A journey over time

Home plate view of the Negro League

 Baseball Museum field of dreams

By Chris Trevino

It seemed only fitting that I arrived at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City in what I can only describe as a time machine: a red van cruising down Highway 70 blasting an old school play list consisting of—but not limited to—MC Hammer, Will Smith, TLC and Michael Jackson.

Stepping into the museum provided me the opportunity to step back in time, as cliché as it may sound. Yet, it was to a time unfamiliar to me. 

I consider myself lucky for never having to be subjected to racist acts—things like being refused service or lodging, being verbally or physically attacked or being mistreated simply by the color of my skin. I’m lucky for never having gone through what these countless men whose faces and jerseys filled the museum experienced.

For that I thank them.

But how does the courage of Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, Hank Thompson and others help me as a journalist? It’s just a game, right?

Well yes and no. The fact that it was game made it easier to integrate. It was still a fight to make it happen but it was one Robinson and others could win. Sports are quite possibly the last meritocracy: Either you can play or you can’t and they could play.

Yet sports also have much influence on the people who watch them. They can help foster change on a larger scale. When Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, his actions helped crack barriers in other institutions. Seeing him break through undoubtedly inspired others to fight for change in other areas that sorely needed it.

In the general sense, here at the Sports Journalism Institute we are a reflection of generations past who were not given equality because of their sex or skin color.  But more specifically, as SJI members we are a new generation of minority sports journalists who grew up with so many opportunities, but still have to fight for our presence to be felt in newsrooms.

After today I am prouder to be participating in SJI, to be a part of a program with the tradition of helping minorities continue to build a stronger presence in the media field. In 20 years it will be a privilege to look back and see just how much farther we have continued to go.