We've come a long way, but there's still room to grow

The United States of America turned 232 years old Friday, and despite exorbitant gas prices and a downright unstable economy, most would say this country looks pretty good for her age.

But has America really grown up all that much?

The easy answer is yes.

Barack Obama has put an unprecedented face of color on the presidential race, technology seems to reach greater heights everyday, and new, effective voices are constantly heard in the dialogue to better the country.

Yet for every victory, shades of this nation's immaturity always seem to seep through the cracks of race relations.

And believe it or not, the realm of sports, where everything appears to be hunky-dory, often is the area that reminds us of when we're in need of a reality check.

It's pretty much always been that way, dating back to the heat of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and '60s.

Then, African Americans took pride in Willie Mays dominating the Major Leagues or Bill Russell securing a new piece of jewelry for his hand each summer in the NBA playoffs.

These were the examples of why blacks had no reason to complain to the government nor had any bone to pick with America for not sharing its fruits.

But when Mays, Russell or any other person of color left their lives on TV and returned to the outside world, they were met with a place that wouldn't let them vote, wouldn't let them inhabit the same facilities as whites and wouldn't let them forget that they weren't Americans, but rather black Americans, Negroes even.

Of course, the country is much more enlightened now and the future can build off its hopeful present, but that's not to say the shameful ways of the past don't exist.

This truth grew heavy on my mind the other night as I watched Mauricia Grant fight back tears during an ESPN interview.

Last month, the 32-year-old filed a $225 million lawsuit against NASCAR, citing 57 specific instances of sexual harassment and gender and racial discrimination during her two-plus years as a technical inspector in the sport's Nationwide series before being fired in October.

This African-American female alleges to being called derogatory names -- I'll let you figure out which ones -- and being subjected to age-old stereotypes, like making her work outside longer since blacks don't sunburn or people questioning why she talked so proper, like "a white girl."

Certainly, I know the cardinal rule of journalism that allegations don't equal truth, and I do my best not to "pull the race card" on just any situation. But I also know the ignorance I've been exposed to and dealt with as a minority, with one instance in particular coming to mind.

My initial assignment for my first newspaper internship in Richmond, Va. was to cover a local NHRA funny car race. Although I knew next to nothing about this sport, I was excited at the prospect of learning -- until the sports editor called me to his office.

He went on to show me an e-mail from a reader responding to an article that ran the previous day on an African American female who was beating the odds and would be at the event.

Laced throughout the e-mail were racist and derogatory names, emphasizing this person's hatred of the idea that blacks were allowed to race.

For my safety, the editor pulled me off the event and took it upon himself to apologize for the cruel actions of not only his fellow white race, but our fellow American.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not accusing evil upon a whole race based on the actions of a few, but I can't help to notice that both of these instances happened in car racing, the No. 1 spectator sport and the second-rated regular season sport on television.

No, this isn't NASCAR's issue, this is America's issue, and fixing it isn't an overnight process.

Still, much comfort should be drawn from the fact that things appear headed in the right direction.

Otherwise, the Kobe Bryants and Tiger Woodses of today wouldn't be able to enjoy the privileges and rights afforded to Americans on and off the playing field, nor would the justified firestorm surrounding Don Imus' insensitive comments have occurred.

That's why this column isn't to bash others for what hasn't been done or blame America for not being the perfect country. Instead, it's a challenge to all, no matter the race or creed, to consistently evaluate ourselves and hold others accountable, even when all seems right in the marriage of society and sport.

That way, we are working to make sure that the depiction of the minority athlete on TV is moreso reality and not just entertainment.