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February 21, 2007
Fortiani» OfWnwr Black History Month
Page A7
B lack H istory M onth
Jackie Robinson Breaks Color Barrier
— --------------------------------- ----------------
J une P otter A costa
F or the P ortland O bserver
by
Jackie Robinson was a man of
courage and forbearance, of great
ath letic talen t, and academ ic
achievements, too. He will forever
be known as the man who inte­
grated baseball and thereby the
entire spectrum o f professional
sports in the U.S.A.
He was bom in Cairo, Ga., on Jan.
31, 1919. Early in his childhood,
following abandonment by his fa­
ther, he and his siblings were taken
by their mother to live in Southern
California.
Robinson showed a broad vari­
ety of athletic skills. He achieved
early greatness at Pasadena City
College and then U.C.L.A. In his
junior year, he withdrew from the
university to join the military (still,
at that time, segregated) and was
honorably discharged as a First
Lieutenant from the U.S. Army in
Branch Rickey helps make it possible
abuse and intimi­
dation. He would
be harassed threat­
ened and generally
vilified - not only
by the fans in the
stands, but by his
teammates as well.
A bove
all,
Robinson knew he
must remain silent
Branch Rickey
and ig n o re the
sion to the financial benefit of all tauntsand insults. Rickey's instruc­
loomed ahead.
tions were simple and direct: "Just
Rickey signed Robinson to play play ball”.
for the Montreal Royals, a minor
Robinson spent almost 10 years
league team which was part of the with the Dodgers, until 1956, mostly
Dodger farm team system. After as a second baseman, achieving an
one season with the Royals, Rickey excellent scoring record. He was
moved Robinson to the Dodgers in also known as a daring base runner.
April 1947.
Eventually, he was totally ac­
Like a good and caring father, cepted by his teammates, impressed
Rickey cautioned Robinson that by his stats. Fans, too, were slowly
the transition would not be easy. learning to appreciate his talent.
He would be exposed to verbal
Near the end of his playing days.
he was traded to the Giants. It was
a disappointment and a hurt. Later,
in his autobiography, he confessed
his belief that if he had been white,
there would have been no trade,
and he would have retired as a
Dodger. Rickey would have never
allowed the trade, but was not longer
part of the ball club.
Robinson went on to business
success, serving as an executive
with a New York City restaurant
chain. In 1962,hew aselectedtothe
Baseball Hall of Fame, again, the
first black player, and on the first
vote after eligibility.
Politically, he was Republican,
and served as a special assistant
for Civil Rights with Gov. Nelson
Rockefellerof New York.
Robinson ’ s legacy is i mmeasur-
able. His influence has been and
re m a in s fa r-re a c h in g . Jack ie
Robinson was truly a great Ameri­
can!
Rickey was an idealist
who foresaw the integra­
tion o f Major League
Baseball as the right and
moral way to go.
California and known as the Los
Angeles Dodgers).
Rickey was an idealist who fore­
Jackie Robinson
saw the integration of Major League
1945 at the end o f World War 11.
Baseball as the right and moral way
Almost immediately, he signed a to go. From the perspective of a
contract with the Monarchs, a Kan­ business man, intuitive and vision­
sas City, Mo. team of the Negro ary, he also recognized that segre­
American League. That same year, gating black players to a black
fortuitously, he came under the league put a lid on fan support to
tutelage of Branch Rickey, man­ the black community.
ager of the Brooklyn Dodgers (later,
Television hasjust emerged. The
in 1958, to be moved to Southern logical joining of sports and televi-
Standing on M y S isters’ Shoulders — An award-winning documentary
that looks at the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi from the point of
view of African-American women, Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the
Bread and Roses Center, 819 N. Killingsworth St. Hosted by Radical
Women. Dinner with a vegetarian option available at 6 pm for a sliding
scale donation. For more information, rides or childcare, call 503-240-
4462.
Smoke around
your children
and they could
inhale equal to
103 packs of
cigarettes
by age 5.
Black Panthers Photo Exhibit - Reflections and Talking Drum Coffee
and Books, 446 N.E. Killingsworth St., presents Portland native Eve
( rane s Black Panthers photo exhibit chronic ling the movement through
1967 and 1968. This visually impacting exhibit will be on display through­
out the month of February.
Black History
Month Attractions
Facets o f A frica - The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N.
Interstate Ave., presents a host of celebrations for Black History' month
including: vibrant storytelling of African culture, the stunning images of
‘Tribal W omen’ and colorful paintings of Maasai warriors.
Film s at Mt. Hood — Mt. Hood Community College features the history
of African Americans in a free public film series. Malcolm X plays on
Wednesday, Feb. 21 and The Rosa Parks Story shows on Wednesday,
Feb. 28. Each of these films begins at 6:30 p.m. in Room A CI6M .
r Cascade
r r r F r estival
r m ofl
*
African Films
m i 11 ■ u
Africa through African lenses"
C ascade Festival o f African Films - A litany
of hope, clashes and love are found in the
films at Portland Community College's 17th
Annual Cascade Festival of African Films.
Showings are scheduled at various locations
through March 3 honoring Black History and
W omen's History. For more information, visit
the festival websiteafricanfllmfestival.org.
Racial Justice A c t iv is t - Jesus Estrada, local activist, “Coalition Build­
ing for Racial Justice,” will speak from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. in Multimedia
Classroom building. Room 6at Washington State Uni versity-Vancouver.
L ife ,
C u ltu r e
th rou gh M u sic —
Nordstom’s presents
p h o to s
by
Kamoinge, a New
York-based group of
photographers, at its
Lloyd Center store
th ro u g h o u t
the
month to celebrate
Black History Month. The exhibit illustrates black life and culture
through music over the past 40 years.
D iversity E xpert — Jamie W ashington is a nation­
ally known speaker, consultant, and a diversity
leadershiptrainerwill leada workshoptitled "We’re
all in I his Together: Coalition Building across
Difference" on W ednesday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. in
Smith Hall in Albany Q uadrangle at Lewis and
ClarkCollege.
.
T h ou gh t P rovok in g S ch o la r - On M onday, Feb.
Everyone has the right
to breathe clean air,
especially our children.
TOBACCO
AND EDUCATION
PROGRAM
A f pi can - A medican
Tobacco P reven t ion
&■ E d u catio n N e tw o rk
L ife W orks
N
26 at 7 p.m.. African A merican activist and thought
provoking scholar Kwamc Anthony Appiah will
give a talk titled "C osm opolitanism " in Agnes
Flanagan Chapel at Lewis and Clark College.
Paid for by the Oregon Department of Human Services
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