Robinson was so soft-spoken and docile in this film that he seems almost rediculous. Yes, I know this movie arrived in 1950, when many big-league squads still refused to integrate, and when Robinson and the few other black players still endured bitter racial abuse and segregated facilities.
Still, was Robinson ordered by his team or baseball to be extra-soft in this movie?
If you knew your history or grew up in that era you would know that black people could not speak their mind or protest the injustices that was done to them if they wanted to try to succeed in white baseball at that time. I would suggest you watch the documentary "Eyes on the Prize".
shareBy some point in the early 1950's Jackie Robinson was speaking out and far from docile, as described in Roger Kahn's books and by other sportswriters like Red Smith. Also, by 1950 he was well-established, having won the MVP in 1949. And other black ballplayers from the later 1940's like Larry Doby, Luke Easter, Don Newcombe, and Satchel Paige were not regarded as particularly docile. But perhaps Robinson chose to, or was ordered to "over-do" the docility for public relations or other reasons.
Guess I know history far better than you stupidly mis-assumed. And you still didn't answer the question.
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Rickey told Robinson he had to be absolutely quiet for his first two seasons, regardless of what anybody said or did to him. He knew if Robinson got into controversies on or off the field it could derail the whole project.
In 1949, Rickey agreed with Robinson had been quiet long enough and gave him permission to speak out, which he did. At that time he got a reputation for being "mouthy." By that team he was MVP of the league and there wasn't any doubt he was more than good enough to play.
The movie mainly concentrates on his first two seasons when he was keeping quiet.
Thanks, Jaystarstar.
I just read a book confirming what you wrote, that Jackie agreed to complete docility for two years - then at the start of his 3rd season in 1949, he announced no more soft-soap.
What if at the start in 1947 he'd copied Mahatma Gandhi - always respectful and non-threatening, but never docile?
Robinson was recruited not only for his formidable athletic talent but for his character. Branch Rickey needed someone who could play at a high level for a long period of time while simultaneously being subjected to intense public abuse. It is this rare combination of qualities which got Rickey's scouts' attention in May 1945, when they watched 26-year-old Robinson play shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs.
That's not to say he was always docile. Shortly after he enlisted in the army, he openly criticized the way blacks were treated, especially concerning seating arrangements on buses. For this he was court martialed! Luckily he was acquitted, receiving an honorable discharge in 1944.
Somewhat ironically, it was this act of "insouciance" that would lead ultimately to his selection as an agreeable team player in the majors. Below the surface, however, Robinson was still very much an activist, because his challenge was to disprove the widespread racist notion that blacks couldn't hack it in major leagues.
Docile? Hardly. Just adept at squelching fear, anger and a sense of social isolation. He kept his eyes on the prize and, in the end, triumphed over hate.
"That's not to say he was always docile. Shortly after he enlisted in the army, he openly criticized the way blacks were treated, especially concerning seating arrangements on buses. For this he was court martialed! Luckily he was acquitted, receiving an honorable discharge in 1944."
He was arrested for refusing to move to the back of an army bus. I've read that when he was arrested, one of the MPs showed him his cell and said, "in there, n*****." Robinson stared him down and told him if he ever called him that again, he would break him in two.
Jackie Robinson was a good man. The movie was accurate.
shareIf anything, the movie played down certain aspects that could never have been shown in 1950. The actual racism of the time was far more graphic than what was actually portrayed.
Some minor inaccuracies that were intentional - for example, the petition against Jackie in the Dodger clubhouse just before the 1947 season was shown as being instigated by an Italian when in fact it was started by Dixie Walker, a southerner.
That's interesting. I looked that up and read about it. His starting that petition seemed to have hurt him professionally in the long run and shamed the family in the future. He regretted it, but once something is done, well....
shareDixie Walker. What a fitting name.
shareYeah, it's a major scene in the movie. The scene where Branch Rickey hires Jackie. It's a long scene and I don't see how you could have missed it. He tells Jackie that no matter what racial abuse he gets, he has to do absolutely nothing and Jackie agrees to do nothing for two years. This is a dumb question for anyone who saw the movie.
George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.