Legacy

What attributes must a person possess to make such an impact on this world that they are remembered and celebrated decades after their death?

I don’t proclaim to know the answer, but I think about it often. It’s top of mind this week, because tomorrow will be the 48-year anniversary of the passing of one of my three all-time heroes – Jackie Robinson.

As the first African-American to play Major League Baseball, Jackie’s legacy is punctuated with incredible successes on and off the field. And the lessons on being courageous is what stands out the most about his legacy for me.

One of his most legendary exploits happened during the first game of the 1955 World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees. With the Dodgers trailing 4-6 at the top of the eighth inning with two outs and a 1-0 count on pinch-hitter Frank Kellert, Jackie broke for home as Yankees’ pitcher Whitey Ford was winding up for the pitch. Just as the ball reached the catcher’s mitt, Jackie slid feet first… “Safe!”

Though the Dodgers lost that game, they won the World Series. Many people credit that steal as the spark that led to the soon to be championship victory.

It’s perhaps his most famous steal, and it was courageous. However, more courageous was the first time he ever stole home – his rookie year in 1947. That year, every time he stepped on the field he was called names, spit on, jeered at and was hit by more pitches than any other player in the National League.

As I believe the story goes, the fourth time he was hit by a pitch that season was by Pirates pitcher Fritz Ostermueller. Instead of rushing the mound to fight Ostermueller, Jackie waited for the rematch where he let his actions speak for him. He stole home plate — and the Dodgers won.

These stories illustrate Jackie’s courage to push through the challenges thrown at him because he understood he was playing for more than just baseball wins and his own career. He knew that if he retaliated, even once, he would jeopardize the “greater win” for all African-Americans. So he had to demonstrate the courage to be victorious in spite of the challenges he faced daily. 

This attribute made him a role model for many, including some of the greatest leaders of all time. Shortly before his death in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Jackie Robinson made my success possible. Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did.”

That’s a legacy! And it inspires me as I think about how I want to be remembered and the impact I want to have on others. It reminds me of what I’m playing for, my purpose.

I got into financial services to help people be financially confident. So I’m playing for all of our clients: the “firsts” of the family, the financially struggling and the financially philanthropic. And I’m blessed to be the servant leader of the team at Truist that is challenging the status quo and creating innovative tools to help clients move from financial literacy to true behavior change, gaining financial competency and generating better financial outcomes. Ultimately helping them achieve financial confidence, which positions them for authentic happiness and peace.

As an African-American executive in the financial services industry, I am also playing for diversity, equity and inclusion. I hope to continue serving as an accessible, inspirational leader for all of my Truist teammates and as a mentor for people of color who want to play in the major league of financial services, and corporate America in general. I have the responsibility, opportunity and pleasure of sharing career advice, encouragement and hard-won knowledge. I’m grateful that many have been gracious enough to invest in me, thus I’m energized to pay it forward.

Jackie once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” He died in 1972, but his legacy is eternal through the impact he’s had on other lives. For nearly 50 years, his foundation, The Jackie Robinson Foundation, has helped more than 1,500 young African-American men and women attend college. Today, 55% of JRF-program graduates hold manager-level positions in business.

Inspired by this, I have had the privilege of supporting many youth programs and even launched a three-year program where we pair 10th-graders with a mentor and provide the students with life skills workshops, free tutoring, ACT and SAT preparation and other resources to prepare them for success in college.  

This has been a very exciting way of empowering others so they too can get on base. And maybe one day, they’ll have the “steal-home” courage that Jackie exuded when they are presented with the moment to make a difference in their life and the life of others.

What’s your favorite story that shows courage? Share it in the comments, and tag someone who’s helped you with your “steal-home” career or life moment.