Sharon Robinson encouraged by progress

Jackie Robinson’s historic entry into Major League Baseball is officially celebrated on a specific day each year, but the legacy he left behind resonates daily.

And at no time in history have Robinson’s values, and his convictions, been more relevant than right now.

Robinson, baseball’s first Black player, was a deeply complex man, whose advocacy for Civil Rights made him one of the most outspoken figureheads of his time. He’s known for his many inspiring quotes, such as, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives” and, “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me … all I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”

But Robinson was also unafraid to engage in uncomfortable public conversations about race and race relations, and to be critical when pointing out injustices happening daily to everyday Americans. These convictions often weren’t well-received.

In that respect, Robinson would likely be proud of what has transpired across all professional sports in recent times. Discussions surrounding social injustice and racial inequality -- prompted by a national reckoning following the killing of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake by police -- have seeped into the sports landscape. That includes baseball, a sport that, in the past, has not been a traditional landing spot for such discourse. Conversations this week have been emotional and revealing, and they’re still ongoing.

Robinson’s daughter, Sharon Robinson, said her dad would be happy with the progress made on that front. She lauded MLB and its clubs for advocating for progress.

“I can’t say, overall, everyone’s going to jump on the bandwagon, but we have come a long way as an industry,” she said. “We have support from the top -- we have support from the Commissioner, we have support from the Players Association. We are aligned with this -- that we have to not be afraid to talk about things that are uncomfortable. It’s going to open up a lot of discussions.”

In the wake of the player-driven protests that swept through professional sports in the past week, including 10 baseball games that were postponed in a show of support for social justice, Robinson tweeted a message of support Friday morning, the day MLB celebrated Jackie Robinson Day.

“Black athletes have a history of standing up and fighting back against racism,” she tweeted. “My father would have been proud of today’s courageous black athletes. #NBABoycott #MLBBoycott #NHL.”

Having grown up in a household that had regular discussions around the dinner table about Civil Rights and activism, Robinson always understood that uncomfortable conversations are at the apex of any movement for change. She senses that discourse is slowly becoming more accepted in the sports landscape.

“I remember taking players years ago to schools [for speaking engagements], and I would ask them about an obstacle they’ve had to overcome, a variable they’ve had to overcome,” she said. “And some of them would say, ‘Oh, now, I can’t talk about that.’ They assumed I meant race. But they were uncomfortable, because there could be consequences.

“What I’m finding now is, having spoken to a number of clubs this week, is that they are in discussions. And they are able to talk about it, and they like the honesty. That’s very encouraging for me.”