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Vandalized Robinson Memorial to be Displayed at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, he was fighting a battle waged violently throughout culture, politics and all walks of life. Today, that war still rages on—more disguised—but no less malicious or targeted.
A memorial to Robinson was erected in 2001 outside his birthplace near Cairo, Georgia. Last year, community members discovered that the plaque had been shot multiple times.
Many of Robinson’s battles involved targeted racial threats, spewed in-person at a man playing a game. This act was no less targeted, but perhaps more devious as it masked the identities of the perpetrators while still sending the same message.
Staff at Kansas City’s Negro League Baseball Museum recognized this fact. They’ve chosen to display the defaced marker. Curator and Museum Vice President Ray Doswell told the Kansas City Star that the sign is not an item they would typically exhibit, but it will be an opportunity to teach visitors about Robinson’s story and the continuing tale of combating hate and racism in America.
Museum community engagement manager Kiona Sinks said in a tweet that the damaged marker will “serve as a reminder that the ugliness of America's past persists to this day.”
A protective case still needs to be built for the displaced memorial and a spot allocated in the museum before its official presentation on April 15, 2022, the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In light of the recent happenings, the town of Cairo has replaced Robinson’s memorial and added another marker at the community’s library.
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