Publisher Description
A straightforward yet inspiring story of what it took to be the first man of color to break into the white world of professional sports. Jackie Robinson's story is more than a telling of his tremendous talent; it is also a recollection that showcases his tenacious spirit, bravery and the courage of his ideals. From the early influences of family and friends, to his time at UCLA, to the army where he challenged racism and Jim Crow laws, Jackie Robinson traces his life to playing in the black leagues, frustrated by the abuses and restrictions of second-class status in professional baseball. As Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, began to look around for a player to break the color barrier in 1946, he knew he needed a man of character who could withstand the pressures of his "Noble Experiment." Choosing Robinson gave both of them the chance to prove what they believed in. Struggles that continued in his personal life and in response to the turbulent sixties are interpreted with insight by Robinson and will give listeners an added appreciation for the amazing strength of his character.
Download and start listening now!
About Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) was a professional baseball player who became the first African American player in Major League Baseball in the modern era. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. After retiring from baseball, he was on the board of the NAACP, helped open the black-owned and -operated Freedom National Bank, built low-income housing, and was active in politics.
About Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis (1917-2005)
was an American actor, writer, and director best known for his many screen
roles and for his involvement in the civil rights movement. Among his film and
television credits are The Cardinal, Do the
Right Thing, Doctor Doolittle, and The
L Word. He was a featured speaker at the funerals of Martin Luther King and
Malcolm X, and was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. In 1995,
both he and his wife Ruby Dee received the National Medal of Arts—the highest
honor given to an artist by the United States Government.