I speak to you only as an American
â
I speak to you only as an American
who happens to be an American Negro
and one who is proud of that heritage.
We ask for nothing special.
We ask only that we be permitted to compete on an even basis,
and if we are not worthy,
then the competition shall, per se, eliminate us.
â
Meaning
This quote means black Americans were not asking for favors, only an equal chance to compete fairly and be judged on merit. Equality is not special treatment.
About Author
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was an American baseball player and civil rights activist, famously breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. His quotes often reflect courage, determination, and equality. Robinson inspires athletes, activists, and leaders to challenge injustice, persevere against adversity, and make a lasting impact in sports and society.
Related Quotes
â The black press, some liberal sportswriters, and even a few politicians were banging away at those Jim Crow barriers in baseball. I never expected the walls to come tumbling down in my lifetime. â
This quote means the fall of segregation in baseball came through long pressure from many voices, and its eventual success once seemed almost unimaginable.
â Pop flies, in a sense, are just a diversion for a second baseman. Grounders are his stock trade. â
This quote means routine ground balls, not spectacular plays, are the real daily work of a second baseman. Mastery comes from ordinary duties.
â I want everybody to understand that I am an American Negro first before I am a member of any political party. â
This quote means racial identity and the experience tied to it shaped his public life more deeply than party affiliation ever could.