Why was Jackie Robinson awared the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Jackie Robinson was also a forerunner of the Civil Rights Movement. He was a key figure in the establishment and growth of the Freedom Bank, an African-American owned and controlled entity, in the 1960s. He also wrote a syndicated newspaper column for a number of years, in which he was an outspoken critic of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Robinson actively campaigned for a number of politicians, including both Democrat Hubert Humphrey, and Republican Richard Nixon. For years, he was controversially a member of the Republican Party, which was viewed among most minorities as a “white” party at the time. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Robinson was the receipient of both a Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.
