Lewis Hamilton has a big choice to make on Sunday
Lewis Hamilton is on the brink of becoming a 4-time world champion. If the US Grand Prix goes favourably for him on Sunday, he will become champion again. In a sport of millionaires, Lewis Hamilton veritably is a working class hero.
Lewis Hamilton has won the US Grand Prix a record 5 times
Most Formula One drivers are born ‘into money’, as it were, and have a privileged upbringing, which enables them to hang out in Formula One circles. Hamilton, however, is from a working class background. His parents scraped together the money to take him go-karting as much as possible, and they made so many sacrifices to help him pursue his dream of becoming a Formula One driver. He hasn’t let them down.
When he wins this year’s world championship, because he will, he will become Britain’s most successful driver ever. And his focus should be on that, and being the consummate professional, I don’t doubt that he will be able to block any distractions, even the one that will have been on his mind for weeks. That is: Will he or won’t he take a knee when the Star-Spangled Banner is played at the US Grand Prix on Sunday?
Colin Kaepernick and other SF 49ers take a knee in protest to the injustices
The Stevenage driver has been open in his support for the protests that began when the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem in protest to the racial injustice and police brutality in America. The protests have grown throughout NFL and beyond, and have caused major unrest amongst sport stars, politicians, and the general public in the USA.
Hamilton, whose father is black British, is a known admirer of the NFL. What’s more, he’s also a people’s person, who is against any kind of discrimination. On his Instagram, he has posted many images in support of the hashtag #takeaknee, and has mentioned before that he’s considering protesting.
Lewis Hamilton, in the middle, paying respects to a national anthem
“I will have to start to think about it,” he said. “What would be right for me to do or do I even need to get involved? It’s not my national anthem but the issue that is in the States ... well, it’s not just in the States, it is a global thing. It’s more focused and probably at its worst perhaps in America. I think we all do need to stand together.”
But, the thing is, he’s already involved. He’s a world icon and he’s publicly supported it, so he’s already involved in one of 2017’s most divisive issues. And so he should be. It might be politics, but sport, music and all other arts are all annexed in the best and worst possible ways, so it’s impossible for him not to share his opinion. After all, how many times do politicians use sporting achievements to their own benefit?
A world Icon
Hamilton is not American but this shouldn’t stop him sharing his opinion. Many NBA, NFL and Baseball stars have protested over the years at the merciless killings of black victims by police officers. Mohammed Ali protested against fighting in Vietnam for a cause he did not believe in. "Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?” Ali famously said. And he was right.
Muhammed Ali protested against the authorities
Would you argue with Mohammed Ali? Unfortunately, the American government made a statement and sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment, and he was banned from boxing for 3 years. Luckily, he won his appeal against a prison sentence, but had to see out his 3-year boxing ban.
Hamilton knows that if he does kneel, it could backfire on him. It could even help President Trump in his political recreation. The president seems to think he has public opinion on his side, and there are many who say protesting in such a way is insulting the nation. But it has come to this point because not only black and ethnic minorities are treated like animals in America and around the world, but all underprivileged people are treated unfairly and don’t get a fair chance in life. It has to stop. People have to stop it and sport and music is the best way to keep the pressure on the politicians.
Lewis Hamilton, an icon of the people
Lewis Hamilton knows he’s in the public eye. He’s a working class lad from Stevenage. He’s the first black F1 champion. He’s one of the world’s biggest icons, and he knows the world will be watching what he does the moments before the anthem starts. I for one hope he takes a knee to fight for the rights of the people. After all, people should be more important than bits of cloth and pieces of music, no matter what they signify.
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