Jackie Robinson: American Hero

Sixty seven years ago today, several black athletes were invited to Fenway Park to “try out” for the Boston Red Sox. While they were on the field, they were harassed by the limited team management that chose to attend, and no players were selected for the team. The humiliated players left the park dejected after the farce, designed to appease a local politician. But just two years later, one of those players, a young WWII veteran from Georgia made history by suiting up as the first player to break the color barrier in the high-level professional sports. His name was Jackie Robinson.

America has always prided itself of being a place of equal opportunity. Our country may not be able to guarantee quality outcomes for all, but as a nation, we strive to give every person a fair chance at success. This was not the case for Jackie Robinson. Even when he made it to the major league level, he had to fight the aggression of hostile fans, teams, and teammates who did not want to see a black man succeed. Even though he achieved immediate and sustained success, Jackie Robinson, and other minority players had to continuously struggle against a culture that was largely intolerant of people of color.

Our children’s athletic heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors these days. Players are granted equal access to professional leagues and an athlete’s success is determined by the quality of his or her play, not by race, ethnicity, or other discriminating characteristics. More important than professional leagues though, our schools and community sports leagues now enjoy openness to all people, and thanks to Jackie Robinson, issues of racial discrimination are frowned upon as the exception instead of proliferated as the rule.

As we celebrate the 65^th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s courage, let us also celebrate the role that sport had to play in this historic act of integration! Although unpopular at the time, sport achieved in 1947 what politics did not achieve until 1964 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. As an ideal, sport has always been an arena in which we can meet others and compete in an objective environment that is inclusive, fun, and harmonious. Thanks to Jackie, we have turned that ideal into reality.