Today is a special day.
All around the United States of America, people are celebrating the legacy of the great Martin Luther King Jr.
King was a pioneer for African-Americans and helped correct one of the country’s great mistakes in his fight against racism and oppression.
In the sports world, there were plenty of influential figures who had earned the admiration and respect of Dr. King, one of which was Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson.
Robinson of course broke the color barrier in professional sports and helped pave the way for several great African-American athletes.
This morning, the Baseball Hall of Fame posted a quote from Dr. King regarding the greatness of Robinson on Twitter.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s work is celebrated throughout the world today. Dr. King often said Jackie Robinson made much of that work possible. pic.twitter.com/3ZHfRf54X8
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) January 16, 2023
Sports aren’t what they used to be.
The entire sports world has made some great strides over the past century.
The inclusion of African-American athletes in professional sports is one of the great strides that has been made over the years.
Robinson’s bravery helped pave the way for more African-American athletes.
Sure enough, Robinson’s own battle gained the recognition it deserved from Dr. King, who sought to continue what Robinson had started outside of sports, joining the fight for equal treatment.
King, like Robinson, inspired generations of African-Americans to continue the fight against racism and advocate for fair and equal treatment.
His contributions to society were monumental, and that is why it is important to celebrate what he was able to do as he fought for a more just society, will also remembering that there is still plenty of work to be done.
