City Of Philadelphia Officially Apologizes To Jackie Robinson For Racist Treatment He Received In That City 69 Years Ago
Philadelphia Issues Apology to Jackie Robinson for Racism
The Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution Thursday naming April 15 in honor of Jackie Robinson, officially apologizing for the racism he experienced when he visited the city in 1947.
The apology will be presented to the baseball icon ‘s widow, the Associated Press reported. Robinson died in 1972.
Robinson became the first black Major League Baseball player on April 15, 1947. When he visited Philadelphia with the Brooklyn Dodgers that year, he was refused service at a local hotel and targeted with racial slurs by Philadelphia Phillies players and the team’s manager Ben Chapman, according to the AP.
“Unfortunately in Philadelphia, Jackie Robinson experienced some of the most virulent racism and hate of his career,” said Councilwoman Helen Gym, who introduced the resolution, ABC News reported . “Our colleagues decided to introduce this resolution to celebrate Jackie Robinson.”
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If this does ANY good today it might be worthwhile. I have my doubts though.
Will be seen as overbearing p.c.
I think it's a real tribute to not just an incredible baseball player, but a very patient and wonderful person who put up with much to break baseball's color barrier. He had to be a person who could not react angrily or hatefully to the bigotry and racism that was sure to come his way. By all accounts he handled the hate with dignity and class. It takes a special person to be the first of their race or religion or gender at anything major.
You have to wonder why they waited for April Fools Day to make this announcement ...
I hope for his (and their) sake they are not joking...
As has been said, "Better late than never."