Jackie RobinsonÂs story is not only a compelling drama of heroism, but also as a template of the African American freedom struggle. A towering athletic talent, RobinsonÂs greater impact was on preparing the way for the civil rights reform wave following WWII. But RobinsonÂs story has always been far more complex than the public perception has allowed. Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey famously told the young Robinson that he was Âlooking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back. J. Christopher Schutz reveals the real Robinson, as a more defiant, combative spirit than simply the Âturn the other cheek compliant Âcredit to his race. The triumph of RobinsonÂs inclusion in the white Major Leagues (which presaged blacks later inclusion in the broader society) also included the slow demise of black-owned commercial enterprise in the Negro Leagues (which likewise presaged the unrecoverable loss of other important black institutions after civil rights gains). Examining this key figure at the crossroads of baseball and civil rights histories, Schutz provides a cohesive exploration of the man and the times that made him great.
Jackie RobinsonÂs story is not only a compelling drama of heroism, but also as a template of the African American freedom struggle. A towering athletic talent, RobinsonÂs greater impact was on preparing the way for the civil rights reform wave following WWII. But RobinsonÂs story has always been ...