F1 star Hamilton raises right fist in fight against racism

Standing on podium to celebrate his latest win, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton raised a clenched right fist and n delivered a mess to his fellow drivers t to slow down in fight against racism.It’s 52 years since American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos introduced that powerfully defiant gesture to a worldwide TV audience when standing on podium during ir medal ceremony at 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. On Sunday Hamilton and or 19 F1 drivers wore black T-shirts with “End Racism” on m , as y had done at last weekend’s season-opening Austrian GP.

Most again took knee on grid before Sunday’s Styrian Grand Prix in Austria.Ors still did t and even questioned in pre-race drivers’ briefing wher it should still be done. “Some people were asking ‘How long do we have to continue to do this?’ Some felt like one was eugh last week, and I just had to (tell) m that racism is going to be here for probably longer than our time here,” Hamilton said after winning his 85th F1 race. “People of color who are subject to racism don’t have time to (just) ‘take a moment’ to protest and that be it. We’ve got to continue to push for equality and raise awareness for it.”

Smith and Carlos were representing a country being torn apart, after assassinations of Martin Lur King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy made ’68 one of most turbulent years in American history. Wearing black gloves, sprinters raised ir fists in solidarity while Star-Spangled Banner played.

When Serena Williams won her seventh Wimbledon title in 2016, she proudly raised her fist in a Black Power salute at All-England Club in 2016. That same year, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee to raise awareness for black athlete activism. Williams and Hamilton have both referenced Black Lives Matter movement, which Hamilton wore on front of his T-shirt on Sunday.

Hamilton has spoken out against racism since death in May of George Floyd — a handcuffed and unarmed Black man — after a police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes in May. Hamilton attended a Black Lives Matter march in London and is setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsport.

His Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas kneeled after winning last Sunday’s Austrian GP and team has thrown its support behind Hamilton by racing in all-black cars for this season.“As a team we’re keeping black all year long, so we’re going to be fighting and pushing for it all year,” 35-year-old Hamilton said. “Personally it’s going to be a lifelong thing for me.”

Hamilton called out teams last week for t doing eugh to combat racism .Although he also praised F1 chairman Chase Carey and governing body FIA for donating money to help promote more equality and diversity in F1, Hamilton clearly feels re is still a long way to go.

“Of course re are signs but action is needed. It’s great to see Chase being so kind as to donate a million dollars and FIA to step up and also give a million dollars,” Hamilton said. “But if you don’t kw problem n you can’t fix it, and a million dollars doesn’t really go that far. A lot of work needs to go on with Formula One. FIA really do need to be a part of it, and I think drivers need to be a part of it also as we have a great voice and great platforms.”

(Im Credit: AP)