Unforgettable and Inspiring: Uppity Chronicles Willy T Ribbs' Triumph Over Adversity
Controversial, talented, hindered and shunned – the story of Willy T Ribbs is a hard-hitting one
Willy T Ribbs fought a constant battle against racism in American motor racing, and his career has now been immortalised by Netflix
Uppity, the story of Willy T Ribbs’ incredible journey through racing, stands alone in the cannon of motor sport films, and is something of a rarity when compared to sport biopics across all disciplines. With big names such as Bernie Ecclestone, Bobby Unser and Rick Mears lending their views, the stature of those involved in the film shows the respect Ribbs garnered in a career laden with immense challenges and controversy.
Unlike the on-road artistry of the Fangio documentary A Life of Speed, the motorised machismo of TT picture TT3D: Closer to the Edge or the stock-block brawn of Le Mans film The 24 Hour War, Uppity reveals Ribbs’ struggle against prejudice and discrimination in the 1980s and ’90s – mostly due to his skin colour.
Ribbs was the first black person ever to drive a Formula 1 car, breaking through boundaries of a professional sport – which is difficult enough to achieve without having to face racism. It was Ribbs’ self-belief that pulled him through, doing so with a strut that both endeared him to some and riled others.