Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson blasted antisemitism on social media, comparing it to the racism he endured in the 1960s.
Jackson Denounces Antisemitism
In a Saturday post, Jackson shared an Anti-Defamation League link and cited data showing a surge in antisemitic incidents across Pennsylvania, his home state.
“It takes me back to the racism I experienced in the 1960s: signs throughout the South declaring that Black people could be refused service, along with separate ‘white’ and ‘colored’ signs on bathrooms and drinking fountains, ‘no n—s.’ I remember what that hatred looked and felt like. We cannot accept it in any form, directed at any people,” he wrote.
Call to Philadelphia Leaders
Jackson urged elected officials in the Philadelphia area to speak out against hate.
“I wish I could be there to stand with those protesting HATE. I am asking elected officials and other leaders in Philadelphia: Where are the clear statements condemning antisemitism?”
“When hateful language is excused or repeated, it can make hostility seem acceptable and deepen fear and division. Leaders should speak plainly and consistently: antisemitism and hate have no place in our communities. What the hell? We have to speak up,” he said.
Reflections on Past Racism
Jackson recalled the discrimination he endured while playing for the Birmingham Black Barons, a minor‑league affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics.
“I would walk into restaurants, they would point at me and say ‘that n—– can’t eat here.’ I would go to a hotel, and they’d say ‘that n—– can’t stay here.’ We went to former A’s owner Charlie Finley’s country club for a welcome‑home dinner, and they pointed me out with the n‑word, ‘he can’t come in here …’”
He added that teammates Rollie Fingers, Johnny McNamara, Dave Duncan, Joe and Sharron Rudy hosted him on their couch for several nights before threatening to burn his apartment complex if he stayed.
Career Milestones
Now 80, Jackson amassed 563 career home runs and earned the nickname “Mr. October” for his three‑home‑run performance in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, which clinched the Yankees’ title against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He also highlighted his 2024 appearance at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, where MLB honored the Negro Leagues, noting the lingering impact of the racism he endured while traveling across the country.
