retaliation."
Comments: (123)
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By: LA Rawls on 6/12/2008 9:06AM
Wow, that is insane. Although, I will say I am not surprised to hear this from Nascar (mainly a white male sport).
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By: Rosemary on 6/12/2008 9:56AM
I am not surprised, whites invented racism but they are so quick to try and turn it on blacks. They were
letting her know exactly how whites feel about black people. They did not mince words either. They said things that they knew would humilate her and got no support from higher ups which tells me the whole damn race of white people are racist scum of the earth.
If a black person treated a white person like they treated this lady they would be fired immetiately and a lawsuit would follow. White people really believe that blacks are beneath them and that they are "entitled" simply because they are white.
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By: sean mcginnis on 4/23/2009 8:28PM
whites invented racism? Are you a social antropologist, was that in a study somewhere. Was there not racial genocide in Rwanda, i dont remeber seeing any europeans there? racism has existed sinces theres been different races. as long as people are different (language, religion, color or anything else) people will hate on them. humans are weak and imperfect.
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By: doris perry on 6/12/2008 10:43AM
I understand how she feel and the pressure she has gone through iiving North Carolina I live here and
can tell you This is all they have left is running race cars because a change has came and there is no where to run. There is no laws in this state to
protect the working man. especially the Afroamerican
Its call econmocal salvery. Now it cost to be the Boss, all ablou the dollar bill.
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By: Justin on 6/12/2008 3:18PM
I'm not surprised about the lawsuit and allegations aginst NASCAR. I think everyone knows that NASCAR has been a good old boys club for years and it just so happens that now thier true colors are shining. I hope she goes all the way and win her lawsuit aginst NASCAR. That would make an example out of NASCAR and show them that comments and conduct like that is inappropiate and will not be tolerated in todays society.
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By: stephanie woods on 6/12/2008 1:41PM
I am not suprised that is happened, by her being the only black female working w/ mostly white males this type of stuff was bound to happened. I have experienced something like this being the only black person in a company of mostly whites for some reason they feel that they are making us feel at home or they can relate to us and that there comments are funny. I hate that this is something she had to deal w/ in the work place everyone has the right to work in a stress free enviornment. I hope if this is true she wins her lawsuit.
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By: Dr Clarence Rucker, Jr on 6/12/2008 6:09PM
Look at it this way, "Why did it happen?" You can ignorantly get around it with words, but you cannot intelligently get around it.
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By: carol on 6/12/2008 2:34PM
Grant should hold her head high.She did the right thing by bringing this to light !You have to show them"white or whom" ever you are not going to mistreat me and get away with it.I'm very Proud of her. I'm a black women who "was" a fan of Nascar this kind of behavior is unaccepeptable ! They should pay a settlement and openly say they are sorry
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By: carol on 6/12/2008 2:55PM
Grant did right thing by bringing this Behavoir to the light it is unacceptable. I'm so very proud of her. I'm a black women who 'was' a fan of Nascar not after hearing this i will not support this kind of behavior Nascar should openly apologize and Pay a settlement!
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By: Big Kev on 6/12/2008 3:29PM
OOP there it is! once again racism in ya face. God Bless AmeriKKKa!
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