It was highly unlikely that today’s recognition of Jackie Robinson Day by Major League Baseball could come off without some writer playing the race card and attacking President Donald Trump. Shakeia Taylor, writing on the Complex Sports blog, incredibly claims we actually haven’t progressed much on race since Robinson became the first Black major leaguer 70 years ago.
Many celebrities and media are taking the high road today to honor Robinson for breaking the race barrier in 1947. Taylor, an African-American baseball fan, said the sport doesn’t celebrate the annual Jackie Robinson Day the right way because the white man who gave him his chance is honored too much and Blacks are still victims of racism.
And every year, MLB misses the point by decentering the true hero of the story. Jackie’s triumph is often told in a way that frames Branch Rickey as the savior. A better way to honor Jackie would mean being more inclusive in hiring practices, both on and off the field. This would in turn encourage a culture of acceptance among fans. Black players, both professional and amateur—and the black fans who love them—still face some of the same pushback that Jackie did 70 years ago.
Taylor claims baseball makes her feel like a second-class citizen and charges baseball fans with hating to see non-white players dressing, speaking and acting in ways they dislike.
Baseball culture is heavily influenced by white men, and what is deemed acceptable by white men is what has become the “standard.” When I attend a game in my typical outfit—bamboo earrings or hoops, a fresh throwback jersey, jeans, and Jordans—people gawk and stare. “They let you through security with those earrings?” one will ask.
I have a right to be here, Baseball. And by treating us the way you are, you’re doing Jackie a great disservice. In Jackie’s own words, I’d like to remind you, ‘I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me ... all I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
Taylor recalled the time earlier this year when St. Louis outfielder Dexter Fowler called President Trump’s travel ban “unfortunate” – revealing “the the ugly side of baseball fandom.” “People were incredibly offended by a black player speaking his mind on an issue that affects his family. The comments about Fowler were the kind of dog whistles baseball fans have been yelling about for years, since the days of Jackie.”
The offended blogger overlooks the incredible wealth, status and acceptance gained by African-Americans, Latins and Asians in professional sports in America. Americans love their teams, love their favorite athletes and make them millionaires by purchasing tickets and sports apparel. But as many Americans are repeatedly expressing, they also love to separate politics and sports.
A final word to Taylor: you’re making a day set aside to honor an American hero about you and complaining about things Jackie would have considered far too trivial to raise a fuss about.
