ICONS (Part 2) - Willy T Ribbs: Unafraid to Break the Mould
Willy T Ribbs, “the Jackie Robinson of auto racing”, was profiled by Netflix this year in Uppity: The Willy T Ribbs Story. For those who don’t know, “uppity” is a word that has strong racist connotations when used about black people.
Allegedly, it is how some owners, mechanics and drivers referred to Ribbs. But, if you read a few of the death threats he received, you’ll know that he was already used to being called much worse.
Using our Face Shape Guide We determined WIlly T Ribbs would suit the popular Smile frame and if he had to pick a lens colour we think Dusk Red would be his choice because red was a colour often found on the many cars he drove throughout his career.
Willy T Ribbs’s laundry list of accomplishments has to be seen to be believed – first African-American man to test a Formula One car, Formula Ford Champion, Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year (and regular winner thereafter) and first African-American to compete in the Indianapolis 500, to name a few.
Still, to say that Ribbs is a polarising figure is something of an understatement. From throwing punches at other drivers to comparing NASCAR with terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda, Ribbs has never been one to hold back or censor himself.
That’s undoubtedly due to the fact that, despite the huge gains he made in the sport, Ribbs faced resistance at every turn. That includes a case of, what Ribbs believed to be, active sabotage by a racist crew chief during one of his Indy 500 races.
The UK is far from perfect. It’s not quite the egalitarian utopia that we wish it was. Even so, it’s hard not to take a little pride in the fact that it’s where Ribbs got his start in auto racing as a Formula Ford champ.
When Ribbs drove in the US, he wasn’t just racing against other competitors on the track. He was also racing against a colour barrier that seemed determined to slow him down every step of the way. The result was that Ribbs never quite got a fair shake when it came to competing at the highest levels of the sport. Yet, despite all that, Ribbs leaves behind an important legacy.
Along with folks like Randy Bethea and Wendell Scott, who raced the Daytona 500 back in 1969, Ribbs helped to pave the way for other black drivers such as Chase Austin, Lewis Hamilton and Bubba Wallace. Wallace, for example, finished second place in the Daytona 500 back in 2018 and continues to compete at a high level.
As the only African-American driver in any of NASCAR’s top three tiers, Wallace campaigned to have the Confederate flag banned from its events and has been outspoken about the Black Lives Matter movement.
When it comes to breaking the mould, Willy T Ribbs deserves a massive amount of respect. By pushing for equality and what he believed in, he became an iconic figure in motorsport.
If you havn’t watched ‘Uppity’ yet on Netflix we suggest you do!