Today Negroes play on every big
â
Today, Negroes play on every big league club
and in every minor league.
With millions of other Negroes in other walks of life,
we are willing to stand up and be counted for what we believe in.
In baseball or out,
we are no longer willing to wait until Judgment Day for equality
we want it here on earth as well as in Heaven.
â
Meaning
This quote means black Americans were no longer willing to wait passively for equality in some distant future. Justice must be demanded in real life, not postponed to heaven.
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 way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it. â
This quote means Robinson felt his relationship with baseball had become balanced: the game gave him opportunity, and he gave it transformation and greatness in return.
â I think if we go back and check our record, the Negro has proven beyond a doubt that we have been more than patient in seeking our rights as American citizens. â
This quote means black Americans had already shown extraordinary patience in the struggle for equal rights. Delayed justice could no longer be excused.
â If I had been white with the things I did, they never would have allowed me to get out of baseball. â
This quote means racial double standards shaped how his behavior was judged. Actions tolerated in white players were punished more harshly in him.