Giving a Hand
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
- Jackie Robinson
Giving a Hand
This Monday, every Major League Baseball player will take the field donning #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. When Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play modern Major League Baseball, he not only changed the game forever—he changed the country. Seventy-seven years ago, on April 15th, 1947, Jackie Robinson walked onto the field as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking a barrier that had persisted in a country struggling with a legacy of racism and discrimination.
Robinson may have been the best athlete in United States history—in his first year at UCLA he lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball! Unlike the life a sports star of this caliber might live today, Robinson’s life was filled with adversity.
The son of a sharecropper and grandson of slaves, in the year he was born, 21 African Americans were lynched in his native Georgia. His dad abandoned his family, Jackie was thrown in jail for sticking up for a friend who was singing in public, a police officer shoved a gun in his gut, and he was refused entry into restaurants and stores. Despite this environment and poor treatment, Robinson was drafted into the Army in World War II and asked to fight for a country that oppressed him.
He grew up in a nation with two separate societies – his was terrorized by white violence. When Robinson did play his first MLB game, every team but one voted to strike and not play. Black newspaper headlines read: “Triumph of Whole Race Seen in Jackie’s Debut in Major-League Ball,” while many mainstream newspapers that catered to a white audience, particularly in the South, didn’t even note he played at all. These experiences helped make Robinson one of American history's most influential civil rights advocates. He continues to be an inspiration over 75 years after he first put on a major-league uniform.
Robinson’s legacy demonstrates that breaking down barriers takes time and effort. The struggle for racial equality is ongoing, and athletes and teams must be committed to this fight in order to effect change. By recognizing the importance of diversity and working toward a more equitable future, athletes and teams can make a lasting impact both on and off the field and positively impact future generations.
Jackie Robinson had nine core values – beliefs important to him that helped guide his life. [1]
Courage - Doing what you know is the right thing even when it is hard to do
Determination - Staying focused on a plan even though the path to its end may be difficult
Teamwork - Working with other people toward a common goal
Persistence - Working toward a goal and continuing to move forward even though you face obstacles or barriers
Integrity - Sticking to your values, regardless of what others think you should do
Citizenship - Making a contribution that improves the lives of others
Justice - Treating all people fairly, no matter who they are
Commitment - Making a promise and following through on it
Excellence - Doing the best that you possibly can
“Jackie Robinson made his country and you and me and all of us a shade more free.”
- Roger Kahn, author/sportswriter
Connecting this quote to the story. Robinson's legacy has had a lasting impact on American culture and society, demonstrating the power of perseverance, resilience, and allyship in the fight for justice and equality. His story reminds us that we all have a role in promoting inclusivity, breaking down barriers, and building a more just and equitable society.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: Lead the whole person. You must care more about your team members as people than as athletes or assets.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
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[1] List of Robinson’s Core Values from www.mlb.com
©Troy Urdahl, 2024