Lead with Purpose + Persist

Sep 15, 2024

Hi Stagers!

𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲. 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. At 28 years old, he shattered the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Faced with racism, threats, and hate, but he didn’t stop. 𝙃𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝. 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙙. He’d later say:

“Life is not a spectator sport. If youre going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion, youre wasting your life.”

From a young age, Jackie Robinson faced 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. Yet, with each challenge, he 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 + 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 to excel in sports and life, 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨 others couldn’t. His journey wasn’t just about surviving—it was about 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜.

𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹, leading the Dodgers to a championship and becoming a powerful advocate for 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀. On and off the field, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚. As he said:

“This I'll fun. But you watch me, I'll get it done.”

Jackie Robinson adjusted. He adapted. He found purpose. His mission? 𝗧𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲. He once remarked:

“I’m not built to have a reverse gear.”

His lesson to us: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲. 𝗔𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵. 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡. Stand up, even if you stand alone.

LIFE PLAY

In 1947, Jackie Robinson faced an incredible challenge: 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹. His greatest disappointment? The relentless racial abuse, even from his own teammates. The pressure to react was immense, but he adapted by remaining silent. He let his game speak for itself. He said,

“I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”

Jackie responded to hatred with excellence. He used his skill and discipline to break through the hate. 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗜𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

Watch this video and see how Jackie Robinson 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱.

To learn more about his complex and multi-dimensional life, consider watching The Jackie Robinson Story, a 1950 biographical film starring Jackie Robinson as himself, or this TODAY piece about his legacy 75-years later.

LIFE TIME

Childhood + Adolescence

1919 (Age 0): Jackie Robinson is born on January 31 in Cairo, Georgia. The youngest of five children, raised by a single mother after his father left the family. Born a year after WWI (1914-1918) ended, its aftermath influenced the world he was born into.
1920s (Ages 1-10): Jackie’s family moves to Pasadena, California, seeking better opportunities. Despite facing racial prejudice in a predominantly white neighborhood, Jackie excels in school and sports.
1935 (Age 16): Enrolls at John Muir High School in Pasadena, where he excels in football, basketball, track, and baseball. After graduating in 1937, he continues his athletic success at Pasadena Junior College (PJC) before transferring to UCLA in 1939.
1936 (Age 17): Jackies brother, Mack Robinson, wins silver in the 200-meter sprint at the Berlin Olympics. Mack comes home a hero. But he can only find work as a street sweeper in Pasadena. His success—and struggles—fuel Jackies drive to excel and fight for equality.
1939 (Age 20): Stands out at UCLA, excelling in four sports—football, basketball, track, and baseball—but leaves before graduating in 1941 due to financial hardship.

Young + Middle Adulthood

1942 (Age 23): Drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II (1939–1945). Faces racial discrimination. Fights against segregation in the military. Earns the rank of second lieutenant.
1944 (Age 25): Court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus. Acquitted, standing against racism long before his baseball career. Then honorably discharged due to an ankle injury, leaving with the rank of second lieutenant.
1945 (Age 26): Plays for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. His talent catches the eye of Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey, who recruits him.
1946 (Age 27): Marries Rachel Isum, a nursing student at UCLA. They have three children: Jackie Jr. (1946), Sharon (1950), and David (1952). Rachel becomes his biggest supporter, standing by him through every challenge. Their children continue his legacy of impact.
1947 (Age 28): Debuts for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15. Jackie becomes the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era. Faces immense pressure, racism, and threats but remains composed, later becoming Rookie of the Year.
1949 (Age 30): Wins the National League MVP. Robinson’s exceptional performance silences critics and fans alike. He uses his platform to advocate for civil rights and equality.
1950 (Age 31): The Jackie Robinson Story is released. Jackie plays himself. It showcases his journey to break baseballs color barrier.
1955 (Age 36): Helps the Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series. His on-field performance is legendary, but his impact off the field is even greater.
1956 (Age 37): Retires from baseball after 10 seasons. He becomes more active in the civil rights movement, working with organizations such as the NAACP.
1957 (Age 38): VP at Chock full o'Nuts, the first Black vice president of a major U.S. company. He handled personnel and public relations, shattering corporate barriers.
1960s (Ages 43-53): Involved in politics, business, and civil rights. Advocates for greater diversity in business and higher education, continuing to fight for equality.
1962 (Age 43): Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the first Black player to receive this honor. His legacy as a trailblazer is cemented.

Late Adulthood + Senior Years

1964 (Age 45): Co-Founder of Freedom National Bank. Black-owned bank in Harlem. Focused on financial empowerment for the Black community.
1965 (Age 46): Joins the board of the NAACP. Continues to be a leading voice for civil rights, advocating for social and political change.
1965 (Age 46): Jackies oldest son. Jackie Robinson Jr. checks into drug rehab after struggling with addiction post-Vietnam. Robinson deeply supports his son, who later becomes a director at the facility, making his father proud. Goes on to support young adults battling addiction also.
1968 (Age 49): Campaigns for political leaders who support civil rights, including Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Advocates for economic justice and racial equality.
1970 (Age 51): Becomes active in efforts to expand Black-owned businesses, continuing his work to empower African Americans economically.
1971 (Age 52): Jackie’s oldest son, Jackie Robinson Jr., dies in a car accident at age 24 after struggling with drug addiction post-Vietnam. The loss devastates the family. This tragedy leads Jackie to advocate for veterans and addiction support.
1972 (Age 53): I Never Had It Made is published, just before his death. His autobiography tells the story of breaking baseballs color barrier and fighting for civil rights.
1972 (Age 53): Passes away on October 24 due to complications from heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Leaves behind a legacy of courage, strength, and unwavering dedication to justice.
2004 (32 years posthumously): Major League Baseball establishes Jackie Robinson Day on April 15th, celebrated annually. On this day, every player wears Robinson’s number 42 to honor.
2013 (41 years posthumously): 42 hits theaters highlighting Jackies fight against racism in his early career. Chadwick Boseman stars as Jackie.

Disclaimer: The dates and ages in this timeline are approximations. While making every effort to ensure accuracy, some details may vary slightly due to differing sources and limited time. Jackie Robinson’s life was vast, complex, and filled with countless encounters, events, and experiences that shaped his remarkable journey. This timeline aims to capture key moments, but it may not fully encompass the depth and nuances of his incredible story.

LIFE PACT

Jackie Robinson’s life proves that 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲, and 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 are the keys to breaking barriers. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼. 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁. His mission? To excel in baseball and break racial barriers. His purpose? To pave the way for future generations of athletes and activists. He said,

“The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is their personal dignity.”

His mission shifted from sports to civil rights, yet his 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚—to fight for dignity and equality—remained constant throughout his life. Jackie adapted to every challenge thrown his way, from racial abuse to personal loss. His ability to maintain dignity while striving for excellence is a lesson for us all. He said,

I don't let my mouth say nothin' my head can't stand.

Let 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 remind you that 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚 will help you adapt. Your mission may change over time, but your purpose—your why—will carry you through. What obstacles do you face today? How can you adapt with dignity and purpose? Reflect on your own journey and find your reason to 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙. He said,