April 15, 2007
Here’s To You Jackie Robinson
UCLA great Jackie Robinson did something 60 years ago few people on the planet can claim to have done: He started a worldwide revolution. Many with greater skill than us at DD will write about the monumental effect his ushering in a new era of equality on the baseball field had on equality in US society and then around the world. We wanted to give our own salute to a great citizen, great athlete and great Bruin here on our site.
It is not an accident that Jackie Robinson attended UCLA. Just like it wasn’t an accident that so many other great athletes and historic figures have. At UCLA we pride ourselves on our diverse community of excellence, and the Robinsons knew that. Jackie, and his ageless wife Rachel, did not attend other universities nearby where privilege and money controlled access and full participation. That is not to say all was easy, it never was. But at UCLA we can pride ourselves on always moving forward and bringing society with us, and we can justly be proud of one of our own.
Jackie Robinson epitomized excellence. He could have been a professional athlete in at least 3 sports, that’s how great an athlete he was. His excellence on the field was surpassed only by his integrity and character off the field. He represents the best of our community, everything that each of us strive for and want for ourselves and our community for always. Thank you Jackie, and Rachel, Robinson. A Hall of Famer, an American hero, an American icon … a UCLA Bruin!
