The Year of the Horse, and Jackie Robinson

            This post is a little late, but I wanted to give proper praise and recognition to Jackie Robinson. April 15 is not a national holiday, but it is a day of remembrance and a celebrated day across the United States. This is Jackie Robinson Day across all Major League ballparks. It is the day that Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball as the first African-American to play in the big leagues. The historical impact has reverberated throughout the ages, and across the spectrum of our culture. This one event in the world of sports has had an impact on everything, including our literary world.

            When I was a young boy I was given a copy of the book In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, written by Bette Bao Lord. I was a young baseball fan growing up in Los Angeles, so of course I rooted for the Dodgers. At that age though, I had not been exposed to the history of the franchise; including the monumental event of Robinson breaking the color barrier.

            In this short novel written for grade school aged children, Lord tells the story of Shirley Temple Wong who is a young Chinese girl who has immigrated to America with her family in the same year that Robinson joined the Dodgers. Shirley faces many prejudices at school because she is different and because she doesn’t speak English well. Shirley becomes a follower of Robinson and through him she finds motivation and courage to pursue happiness in the United States.

            This was my first real introduction to the Jackie Robinson tale. Imagine a young Mexican boy (who immigrated to this country at a young age) who can’t put down a book about a young Chinese girl who finds inspiration in the actions of an African-American athlete in America. Although our cultures and ethnicities may differ, there is unity in the human condition. These are elements that transcend race. That is what makes the Jackie Robinson story so meaningful. It is not a civil rights era tale, it took place many years before that. It is not merely a baseball legend, because it goes beyond that. It is America’s history.

            If this book seems too childish to read, or you’d rather engage yourself in some more age appropriate material (not sure why you would, but hey) there is Double Play written by Robert B. Parker. This is a work of historical fiction that captures the journey of the 1947 Dodgers. The novel’s protagonist is hired to protect Robinson in that historic year. It is an entertaining read that gives you some insight into the Brooklyn Dodgers’ major step in calling up Robinson.

            If you want true biographical literature than you might turn to Jackie and Campy, which was published earlier this year. This biography breaks down the rivalry and friendship that these two shared. I have not picked this one up yet, but it looks interesting because it describes the differences these two men shared when it came to how to approach civil rights.

            Of course Robinson wrote his own story, and that is always fascinating. His autobiography is entitled I Never Had it Made. Robinson famously starred as himself in a biopic filmed in 1950. The film 42 debuted in 2013 and was a celebrated success.

            On Jackie Robinson Day all MLB players wear the number 42 as a tribute to this great man who broke the color barrier. The symbolism here is profound. Every player wears a nameless jersey with the same number; a number that represents the struggle for equality. For one game, individuals step down for the greater picture. For a brief moment, egos and paychecks are not important. The games are played, hot dogs are eaten, and waves and beach balls make their way across stadiums, but taking time once a year to remember this giant step our country made is extremely important. This is the Chinese year of the Horse, and now everyone wears 42.