Jackie Robinson: An Integrated Life

Schutz, an associate professor of history at Tennessee Wesleyan College, portrays baseball legend Jackie Robinson as a “compliant warrior,” a revamped version of a man whose temperament could sometimes make him “prickly and difficult.” Those traits surfaced in his California youth in a gang and in the military, where he faced a court-martial for attacking a bigoted white officer. Robinson, determined to become a major league ball player despite segregation, joined the powerhouse Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League in 1945. His play as an infielder led Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Dickey to boldly select Robinson for the pioneering slot in the all-white major league. From the start of his time in the big show, Robinson confronted envy, jealousy, and hate from opposing players, teammates, and fans, yet he overcame it all with grit and determination. Schutz skillfully in depicting the totality of the star’s personality on and off the field, without any sugar-coating or hype. [em](May) [/em]