Known first and foremost for breaking the Big League color line, Jackie Robinson kept fighting for Black Americans long after he walked off the diamond in 1956—and his ominous warning in 1964 about “a new breed” of angry white Republicans proved sadly prophetic.
Despite Republican attempts to retroactively claim him, the second baseman was unapologetically Black and fiercely independent, using his enormous fame to fight racial discrimination and arguing that issues should trump party allegiance as Black Americans gained greater access to the ballot box.
Now the subject of a two-part, four-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon on PBS, Robinson emerged as a critical voice in the civil rights movement, as candidates from both parties sought the retired player’s counsel and his endorsement.