If I had been white with the things I did, they never would have allowed me to get out of baseball. Jackie Robinson More Quotes by Jackie Robinson More Quotes From Jackie Robinson I speak to you only as an American who happens to be an American Negro and one who is proud of that heritage. We ask for nothing special. We ask only that we be permitted to compete on an even basis, and if we are not worthy, then the competition shall, per se, eliminate us. Jackie Robinson youcompetitionproudspeak I felt unhappy and trapped. If I left baseball, where could I go, what could I do to earn enough money to help my mother and to marry Rachel? The solution to my problem was only days away in the hands of a tough, shrewd, courageous man called Branch Rickey, the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson manmoneyunhappymother I cannot possibly believe that I have it made while so many black brothers and sisters are hungry, inadequately housed, insufficiently clothed, denied their dignity as they live in slums or barely exist on welfare. Jackie Robinson livedignityblackbelieve Many people resented my impatience and honesty, but I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect. Jackie Robinson respecthonestyacceptancepeople 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. Jackie Robinson backgothinkdoubt Blacks have had to learn to protect themselves by being cynical but not cynical enough to slam the door on potential opportunities. We go through life walking a tightrope to prevent too much disillusionment. Jackie Robinson doorenoughwalkinglife My problem was my inability to spend much time at home. I thought my family was secure, so I went running around everyplace else. I guess I had more of an effect on other people's kids than I did my own. Jackie Robinson familyhometimepeople A new breed of Republicans has taken over the GOP. It is a new breed which is seeking to sell to Americans a doctrine which is as old as mankind - the doctrine of racial division, the doctrine of racial prejudice, the doctrine of white supremacy. Jackie Robinson oldnewprejudicewhite After two years at UCLA, I decided to leave. I was convinced that no amount of education would help a black man get a job. Jackie Robinson jobmanblackeducation During my life, I have had a few nightmares which happened to me while I was wide awake. One of them was the National Republican Convention in San Francisco, which produced the greatest disaster the Republican Party has ever known - Nominee Barry Goldwater. Jackie Robinson my-lifemedisasterlife When I am playing baseball, I give it all that I have on the ball field. When the ball game is over, I certainly don't take it home. My little girl who is sitting out there wouldn't know the difference between a third strike and a foul ball. We don't talk about baseball at home. Jackie Robinson i-amgamegirlhome It would make everything I worked for meaningless if baseball is integrated but political parties were segregated. Jackie Robinson makeeverythingpoliticalbaseball
