Derek Jeter is one of the best Yankees captains and one of the greatest MLB players. However, even he faced horrible issues such as racism in his life and career.
The shortstop is of biracial heritage. Jeter was born to a black father, Sanderson, and a white mother, Dorothy. Before becoming the revered captain he is now, Jeter faced his fair share of hardships. He was born in a middle-class household at a time when biracial marriages weren't that common.
Jeter faced racism of his own, but after acquiring an MLB franchise, he took steps to prevent current players from experiencing the same. The Miami Marlins, the team that Jeter was the CEO of, sent out surveys in 2020. The survey asked the employees about their views on race. An initiative that could help the organization accept more diverse views and be more accepting.
That's why in an interview with MLB when Derek Jeter was asked about his own experience with racism, he was very honest with his answers. He said the following about his own past while experiencing racism:
“I’m not the darkest brother in the world. But I’ve been pulled over driving down the street growing up. I’ve been accused of stealing things from stores. We’re not here to go back and forth of whose stories are worse, but that’s just how it is and how it’s been. You wish things would’ve changed by now, but that’s not the case.”
Jeter's efforts will definitely start bringing a change to MLB franchises and even inspire other organizations to better themselves.
When Derek Jeter made his stand on racism clear by saying 'something has to change'
In the wake of George Floyd's murder, Derek Jeter let his views be known. He said the following on it:
“Something needs to change. It gets to a point where you say enough is enough. For the first time, you’re seeing people across all 50 states and roughly 20 other countries, people of all different races and different nationalities, out there in agreement. Now is the time, and things need to change because it’s been going on for too long.”
Since Jeter is of black descent, he was able to relate to the situation. The former Yankees shortstop has faced different but similar racial discrimination.