Remembering Number 42

Certain events change our world

And boldly challenge the status quo,

Such as the following major event

That happened seventy years ago:

Sending shock waves throughout society,

Jackie Robinson challenged the norm

And gave a segregated system--

Major league baseball--a brand-new form.

Robinson broke the major league

Color barrier by cutting through

Years of unfair treatment in sports.

Three cheers for Number 42!

The ongoing struggle for civil rights

Would take inning after inning,

For Robinson's accomplishment

Wasn't an end but just a beginning.

Facing enormous hostility still,

The baseball player held his ground.

Sadly it took many years

For politicians to come around.

A year later President Truman

Integrated the military--

Also a long time coming,

But also a move that was necessary.

Seventeen long years later

Congress passed legislation

In civil rights, which became

A major blow to segregation.

Why so long? So it goes;

In politics you will find

That often we want to move ahead

While politicians lag behind.

Other barriers are still to be broken--

Barriers to civil and equal rights.

There are more fights to be fought

And goals on which to set our sights.

So let the number 42

Honor the history-making man

Who was a hero among many heroes,

Whether or not you're a baseball fan.

(4-15-17) By Bob B