Kendrick Meek: “I want to help this Congress and America understand the dignity and the grace and the illumination which Jackie…”

“I want to help this Congress and America understand the dignity and the grace and the illumination which Jackie Robinson, Jackie Roosevelt Robinson, brought to our wonderful country, the United States of America. I am delighted to have this opportunity to host this special order, and it is going to honor one of the true greats in American history, and that is Jackie. Why is it relevant to the Congress to even talk about Jackie Robinson or to address a special order to the memory of Jackie Robinson? First of all, it is so very important, No. 1, so that the young people in this country will understand that we have heroes in this country, and they are heroes because they worked very hard to bring glory not only to their athletic teams but to the glory of this country and to show the dominance which great athletic prowess can bring when it is used for the good of others. That is why it is so significant that from this well we address many of our heroes, and tonight I am addressing Jackie Roosevelt Robinson. Fifty years ago, that has been quite a long time, Jackie Robinson broke major league baseball's color line. He broke the color line. That meant that before Jackie there were no African-Americans in major league baseball. He broke this color barrier, and he opened up the doors that had long been closed to talented African-Americans, not only in baseball but in other activities throughout our country.”