By Quibian Salazar-Moreno on Feb 4th 2008 5:39PM
Filed under: Casually Obsessed
For those unaware, Lewis Hamilton is a 23 year-old British Formula One racing driver out of England who currently races for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team.
Our good friend Delinda at Athlebrities.com hipped us to Hamilton last year, who is the first Black driver to compete in Formula One racing. He came in second at the 2007 Formula One Championship but in the last few years he has won the British Formula Renault, European Formula Three and GP2 championships.
Even though Hamilton is revered among racing fans, Spanish fans have beef with him. When he was in Barcelona, doing some test runs, fans came out in blackface and wigs and jeered and yelled racial remarks at Hamilton as he walked from his team's garage and motorhome at the Circuit de Catalunya race track.
"The truth is that I feel somewhat sad, I am in love with this country, and especially the city of Barcelona and this circuit, which is one of my three favorites," Hamilton told sportlifepress.com. "The people in have always been very warm with me, and even though I imagined what might happen it has not been pleasant. But maybe these types of things make you learn to appreciate more the warmth of the public, who although you always try to be there for them, you never know how important they are to you until these types of things happen."
What's the beef you ask? Well, Hamilton's former team mate, Fernando Alonso, who is Spanish, left the McLaren Mercedes team and joined the Renault Racing team. Spanish fans are blaming Hamilton for Alonso's departure since the two had a falling out, apparently because Hamilton continually gets all the attention and the ladies too. Last year he was linked to Pussycat Dolls singer, Nicole Scherzinger.
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Comments: (53)
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By: PARADIS on 2/04/2008 9:20PM
Lewis, hold your head up high and do what you do. There are some people who will always be solely guided in their actions by the color or non color of the skin. Bless them to the Lord and go on!!!
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By: Lisette on 2/05/2008 8:39AM
That is Europe for you...people who think that they are getting a raw in the US...need to stop for a moment because people in Europe are catching hell but in a subtle and far more destructive manner.
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By: Aphrodite on 2/04/2008 10:51PM
This is not surprising to me...there's something a lot don't know about these countries in Europe and their racism way that they are not too ashamed to hide. Germany, Belgium, France are just amongst the many countries...However Portugual, Spain, and Italy are the three countries that insults black athletes even when they're on their team. Last year, some Italians wore monkey masks to their soccer game... they have no respect for black people because feel superior and we're only slaves in their eyes...These athletes need to recognize that racism still exist no matter how famous you are and these European countries will show it to you in the most insulting way possible and they see nothing wrong with it.
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By: Camilla on 2/05/2008 8:43AM
I feel very sad for what has happen in Spain. Iam an African. I heard alot of stories concerning racism especially in Spain. People the are very sick in their minds. I think they don't have much experiance about the world yet. they only cook up in Bacelona.
Be strong ,Don't worry thinks like this will only make you stronger and more ager to show them the you are the man in racing industry. Head Up.
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By: Foday Mannah on 2/05/2008 10:35AM
Deplorable and totally unacceptable. Racism is definitely a major concern in Spanish circles as was aptly demonstrated by the treatment of black English players during a football match a few years ago not to mention the abuse directed towards the likes of Barca's Samuel Eto'o. Hamilton apart from being an amazing sportsman and role model has comported himself with decorum and dignity. The sad thing is that this has happened in Spain, a nation that often hopes to be deemed forward thinking and civilised. Keep your head up Lewis!
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By: Dee on 2/05/2008 8:48AM
Obviously, too much competition for those Spaniards.
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By: Otis on 2/05/2008 7:13PM
What a wonderful thing to see how this young man is setting the stage for minorities that shall come after him. As long as he conducts himself with dignity he is exposing the ignorance of those that would try to discourage him. The only ones that have truly overcome are those that can continue to love inspite of they that hate!
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By: alondra on 2/05/2008 1:40PM
Man, freak the spanish. They can kiss my black butt, I wouldn't dare go to their stupid ass country. I had a friend who said that he went down there while he was stationed in the army and they looked at him like he was an alien or something. When I went to Mexico, I let them know who was boss, trust.
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By: Harold on 2/06/2008 12:41AM
Well, If you go back 1000 years, that will tell all!
They know who you really are! They know what they really ain't! Human beings! Not all, but this has surely not the first time these type of things and much, much worse have occured!
We RULED SPAIN AT ONE TIME! AND THERE WAS LIGHT!
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By: jake on 2/06/2008 10:58AM
thats why i dont visit these foreign countries. they're stuck in the past. but even here in america they do the same thing, they just hide it more out of fear of being prosecuted or sued.
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