Jackie Robinson
Some of you know I'm a baseball fan. As an activist and leftist it's sometimes difficult to do. Baseball can be soooo gauche at times. I am turned off by the greed, the lowest common denominator mentality of fans and payers alike, and the consumerism and commercialism extending down onto the field. Every time one of the announcers pitches the new Nissan Armada I feel disappointed. Baseball isn't as bad as football in it's war and violence metaphors, but it sure has them. The emphasis on competition rather than teamwork that others place on the game is just not appealing to me.
But yesterday was different. There are times when baseball transcends the bottom feeding and occasional ugliness. That is the legacy of Jackie Robinson.
Jackie being in baseball and succeeding was the result of progressive thinking by one with power and the grace and inner strength of one who allowed himself to be a target and--just as difficult--an example. As Howard Zinn puts it, "People are practical, they want change but feel powerless, alone, do not want to be the blade of grass that sticks up above the others and is cut down. They wait for a sign, from someone else who will make the first move, or the second. And there are intrepid people who, at certain times in history, take the risk, that if they make that first move others will follow quickly enough to prevent their being cut down." Jackie was that blade of grass sticking up. It was not necessarily his decision, but he stood tall. Branch Rickey was that blade of grass. Soon after came Larry Doby in the American League and that list soon grew long. Jackie was not cut down.
I watched the ceremonies yesterday at Dodger Stadium often in tears as I saw how great baseball could be...how great America can be. It is a lonely life to have great hopes that never are fulfilled and on the rare occasions when something like this happens it moves you to the core. Rachel Robinson must be in her 80s yet is so attractive and personable. She's so direct in her speech telling millions of Americans that yes, we have come far, but there is much work to do to gain equality for all. Seeing those players who took it upon themselves to pay tribute to the man who meant so much to baseball and America was touching. (I wish more white players would have chosen to wear #42)
Jackie means so much to me and I think to us. Yesterday I was proud to be a baseball fan.
But yesterday was different. There are times when baseball transcends the bottom feeding and occasional ugliness. That is the legacy of Jackie Robinson.
Jackie being in baseball and succeeding was the result of progressive thinking by one with power and the grace and inner strength of one who allowed himself to be a target and--just as difficult--an example. As Howard Zinn puts it, "People are practical, they want change but feel powerless, alone, do not want to be the blade of grass that sticks up above the others and is cut down. They wait for a sign, from someone else who will make the first move, or the second. And there are intrepid people who, at certain times in history, take the risk, that if they make that first move others will follow quickly enough to prevent their being cut down." Jackie was that blade of grass sticking up. It was not necessarily his decision, but he stood tall. Branch Rickey was that blade of grass. Soon after came Larry Doby in the American League and that list soon grew long. Jackie was not cut down.
I watched the ceremonies yesterday at Dodger Stadium often in tears as I saw how great baseball could be...how great America can be. It is a lonely life to have great hopes that never are fulfilled and on the rare occasions when something like this happens it moves you to the core. Rachel Robinson must be in her 80s yet is so attractive and personable. She's so direct in her speech telling millions of Americans that yes, we have come far, but there is much work to do to gain equality for all. Seeing those players who took it upon themselves to pay tribute to the man who meant so much to baseball and America was touching. (I wish more white players would have chosen to wear #42)
Jackie means so much to me and I think to us. Yesterday I was proud to be a baseball fan.