The Continuing Importance of Jackie Robinson Today

A 'post racial' society was a popular term in America after the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008. That such a description of America may have been premature does not reduce the significance of the application of the term to American society. Although people may differ as to who or what was responsible for the progress of American society to a point where the term 'post racial' could be used, there is arguably one person who could be said to be the responsible person: Jackie Robinson. A baseball player. He was the first modern-era civil rights leader. This April we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the integration of major league baseball by Jackie Robinson. It was an event of enormous significance.