Political Quotes

“I rise in support of our attempt to honor the life and legacy of this great African American. I am reminded, however, that as we come to honor Jackie Robinson, we should be clear what brought him to the opportunity to play major league baseball. It was in its own way an affirmative action program in which he was sought out, brought in to deal with the fact that African-Americans had been excluded from the opportunity to play in major league baseball. If it were not for the active effort to include him, then we would not be here today honoring him, and as we honor him as a nation, we should think about the other doors that are sometimes locked to persons of color because, for whatever reason, people are unable to get past prejudices, to deny people access to law school and medical school, to colleges, college preparatory schools, to deny them access to contracts and employment opportunities. We know all too well that the racism that existed that prevented Jackie Robinson from being able to play and others who were even more qualified than him perhaps and were denied the opportunity to play in major league baseball at that time has not evaporated totally in this country over the last 50 years.”