Jackie Robinson

Response

In Jackie Robinson's ( 1952 ) essay " This I Believe "he points out that with hard work and perseverance,

"Obstacles can be overcome". Robinson discuses how at the 1947 world series for the first time

He really felt that he was part of something. A year after the World Series, he was playing in an

Exhibition game down in Atlanta, when he came to the realization that the vision he held throughout

The years was coming true; African Americans and whites would one day share the same field.

He believed in the possibility of this because we live in a free society. Robinson possessed a deep

Rooted belief that even though people are imperfect, given enough time to think they could change.

This was one of the beliefs that kept him moving forward. Robinson felt that this was a Battle he could

Win and certainly one worth fighting for." He believed in the human race, a man's integrity and the

Goodness of a free society". With these things on his side he knew this would not be a losing fight.

Robinson also expressed a gratitude for others that have gone before him" paving the way for a better

and more equal society". In addition to a game Robinson saw baseball as a tool to change society.

He shared that the most important element of his battle was his faith in God, and that "what was done

For him will be done for others".

Jackie Robinson's essay was very optimistic but not realistic. He believed that given enough time people would change and do the right thing. I do not agree. Some progress has been made since 1947, but we are still plagued with the same social ills now as we were then. There are many examples from the way things were handled by the Federal Government during and after Hurricane Katrina, to today's prison population being predominately African American. I have always maintained that who we are at the core is who we are, and it is very difficult for people to change. People will alter their behaviors to make life easier for themselves, and this is what some people mistake for change. John Kenneth Galbraith said " Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on