His grandfather, Jackie Robinson, broke baseball’s color barrier. At Binghamton, he’s eager to build on that legacy

Jackie Robinson made history as the first African American to play Major League Baseball during the modern era when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

He was an all-star player for six consecutive seasons, was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and served as a powerful voice during America's civil rights movement. In 2013, his life and career were further immortalized through Chadwick Boseman's portrayal in the film "42."

But to Busaro Robinson, he means a great deal more.

He's the grandfather whose powerful example inspired him to make a difference in the world. That's what drew him to Binghamton University, where he's pursuing his business administration degree in the School of Management with concentrations in finance and management information systems. He hopes to grow his expertise in finance and bring those skills back to the community in Tanzania, where he grew up, so he can help improve living conditions and educational opportunities there.

"I've always been fascinated with how the movement of money is like its own ecosystem, and utilizing it in the right way is critical to helping businesses grow," said Robinson, who chose Binghamton because of the University's strong academic reputation. "That's why I want to learn everything I can, so I can help keep great minds in a country that could really use them."

His father, David Robinson, was born and raised in New York City, where his grandmother and a few siblings now live. In 1983, he moved to Tanzania, East Africa. Since then, he has been involved in international economic development as the managing director of the Higher Ground Development Corporation and the founder and owner of the Sweet Unity Farms coffee brand in North America.

He also taught his 11 children about their grandfather and what made him an athletic and cultural icon. In Africa, however, baseball isn't as prevalent.

Busaro, the second-youngest of 11 siblings, was the first to commit to college out of high school. At 18, he returned to New York and got his first taste of professional experience during the summer of 2023, interning with the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Established in 1973 by Busaro's grandmother, Rachel Robinson, the nonprofit administers nationwide scholarship and leadership development programs for college students of color.

Busaro Robinson, center, and his father David Robinson, right, attend an open house for Binghamton University's Department of Africana Studies in 2023. Image Credit: Jonathan Cohen.

As an intern, Busaro Robinson's primary responsibility was analyzing large amounts of data to support fundraising and scholarship programs.

"My grandfather loved Black people more than anything; it was close to his heart to see us develop and grow," he said. "What the foundation does is exactly that, by helping create a domino effect. Making sure Black kids get a chance to go through school means they're in a better position to support their own kids in the future and carry on that value of a good education."

Interning with the foundation provided his first taste of corporate life, but it wouldn't be his last. The following year, during his internship at the Bank of Montreal, he researched and developed growth initiatives within wealth management.

No matter how driven Busaro Robinson has been to broaden his skill set, he's never lost sight of the significance behind his family legacy. While some of the most traditional artifacts from Jackie Robinson's baseball career are housed in the Manhattan-based Jackie Robinson Museum, the family has held on to keepsakes of a more personal nature. Among Busaro's favorites are letters his grandfather wrote to his grandmother while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

The more Busaro Robinson has learned about his family history, the more he sees his grandfather as a kindred spirit. However, there is one aspect where they differ greatly, and it's something Busaro isn't ashamed to admit.

He's not interested in playing baseball. And yes, he knows it's ironic.

On the other hand, he's a fan of cliff jumping, SCUBA diving, drone flying, snowboarding and biking.

Jackie Robinson died in 1972, so to his 20-year-old grandson, he has primarily existed in the form of stories, articles and exhibits. In 2013, the film "42" helped bring those stories to life.

Busaro enjoyed the movie because it also reinforced why his grandfather's accomplishments remain a source of pride.

"Having it visualized in such a well-made manner made it even clearer that Jackie Robinson made an impact that went far beyond baseball," he said. "After that, I realized something else: I've got some big shoes to fill."

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