White Sox to host panel in honor of Jackie Robinson

CHICAGO -- A special panel discussion entitled "Jackie Robinson: A Catalyst for Change in American Society" will be hosted by the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday in honor of Major League Baseball's Jackie Robinson Day.

White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Dr. Carol Adams will share their views and perspective on Robinson as a change agent in baseball and American society. The audience at U.S. Cellular's Conference and Learning Center will be filled with student-athletes from Chicago area high schools.

Marcus Semien, the team's current starting second baseman, also figures to be in attendance for the program beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT. Semien praised Robinson for not only breaking MLB's color barrier for African-American players such as himself, but for also giving the same opportunity to other talent of foreign ethnicities.

"There's a lot of talent in the world. It's not just here in America," Semien said. "If you look at our team, we are a very diverse group here, and we all get along as well. It's not like back in those days where guys had a problem with a person of color being on their same team, so it's a great time to play.

"I know he's a man with a lot of courage and a lot of heart," added Semien of Robinson. "It took a lot of that to be able to show up in Major League Baseball and hold your own. To be able to focus on the game of baseball, that's hard enough itself. Dealing with all the stuff that was going on at that time, he did a great job and opened a lot of doors for everyone."