Roberto Clemente

“We should allow for the heroic impulse- which is to be greater than oneself… that’s where virtue comes from” (Stone 6). Oliver Stone’s “Where I Find My Heroes” defines true heroism as qualities that stem from human growth from their past self. Heroes portray the fight through hardship and struggle to blossom into a selfless role model, while continuing to uphold high standards of morality and altruism. This is where icons come from; humanity searches for a person that they can support, so they look for those who represent ethical values and have a plethora of inspirational characteristics. Most importantly, these heroes must have traits that reflect the internal values of their supporters; these traits possess a connotation that society admires: dedication, selflessness, and morality. Therefore, these heroes must always stand for our beliefs and represent our best and brightest characteristics. If one can fight through an obstacle while staying true to their principles, he is often worthy of respect and admiration. This does not necessarily mean that just because they have accomplished their goal they can be considered a hero, it means that they think of others before themselves and try to make a significant impact on the environment around them while doing so. A worthy, deserving hero is a role model and makes a significant impact on the world, making sacrifices either to benefit the society around him or to achieve the goal he has set forth for himself.

Nobody represents these values of heroism better than Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker, a professional athlete who represents the pinnacle of heroism. Clemente was born in 1934 in Puerto Rico to a poor family of farm laborers, where he grew up surrounded by poverty and hardship.  Despite these conditions, Clemente made the best of his situation by practicing with makeshift equipment, and began to perfect his craft of baseball from a young age. He became a naturally gifted athlete and was recruited to play major league baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soon after his stint with Los Angeles, Clemente signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955. It was here in Pittsburgh where he would make his biggest impact. He became a Hall of Fame caliber baseball player and a voice for Hispanic athletes across the world. Defying any criticism from skeptics, he spoke out against prejudices directed towards Latinos and became the biggest name in baseball. However, his most important contribution was off the field. In 1972,  an earthquake devastated Nicaragua, endangering thousands of lives. Clemente decided to hand deliver supplies to the struggling citizens of Managua. Unfortunately, he passed away after his plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. He gave the greatest sacrifice he could to help those in desperate need. Throughout his life, Clemente brought hope and exhilaration to his supporters and gave back to his community. His philanthropic values depicted him as a man of morality and made him a figure many could look up to. Due to his high standards of unwavering dedication to pursue his dreams and his selfless values of altruism and egalitarianism, Roberto Clemente epitomizes the definition of true heroism.

Clemente's dedication shines through during his darkest moments and exemplifies his resilience and perseverance. He spent his childhood as a child of laborers who struggled to earn an income. Despite the fact that Clemente grew up surrounded by poverty, he strived to be the best athlete he could and perfected his craft in the impecunious streets of San Juan: “All of his neighborhoods friends played in the streets of the barrio. They could not afford baseballs, so they found old golf balls, wound string around them over and over again and then covered the string with tape. The make-shift balls would last for two or three games before they had to be remade.  Roberto didn't get to play with real equipment until he entered high school” (Teehan 5). Although Roberto did not have an ideal environment to hone his craft, he dedicated himself into being the greatest athlete he could possibly be. His passion and drive for his love of baseball forced him to create makeshift situations so he could follow his dream. While fighting the poverty around him, Roberto’s dedication helped take him to the major leagues and marks one of his heroic traits of never ending commitment, a value that many look up to and respect. His work ethic and obsession created a man who would not stop at anything to achieve his aspirations. In addition to poverty, Roberto Clemente fought against prejudice and always represented an icon for the misrepresented population in American sports. Since he placed himself in the upper echelon of athletes, he used his position to voice his opinion on stereotypes against people of different races: “Clemente was outspoken about his perceptions of prejudice toward Hispanic players. ‘Latin American Negro ballplayers are treated today much like all Negroes were treated in baseball in the early days of the broken color barrier, ...they are subjected to prejudices and stamped with generalizations’” (Gale 13).  Clemente was on a mission to prove to the world that Hispanic athletes could be just as successful in a profession dominated by Americans. He broke the color barrier for black Hispanics and used his status as an elite athlete to represent Hispanic equality.  The adversity Roberto faced often was an obstacle in his rise to stardom, but his egalitarian beliefs shined through when subjected to crude conjectures regarding his ethnicity. However, he fought through the prejudices cast upon him as a person of Hispanic descent and showed his critics that he can perform at the highest level, inspiring millions of young athletes. Clemente’s ability to fight through both a poverty stricken childhood and close minded prejudice demonstrates his dedication to his dream and emphasizes his heroism involved with inspiring many.

Giving back to his community painted Clemente as an altruistic and selfless role model and accentuated the heroic qualities he possesses. After an earthquake devastated the town of Managua, Nicaragua, Clemente decided to hand deliver supplies to the impoverished city, attempting to help the lives of thousands of people: “Clemente got busy organizing a committee to raise money and get other items, such as medicine and food, that could be sent to Nicaragua. Through Christmas, he worked on the relief efforts. He finally decided he would go on one of the cargo planes that were flying the supplies to the stricken area” (Thornley 168). He gave back to the community and culture who raised him and decided to forego an operation to bring supplies to a poorer country using the wealth he has earned from his hard work and dedication. Instead of celebrating over the holidays, Clementes decision to aid the Nicaraguans reflects his internal characteristics and philanthropic mindset, exhibiting his heroic personality and altruistic will to help people suffering through hardship. Clemente also made substantial efforts to create a better environment in Puerto Rico, a developing country at the time: “Clemente long had dreamed about developing a youth camp in his native Puerto Rico… Cuidad Deportiva Roberto Clemente was built on 304 acres of marshland donated by the Puerto Rican government…. This camp is in keeping with Clemente's vision of a place where young people can follow their dreams” (Gale 21). Clemente’s clear philanthropic mindset is typified through his actions of creating a positive environment for the struggling youth in his homeland. His patriotism to his country is admirable, but not as much as his love and passion for other people, which exudes heroism. His legacy lives through the spirit of these children, and he has made a clear impact on millions of lives. Clemente’s selfless disposition and altruistic mindset has influenced many and impacted the whole world; the sacrifices he has made show beyond a doubt that he is a deserving hero.

Roberto Clemente’s dedication and selflessness allows him to represent a larger than life role model for millions around the world that look up to his characteristics. By remaining true to his roots and always following his moral code of altruism and perseverance, Clemente gained heroic status with unwavering support. His fight through hardship and discrimination inspired and touched the hearts of many, and helped those struggling with poverty by giving them a dream to chase. I hold Clemente in the highest regard because as a foreign baseball player, I feel his values resound with my internal struggles and he has inspired me to strive to be the best athlete that I can be. Without people like Clemente breaking the color barrier in professional sports, I would have never developed the passion for the sport that I love. I yearn to be as hardworking and dedicated that he was; I want to make a difference with my work ethic and perseverance. This is why Roberto Clemente is widely known as a hero. His passion, dedication, selflessness, work ethic, and belief in equality make him a true hero. He has made a mark on humanity, and his legacy will always carry connotations of inspiration and relentless determination. It appears the search for a hero has ended; I have found mine in Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker.

Works Cited

"Roberto Clemente." Encyclopedia of World Biography, vol. 19, Gale, 1999. Biography Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631007230/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=4a48d5ac. Accessed 15 Apr. 2018.

Teehan, Kay. “Roberto Is Discovered.” AwesomeStories.com, 13 May 2016, www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Roberto-is-Discovered-Roberto-Clemente-A-Hero-Beyond-the-Baseball-Diamond.

Thornley, Stew. “Roberto Clemente.” Roberto Clemente , sabr.org/bioproj/person/8b153bc4.