Jackie Robinson will never be forgotten in the baseball world. However, Jackie should be remembered by everyone as a shining example of tremendous courage and restraint in the face of vile oppression and disgusting racism. Jackie not only made baseball a better place, he made the world a better place.
I remember when I was 12 I went to Cooperstown for a baseball tournament. I had always been appreciative of baseball, and so of course I knew prior to my trip to the Hall of Fame who Jackie Robinson was. However, I had absolutely no idea the obstacles he faced as the first African-American baseball player in the MLB. When I saw his plaque in the HOF, I immediately became obsessed with finding more information on just who Jackie Robinson was. Before we departed from Cooperstown, I had acquired a Jackie Robinson jersey, a Brooklyn Dodgers hat, and a thick book about Robinson chronicling the plethora of challenges Jackie faced.
A few years later the movie 42 came out. It put images to the horrifying facts I had researched about Jackie's experiences. After watching 42, I do not think anyone could not possess a gargantuan amount of respect for this extraordinary man.
Facing a world of racism and oppression, Jackie persevered through it all. He is truly an example for everyone of how if you want something bad enough, no one can stop you from getting it. Above all, Jackie had a burning desire to prove his opponents wrong. Jackie wanted, and had, to prove that he and his race were every bit as equal as any other race. Jackie should not only be remembered for the skills he possessed on the field, but also for the skills he possessed in himself. In the future, I hope everyone can be a little more like Jackie.
