Jackie Robinson’s story is not only a compelling drama of heroism; but also as a template of the African American freedom struggle. A towering athletic talent; Robinson’s greater impact was on preparing the way for the civil rights reform wave following WWII. But Robinson’s story has always been far more complex than the public perception has allowed. Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey famously told the young Robinson that he was “looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back.†J. Christopher Schutz reveals the real Robinson; as a more defiant; combative spirit than simply the “turn the other cheek†compliant “credit to his race.†The triumph of Robinson’s inclusion in the white Major Leagues (which presaged blacks’ later inclusion in the broader society) also included the slow demise of black-owned commercial enterprise in the Negro Leagues (which likewise presaged the unrecoverable loss of other important black institutions after civil rights gains). Examining this key figure at the crossroads of baseball and civil rights histories; Schutz provides a cohesive exploration of the man and the times that made him great.
#1144800 in Books Rowman Littlefield Publishers 2012-08-22 2012-08-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.95 x .76 x 6.11l; .80 #File Name: 1442203587232 pages
Review
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. mixed bagBy laolaohuThis book is really a mixed bag; in more ways than one. For instance; although it ostensibly covers all of North America; it primarily focuses on just two areas: Salem; Massachusetts; and Abiquiu; New Mexico. Then; in an often rambling introduction; (which in fact accounts for almost half of the book); she does a less than convincing job of pulling these various outbreaks together and finding any common ground to explain them. About the closest she comes is to write them off to the pressures of opposing interests living in forced proximity; and being guided by fear and anger. But doesn't that also apply to thousands of other communities where there were no witchcraft outbreaks? I would think an explanation would have to go much deeper than that.But the heart of the book; the part worth reading; is in the second half; where she presents excerpts from a variety of primary sources; including statutes; court testimony; and descriptions of events written at or near the time the events actually took place. This may not be everyone's cup of tea; but I always find such reading to be fascinating. This is where we can see the issues as they actually appeared to the people living through them; and come to our own conclusions. (Although even here the author mars the text somewhat by introducing a series of annoying study questions before each excerpt; as if we were middle school students needing her expert guidance rather than adults who can reason for ourselves. Perhaps it's just me; but I found this to be unnecessarily condescending).Overall; I rate this four stars because of the excerpts themselves. They are quite balanced and very informative. In fact; they so piqued my interest in the Abiquiu outbreak; that they led me to order a book solely devoted to that topic alone.
