Lewis Hamilton has opened up about how racially abused he was when he was in school as a child, saying it was “the most traumatic experience of my life”.
In recent years, Lewis Hamilton has used his platform and voice in F1 to defend black rights.
Through the Accelerate 25 programme, seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton is helping the Mercedes F1 team to increase diversity in its workforce and provide equal opportunities to applicants.
He also established the Hamilton Commission, which aimed to increase black representation in British motorsport.
Speaking on Jay Shetty’s podcast, Hamilton opened up about the extent of the abuse he suffered from peers during his childhood.
“School was probably the most traumatic and difficult part of my life,” said Lewis Hamilton.
“I was really bullied when I was six years old. I was probably one of three kids of color in that particular school at the time. Big, strong, bully kids. He was always throwing me away.”
“When we lined up in the schoolyard for soccer teams, we were always chosen last, or even if we were better than others, we weren’t chosen.”
“I was getting thrown bananas and constant jabs from people who didn’t mind using the ‘N word. That was painful.”
Lewis Hamilton also says it wasn’t just his classmates who made life at school difficult.
“Everything you learn in history class, there are no people of color in the history they teach,” said Lewis Hamilton.
“So I was thinking, ‘Oh, where are the people who look like me?’ At my school, out of 1,200 kids, there are only about six or seven black kids. I didn’t.”
“The three of us were always made to stand in front of the principal’s office. The principal hated us, especially me.”
“So I was juggling all the different emotions I was feeling. Plus I was struggling in school. I didn’t know I was dyslexic until I was 16.”
“Fortunately, I met a really caring teacher who walked me down that path and helped me learn a little more about myself and discover ways to better myself through education. It was a big deal for
Category: F1 / Lewis Hamilton / mercedes
