The Jackie Robinson Museum has opened in New York City‘s Manhattan, 75 years after American professional baseball player Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The gala ceremony was attended by two of Robinson’s children and his 100-year-old widow Rachel Robinson, who established the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1973.
The 20,000-square-foot museum will honour the life and legacy of Robinson, who broke the colour barrier in Major League Baseball and played an active role in the civil rights movement.
David Robinson said the museum is “the realization of a dream for my family”.
“My mother has long hoped for a permanent space where people learn about the issues my father cared deeply about and the change he fought hard to affect,” he said.
“We hope the museum will be a place to not only learn more about his time in baseball and love of sports, but about all that he did to contribute to social progress. We extend our deepest appreciation to everyone who helped make this dream a reality.”
The new museum will enhance the foundation’s mission to promote higher education. It will focus on Robinson’s athleticism, civil rights activism, civic engagement, economic empowerment efforts and public commentary.
“We are thrilled to be able to open the Jackie Robinson Museum despite today’s challenging health and safety environment,” said Della Britton, the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s president and CEO.
Barrier-breaking baseball player
“It is an unimaginable honor to be part of sharing this powerful story of one of our most revered heroes through the museum’s exhibits.”
“Robinson’s contributions to society helped us through challenging social times in the last century. The museum reveals lessons from his life that can educate and inspire us to continue to work toward positive change,” Britton added.
“I’d like very much to recognize [foundation] COO La’Tonya Johnson for her highly skilled and inspired leadership of this project and [museum] curator, Jennifer Jensen, for her brilliance and passionate commitment on the project.”
Images: Jackie Robinson Foundation
