I remember banging on the washing machine (I was watching the race via the app in my bathroom.) I couldn’t believe what was going on. A few moments ago, I was convinced Hamilton had made it. He is now an eight-time F1 world champion. My heart sank when Max made the pass. I was heartbroken and livid.
F1 has always enthralled me, but due to access, I started following the sport full-time in 2021 after two seasons of Drive to Survive. Yes, I belong to that class (I have done some catch-up, though.) I must admit that a core reason for my support for Hamilton, apart from the fact that he is the greatest to ever done it in recent times, is that he is the only Blackman behind an F1 wheel.
I couldn’t fathom how Hamilton handled the situation in Abu Dhabi. I was Toto, and a Bose headphone was not enough. I felt he was too gracious. He was too Black. This dude should be breaking stuff, snubbing Max, and boycotting the podium celebrations.
Being Black is onerous. It can’t be overemphasized, and being a successful black person is even more arduous. The fields are littered with mines, and we are forced to swallow all kinds of bullshit.
Racism persists in all spheres of endeavor. You are never successful when black. The most you get is the ceremonial respect and the usual asskiss for access.
Hamilton has seven world championships, but after the drama at Yas Marina and a rough start to the 2022 season, the chatters will make you wonder. It’s worth noting that Alonzo is still in the sport, and his performance comes nowhere close to Hamilton’s, but you don’t hear those chatters in regards to Alonzo. People might give the excuse of team and car, but that is a none factor. He would have still been with a winning team if he still got it.
I share Hamilton’s view that people are shit talkers. It’s not only the clueless net halfwits but well-established industry people who have always harbored hatred for the Nigga and couldn’t wait for an opportunity to express their inanities.
He recently told Vanity Fair – “…and my worst fears came alive. I was like, there’s no way they’re going to cheat me out of this. There’s no way. That won’t happen. Surely not.” Well, there is no way they are going to allow you to surpass their darling Schumacher. Not with that opportunity. That won’t happen. Surely not.
Max might be a great driver, but I found it difficult to give him that respect after that incident. It wasn’t his fault, but he a beneficiary of the coup. Of course, Masi didn’t take that decision on his own. There were other influences. I don’t think there would have been the need for an NDA if there was nothing to hide.
I believe Hamilton will win another world championship. Maybe two more if there is the time. I know Mercedes will find a way to get the current concept to work or cut their losses and join the wagon with their extra topping to return to their dominance.
I don’t belong to the class of people who believe racism against the Black race can end with slogans and protests. There are no magic bullets, but as people, we need to make a conscious effort to change our narrative. They won’t help us. It’s not in their interest. It’s up to us to change our outlook.
And I still maintain that until we have a strong, prosperous, and wholly sovereign Black nation, Black people won’t be accorded the deserved respect in any part of the world.
Asak233.com currently does not run adverts, and your contribution, no matter the amount, will go a long way toward sustaining the website and ensuring we continue to deliver on our work.
I met Ali in high school, and he played for the school team. Now, as a trained teacher, he is focused on introducing and teaching the game of basketball to children of diverse backgrounds and instilling in them a sense of responsibility, discipline, and the culture of nature conservation.
As the Communications Officer for one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Bilateral Trade Associations in Ghana, I gained significant exposure.
This sector has been the engine of growth and has sustained this country through its turbulent years.
At independence Ghana held a beacon, signalling that the continent was fully aware and ready to seize its destiny for progress and self-actualization. We’ve built America and financed Europe out of poverty; we are now poised to reclaim Africa and restore dignity to take a seat at the table.
We have generated an obscene amount of wealth which means we now work more than we ever had to but at the same time, more of us sink further into poverty.
