Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a prominent advocate for Jackie Robinson’s legacy, has expressed his concerns about the impact of President Trump’s anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives on baseball and civil rights. At the Dodgers’ annual celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, Abdul-Jabbar emphasized the importance of preserving Robinson’s trailblazing legacy in a speech that also acknowledged the current political climate.
Since President Trump returned to office in January, his campaign against DEI initiatives has led to several high-profile incidents, including the removal of an article about Jackie Robinson’s military service from the Department of Defense website. MLB’s league office has also struck all DEI-related references from its website.
In response to these developments, Abdul-Jabbar warned that Trump’s actions are a “ruse” aimed at masking his true intentions to discriminate against marginalized groups. He urged the Dodgers and Major League Baseball to uphold Robinson’s legacy by promoting diversity and inclusion.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also emphasized the importance of preserving Robinson’s legacy in his speech, highlighting its significance in breaking baseball’s color barrier and its relevance to today’s society. However, he disputed the notion that the team’s commemoration of Robinson this year felt hypocritical, given their recent visit to Trump’s White House.
Abdul-Jabbar and Roberts both emphasized the need for a continued focus on diversity and inclusion, particularly in leadership positions such as managerial roles in baseball. They stressed that supporting the country and staying unified is essential, but also acknowledged the personal responsibility to ensure Robinson’s legacy endures.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2025-04-15/dodgers-kareem-abdul-jabbar-jackie-robinson-day