Your most admired Black historical person

First lets not make this into a racist thread. Thank You.

My most admired Black Person is Jackie Robinson! I have stated this before that hes one of my heroes and that Im kinda a baseball historian.
Most know his history. At the time Branch Rickey had to find the perfect person that could be more appealing to the whites. And this person could not fail! To do so would have pushed baseball integration back ten years at least! Jackie more than fit the bill. He was College educated, was in the military and had played multiple sports. There were better ball players in the Negro leagues but none could measure up to Robinsons complete list of achievements demeanor and spirit!
He encountered things none of us could take! Everywhere he went. He was already older than most entering baseball and his body was already in decline! But Jackie endured and excelled! He fought racism everyday from fans, teammates and even the press. He could not fight back or let emotions show in the first few years!
After baseball he championed civil rights and worked with other black leaders of the time. He married a lovely woman that stood beside her husband through all of this and raised a family.
All of this is more than enough to make him a hero!
But heres why I admire him so much and can identify with Jackie in a way. He had a terrible temper. This is not widely known. He never let it get the best of him and never let it show. Nor did he ever get himself into trouble with it. No abuse or anything like that. But it was there.
I myself; having a temper like he did. I cannot even imagine walking more than a few steps in his shoes!
Jackie Robinson was a true inspiration, role model, hall of famer and a hero.
More Importantly he was a great Man!

# 42

Mine are a tie between Frederick Douglas and Malcom X. I took a black history class when I was in undergrad as an elective so I read their books for the course. They were both very enlightening. To say I learned a lot is an understatement about black history after reading those two books and being in that class.

Jackie Robinson changed racism in baseball. But I'm talking about real change for those of color in this country without a bat and a glove who are a miniscule segment of society. As much as I love sports, I just keep it as entertainment and I leave it at that although I feel bad for him with all of the ridiculous racism he had to endure.

Oh, I read about Jack Trice too for that class. It was also a great book. His note to himself below before the game he died in during 1923:

The honor of my race, family and self is at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will. My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about the field. Every time the ball is snapped, I will be trying to do more than my part...Fight low, with your eyes open and toward the play. Watch out for crossbucks and reverse end runs. Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good. Jack.
– Jack Trice

Ali!

Walter E Williams

I can't say that I could pick one black person I admire the most. My list of black people I admire the most includes Fredrick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King, Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll and Cicely Tyson.

From the sports world I would include Bill Russell, Frank Robinson, Henry Aaron Jackie Robinson and Alan Page. I also admire people like Branch Rickey and Don Haskins for their roles in advocating change.

There are a few black people that I consider to be close personal friends and I admire greatly. They will remain nameless in this forum.

I will also end my comment here with Jack Trice. I was a student at Iowa State when the push began to name the Cyclone football stadium in honor of Trice. None of us had ever heard of him at that point but we soon learned that he was Iowa State's first black student athlete, he only played 1 game for the Cyclones in 1923 and died from injuries he suffered in that game. The game was against the University of Minnesota and reports were that many Golden Gopher players targeted Trice throughout the game because of his skin color. After this game ended, it would be 66 years before Iowa State scheduled another game with Minnesota.

Iowa State's football stadium was initially known as "Jack Trice Field at Cyclone Stadium." It took more than 20 years of pressure from students and alumni before the stadium was finally renamed "Jack Trice Stadium." It is the only Division 1 football stadium in the country named for an African American individual.

Being the huge baseball fan that I am I tend to agree with winn ..... Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron .....

Barack Obama.

current

herschel walker

past

george washington carver

Gale Sayers.

Forget about names in the spotlight. As George Patton said, "All glory is fleeting."


The 2 most admired parts of the black community are the black churches, and the grandmas. The churches gave them hope. The grandmas somehow held extended families together.

Forget about names in the spotlight. As George Patton said, "All glory is fleeting."


The 2 most admired parts of the black community are the black churches, and the grandmas. The churches gave them hope. The grandmas somehow held extended families together. Originally Posted by VitaMan

I would say that's quite accurate.

I can't say that I could pick one black person I admire the most. My list of black people I admire the most includes Fredrick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King, Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll and Cicely Tyson.

From the sports world I would include Bill Russell, Frank Robinson, Henry Aaron Jackie Robinson and Alan Page. I also admire people like Branch Rickey and Don Haskins for their roles in advocating change.

There are a few black people that I consider to be close personal friends and I admire greatly. They will remain nameless in this forum.

I will also end my comment here with Jack Trice. I was a student at Iowa State when the push began to name the Cyclone football stadium in honor of Trice. None of us had ever heard of him at that point but we soon learned that he was Iowa State's first black student athlete, he only played 1 game for the Cyclones in 1923 and died from injuries he suffered in that game. The game was against the University of Minnesota and reports were that many Golden Gopher players targeted Trice throughout the game because of his skin color. After this game ended, it would be 66 years before Iowa State scheduled another game with Minnesota.

Iowa State's football stadium was initially known as "Jack Trice Field at Cyclone Stadium." It took more than 20 years of pressure from students and alumni before the stadium was finally renamed "Jack Trice Stadium." It is the only Division 1 football stadium in the country named for an African American individual. Originally Posted by Jam3768

Two comments:

Frank Robinson never really got the credit he deserved. He was one of the best ball players ever. Actually got a baseball signed by Frank and shook his hand. He too was a great activist.
I only knew just a little of Jack Trice. Gonna do some reading about him TODAY.

Forget about names in the spotlight. As George Patton said, "All glory is fleeting."


The 2 most admired parts of the black community are the black churches, and the grandmas. The churches gave them hope. The grandmas somehow held extended families together. Originally Posted by VitaMan

Good Post. Totally agree how valuable grandmas and churches are to the Black community.

General Colin Powell

Two comments:

Frank Robinson never really got the credit he deserved. He was one of the best ball players ever. Actually got a baseball signed by Frank and shook his hand. He too was a great activist.
I only knew just a little of Jack Trice. Gonna do some reading about him TODAY. Originally Posted by winn dixie

I have one signed by Brooks Robinson, but not Frank. My bad.