Jack Roosevelt Robinson is the grandfather in my head. Since I was a girl, I have looked up to him— and not truly understanding why.

In this neo-Confederate state masquerading as a democratic republic, what racist White people love to do is conflate and manipulate language. DEI is the new way to say either (1) n—- or (2) how did you get here when we did everything to stop you.

And today, of all days, I remember Jackie. The one who was college educated, lettered in 4 sports, married to one woman, and court marshaled because of racism! The latest insult to his legacy is the cutting down of his statue in Wichita, KS! The remaining part of the statute is in the Negro League Hall of Fame in Kansas City.

I’m sure Jack would have preferred that anyway.

When the Right gets new words, I think of them as Legos they throw on the floor —that we have to step on.

One of the reasons, I think people (and this is some Black people now also!) who like to diminish his legacy is because it’s not loud enough.

There’s no oratory prowess like Martin.

There’s no fiery presence like Malcolm.

Jack was steady— he was…somewhat stoic! He seemed to take everything on the chin. There was a steady pushing and pulling on him, and yet he knew what was at stake.

There is no part of Jackie Robinson’s legacy that says anyone gave him anything. There is no part of his life that says he was put somewhere he didn’t deserve to be.

At the core of this backlash of DEI is this: these things life, liberty, freedom, safety — those are all for White people. Anyone who is not White cannot have that level of access to which would make anything equal.

Equality leads to visibility.

People still hate Jack (and Larry Doby—GOOGLE HIM TOO!) because he was first.

He was first…the light was on him. Because he earned it. Branch Rickey opened the door that Kennesaw Landis shut- due to racism.

The goal has always been to push us out by any means necessary! But, they will get tired first.