Weekly Photo Challenge: Change “42”
I was looking at my pictures for inspiration to this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge: Change. http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/weekly-photo-challenge-change/ When I saw a photo of Jackie Robinson, I said Yes! what better picture for me to represent Change than Jackie Robinson
This picture where Jackie Robinson is agreeing to the terms of then Brooklyn Dodgers president and general Manager Branch Rickey signifies not only a change in Baseball but a change in America.
Branch Rickey had a long conversation with Jackie wanting to know if he would be able to take the racial abuse he was sure to be subjected to without fighting back. “Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?” Jackie asked. Rickey replied that he was looking for someone “with guts enough not to fight back.” Jackie agreed and Rickey signed him to a contract for $600 a month.
“There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.” -Jackie Robinson
After his baseball career ended Robinson continued to work as a civil rights activist working tirelessly for equality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that Jackie was “a legend and a symbol in his own time”, and that he “challenged the dark skies of intolerance and frustration.” (Dr. King was still a college student when Jackie took the field on April 15, 1947).
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” -Jackie Robinson
I’m looking forward to seeing the movie on Tuesday.
Brian, for me it was too short.
He was truly both a great man and the right man for the very difficult job of blazing that trail – a great ballplayer, a gentleman, just the right kind of tough and a statesman for the game. I haven’t gotten to see the movie yet, but I’m so excited to see it I hope we get the opportunity soon.
— Kristen
A once in a life time person to initiate change! The kids will watch this movie too, as they never knew what hardships he went through.
-Mike
Brian, So did you see the movie?
.
Kristen,
He sure was. Our teams had a hard time last night.
.
Mike,
Oh good! Have the kids read “In the year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson”?