On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American baseball player in the modern day Major Leagues when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The 63rd anniversary of Mr. Robinson’s historic breakthrough into baseball and his profound impact off the field was celebrated by GW’s Jackie Robinson Society and a full house in GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium April 15.
Founded in 1999, GW’s Jackie Robinson Society sponsors discussions about Mr. Robinson and its members participate in community service projects in his honor.
At the celebration, the society bestowed community recognition awards, which acknowledge citizens whose accomplishments and contributions reflect Jackie Robinson, to Eugene Robinson, associate editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post; and Maury Wills, captain of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ championship teams of the mid-1960s and the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1962.
Calling the award “an honor,” Eugene said Jackie Robinson’s historic entry into baseball has given other “outsiders” the courage to move forward. “The way I always think of him is he taught so many African Americans, women, Latinos, gays and lesbians--so many people who were originally on the outside--how to be the first,” said Eugene. “It is not an easy thing to be the first, but it is immeasurably easier, indeed possible, because Jackie Robinson was the first ‘first.’ I am certainly indebted to him, I think the nation is indebted to him, and I am indebted to you all for this award.”
Donald Wills, brother of Mr. Wills, received the award on his behalf.
GW senior Bobby Lucas, a member of the university’s baseball team, also received a Jackie Robinson award, presented annually to the GW baseball player who best reflects the qualities associated with Jackie Robinson.
In his remarks, Richard Zamoff, GW sociology professor and instructor of the GW course “Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports and the American Dream,” said Mr. Robinson became “a leading spokesperson in the battle against racial segregation and discrimination in the United States.”
“His accomplishments relay the single best example of sports power to effect change,” said Mr. Zamoff. “Jackie Robinson used baseball as a vehicle to come into the consciousness of America… and in his years after baseball, Jackie Robinson extended the fight from the national pastime to the national character.”
Arnold Rampersad, professor emeritus at Stanford University and acclaimed biographer, delivered the first annual Ronald Gabriel Memorial Lecture in honor of the late Mr. Gabriel, a longtime fan of Mr. Robinson and supporter of GW’s Jackie Robinson Society.
Mr. Rampersad spoke about Mr. Robinson’s childhood and his life after baseball. “[Mr. Robinson’s] was a life that deserved to be remembered and celebrated because it represented, among other things, the struggle of the human spirit….I applaud the efforts here at The George Washington University to keep his name and legacy before us as we move into the future.”
An afternoon program and sports memorabilia display for students was held prior to the award ceremony.
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