Bubba Wallace Calls "Standing Up for What's Right" The Thing He's Happiest He Ever Did
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To celebrate 20 years of O, the Oprah Magazine, each month we're spotlighting Visionaries—remarkable people who could change the way we look at the world.
Bubba Wallace and I have been friends for almost 15 years. But in all the hours we’ve spent together, we’d never deeply discussed the challenges he’s faced as the only African American driver in NASCAR’s Cup Series. Then in February, Ahmaud Arbery was gunned down while jogging. The video of that incident sparked something in me, as it did for the nation and the world, and I called Bubba.
In the conversation that followed, I learned so much about what he’s experienced as an African American man. As he says, “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a race car driver or Joe Blow. You go through the same things.” He told me that just a couple of years ago, police in an unmarked vehicle stopped him for crossing a double yellow line and asked how he could afford his car. Of course, he didn’t say he could have bought all their cars. As a white man, I’ve never had to bite my tongue like that. I gained a great deal of insight from talking to him then and in the days since.
With the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, Bubba decided it was time to make his voice heard. His mother, who had competed in track and field from eighth grade through college, had raised him with stories about what it was like to be an African American woman and athlete, hearing racial slurs from even coaches and faculty. She also raised him to love others and to respect everyone who showed him respect in return. She’s said she never imagined he would be an activist. I greatly admire the courage it took for him to step up and speak out, calling for Confederate flags to be banned.
When I heard that a garage door pull-down rope in his stall had been tied into a noose, I was disgusted. I thought, How? I’d never witnessed that kind of hatred in the NASCAR community. The next day at Talladega Superspeedway, there were 40 or 50 trucks outside parading the Confederate flag and a plane overhead pulling a Confederate banner. I told Bubba I’d like to stand with him during the national anthem. When other drivers heard about it, they wanted to join us, and then the crews wanted to be part of it, too.
That’s how we all wound up in solidarity, marching down the pit road and pushing Bubba’s car to the starting line together. When we got there, I turned around to see this incredible sea of people, all there to stand with him. Later I was relieved when the FBI investigation determined that there was no evidence of a hate crime. Bubba tweeted, “To the next generation and little ones following my footsteps...Love over hate every day.”
To the next generation and little ones following my foot steps..#LoveWins pic.twitter.com/tVaV3pkdLe
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) July 6, 2020
I hope that Bubba’s bravery can lead all of us in racing to think about ways to make it more inclusive. The barriers to entry are higher than with many other sports; cars are much more expensive than sticks and balls and gloves. We need to determine what systemic changes must happen to open more pathways for men and women of color. It’s a big conversation, and we have Bubba to thank for sparking it—even though he’d never call himself a trailblazer. He’d just say he was doing what needed to be done.
20 Questions with Bubba Wallace
Who is your hero? Lewis Hamilton, a six-time Formula One world champion. He’s also the only Black driver in his series, and he’s been vocal about racial injustice.
What’s the one thing in life you’re so happy you did? That I stood up for what’s right.
What makes you cry? I’ve cried at the track—when I finished second at my first Daytona 500, and at the Talladega Superspeedway when other drivers and crew pushed my car to the front of the starting grid. It meant so much to me to feel that love and support.
What’s most important for your mental health? Music. I decided to learn to play the drums, which is the best medicine. For me, at least—maybe not so much for those around me!
Who’s the one person who changed your life? There isn’t just one: my parents, who shaped me, and my girlfriend, Amanda, who’s helped guide me.
What the world needs now is...for more people to embrace compassion, love, and understanding.
What gives you hope? Seeing that change is happening and people are listening. There’s much left to do, but I feel more hopeful than ever before.
What makes a good American? Treating everyone with respect. This country was founded on the premise that all men are created equal. Upholding that is part of the deal.
What makes you laugh? Family and friends.
What would you love to invent? A cognitive device that would let you complete all your daily tasks using only your thoughts. It’ll be the new internet.
What makes a champion? Confidence, commitment, adversity, perseverance, positive energy, and a little luck.
Fill in the blank: _____ is all that matters. Love.
What does home mean to you? It’s a place for relaxation, decompression, and creating memories.
When do you feel most alive? In a race car. There’s nothing like being surrounded by all that power and speed.
What do you wish you could tell your childhood self? You can’t make everyone happy, so don’t try.
What would you love to learn? I want to keep educating myself on our country’s history so I can accurately expand my voice.
What historical event would you most like to have witnessed? Exploring the Road to Hana in Maui, I learned about the 1946 tsunami—the waves approached at more than 500 miles per hour. I can’t fathom that display of nature.
If you were creating a time capsule to be opened in 100 years, what would you put inside? One of my favorite watches. I hope it would still be ticking.
What’s the greatest gift we can give each other? Respect.
What’s the greatest gift we can give ourselves? Peace.
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