[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            JACKIE ROBINSON

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, some of the most pivotal events in U.S. 
history that have helped eliminate the barriers between white and black 
Americans have been simple acts that occurred in very common, everyday 
settings; on a bus, in a diner, and in a school. Today marks the 50th 
anniversary of one of those events, and it also occurred in a common 
and unlikely setting--at a baseball game. On April 15, 1947, the 
Brooklyn Dodgers debuted their new infielder, Jackie Robinson, in a 
game against the Boston Braves. And by his very presence on that field, 
American society was changed forever.
  Until that day, professional baseball had been segregated for over 50 
years, and no African-American in the 20th century had worn a major 
league uniform. Segregation had denied many fine black players from 
competing side by side with their white counterparts. It was the dream 
of many Negro League stars like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool 
Papa Bell to take the field in a major league park and have the chance 
to claim their rightful place in the record books alongside Babe Ruth 
and Ty Cobb. They knew they were good enough, and so did many white 
baseball executives who saw them play. But until Jackie Robinson, black 
Americans were kept out of the majors and many of these great players 
never got the chance to play there.
  In 1947, Dodgers' manager Branch Rickey ignored the color line and 
gave Jackie Robinson a chance to play. Not because he was black, not 
because he could be a symbol for a change in American society, but 
because he was a dazzling player who could help the Dodgers win. And he 
did. In that very first year, Robinson became the National League's 
Rookie of the Year. In 1949, he would be named the Most Valuable 
Player. In 10 years, he helped Brooklyn capture six National League 
championships and one World Series title. He retired with a lifetime 
batting average of .311 and was named to the Hall of Fame in his first 
year of eligibility.
  After his rookie season, he was listed second only to Bing Crosby as 
the most popular man in America. That is a very interesting fact, for 
even though he clearly captured the hearts and minds of many Americans, 
and no doubt changed the thinking of many others, there were also those 
who hated him and let him know it with vicious insults, jeers, and 
threats of physical violence. On the field opposing ballplayers tried 
to spike him on the base paths, and pitchers regularly threw fast balls 
near his head. Even some of his own teammates asked to be traded when 
they learned he was being called up from the minors. Off the field he 
sometimes could not join the rest of the Dodgers in the same hotels or 
restaurants. Jackie Robinson had to endure it all, because he knew if 
he fought back, if his confidence and calm were rattled, and if he did 
not perform to the highest athletic level, it could be years before 
another minority player would be given the same chance. But he used his 
courage and ability to succeed on every level, proving himself to be 
much, much more than just a talented baseball player.
  How far we have come in terms of racial equality in the half-century 
since Jackie Robinson's debut is debatable. Black athletes are now 
commonplace in professional sports, and some, such as basketball star 
Michael Jordan, are among the most successful and instantly 
recognizable figures in the world. Over the weekend, an amazingly-
gifted and congenial young man named Tiger Woods became both the first 
African-American and first Asian-American to win the Masters golf 
tournament, breaking down another long-held color barrier.
  But outside of sports, there are still subtle but daunting barriers 
that prevent African-Americans, as well as other minorities, from 
achieving equal status in many facets of our culture. Shortly before 
his death in 1972, Robinson himself was quoted as saying,

       I can't believe that I have it made while so many of my 
     black brothers and sisters are hungry, inadequately housed, 
     insufficiently clothed, denied their dignity, live in slums 
     or barely exist on welfare.

  If he were still alive today, it is likely his opinion would be 
unchanged.
  But America is a work in progress and there may always be barriers, 
large and small, which create inequity in our society. Jackie Robinson 
was one of the best athletes in the world, and the barrier he broke was 
one that prevented him and other black athletes from using their 
talents for their fullest gain. Jackie Robinson faced that barrier with 
courage, faith, and dignity. He broke it for himself, but even more 
significantly for all those who have followed. That is why he is a hero 
and why we celebrate his memory today. Perhaps the lesson we can learn 
from Jackie Robinson's example is that we must face those areas of 
discrimination we encounter in our lives, no matter what our racial 
heritage, with the same courage, faith, and dignity. We may never fully 
end discrimination but we can continue working together to eliminate 
the barriers that remain.

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