NEWARK, NJ – Jackie Robinson Day was celebrated in Newark April 13 at the Harriet Tubman School as Robinson's family members presented the school with a baseball signed by the Hall of Famer and first African-American to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
The day was designed as "Jackie Robinson Day," in Newark by the City Council, a mayoral proclamation and a resolution from the state Legislature. The event is 63 years almost to the day (April 15, 1947) when Jackie Robison made his debut in Ebbets Field in Brooklyn on opening day.
Leonard Coleman, a former Major League Baseball National League president and chair of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, said the ball will serve as an inspiration for students to learn more about Jackie Robinson.
"Jackie's entry into Major League Baseball foreshadowed the great civil rights breakthroughs in America," said Coleman, who was the host of ceremonies at the event. "He is a true American hero."
Rachel and Sharon Robinson presented the baseball to the school during an assembly in the school's multipurpose room. Sharon Robinson, the daughter of Jackie Robinson, also read from her book Testing the Ice, A True Story About Jackie Robinson, which was donated to the school.
"Today we are celebrating Jackie Robinson Day and the achievements of a great man whose very essence broke barriers," said Mayor Cory Booker, who attended the event. "Thanks to the leadership of his wife there is a great foundation which is carrying on the legacy of Jackie Robinson."
Rachel, the widow of Jackie Robinson, said she was thrilled that the baseball will be housed in a location that will inspire students.
"My daughter Sharon and I are honored and inspired to be celebrating Jackie Robinson Day at the Harriet Tubman Blue Ribbon school in Newark," said Rachel Robinson, who founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which provides college scholarships and leadership training. "The school and Jackie Robinson mutually represent excellence and determination."
Stephen Adubato, the founder of the Robert Treat Academy charter school and a fan of the Robinson family, said the historic baseball belongs at the Harriet Tubman school, which is known for commemorating African American history events.
"I couldn't think of a better place for this valuable keepsake," Adubato said. "The students at Harriet Tubman are entrenched in American history and this ball will be a learning aide for further study about a great American."
Named a Blue Ribbon school in 2007, Harriet Tubman contains a re-creation of the Underground Railroad in its hallways. This re-creation has helped the students to understand that history relates to events and people of other times and places by identifying examples of interesting Americans through exposure to biographies of important people of the past like Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Tubman Principal Deborah Terrell said the baseball will be displayed in a location where students and parents will see it every day.
"The ball is a reminder of what one African-American man accomplished at a time in our history when people were discriminated against solely because of the color of their skin," Terrell said. "The intent of the re-creation of the Underground Railroad and our emphasis on our history is to remind our students every day of the struggle of African Americans in this country."
Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell, who sponsored the resolution designating "Jackie Robinson Day in Newark," said it is important for children growing up in Newark today to know about Jackie Robinson's contributions to American history.
"Jackie Robinson was more than an outstanding athlete and Hall of Fame baseball player," Bell said. "He was a civil rights activist, a pioneer in breaking the color barrier by becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. The magnitude of this accomplishment is unmatched."
The ball has the signatures of 16 members of the Brooklyn Dodgers, which won the World Series that year in four games against the New York Yankees. Other signatures on the ball include Hall of Famers Roy Campanella, Tom Lasorda and Walter "Walt" Alston.
During the presentation, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students recited the lyrics from the Buddy Johnson classic, "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit that Ball?" Jason Lopez, 10, a fifth grader at the school, talked about Jackie Robinson's life and Autumn Holmes, 9, a fourth grader, tapped danced to "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit that Ball?"
Adrianne Davis, the executive director of The North Ward Center, said the Robinson's are an important part of history, not just for African Americans, but for all Americans.
"We're so honored that Rachel and Sharon chose to spend their time with students in Newark," Davis said. "It was wonderful for the students at Harriet Tubman to have the opportunity to share this experience."
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