Jackie Robinson

I am always inspired by the stories of Baseball great Jackie Robinson and it was no different as I watched the PBS presentation the last 2 nights. Often I am moved to tears as I look at what he endured and how he literally took the race upon his shoulders and endured hatred and abuse. But what is even more impressive is that he was proud of his Blackness and even after baseball did everything to he lift his people, becoming a Civil Rights activist and sucessful business man co-founder of a black bank, but eventually being persecuted and unappreciated by the younger generation. He eventually died at just age 53, younger than I am now. His wife and children spoke admirably of him, his wife Rachel (Whom I had the privilage of meeting once at PUSH headquaters in Chicago a number of years ago) spoke of how he was loving man and devoted husband. I love Jackie Robinson and his legacy, a hero to my parents generation and I pray that more of us would study and appreciate him and follow his example of humility, business sense, race pride and manhood.