Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America

“[O]ur parents taught us not to worship these honors. They said we should measure our lives by the impact we had on other people’s lives […] I hope that through my father’s example you will understand why making a promise and keeping it is so important.”

Sharon explains the goal of her biography. She wants to show young readers that Jackie’s impact on other people takes precedence over his baseball accomplishments. By reading about Jackie’s selfless commitment to change, she hopes that her audience will make a similar “promise.”

“As freedmen and women, some former slaves attended school for the first time, farmed in a system called sharecropping, voted, and held local, state, and federal offices. But the new freedoms granted to African Americans were unacceptable to many southern whites who were used to being in control.”

The theme of Change Through Persistence applies to the general history of race in America: Black people constantly experienced small gains and significant setbacks. After the Civil War, Black people acquired “new freedoms,” yet the white people in the South impeded their progress.

“1870[:] The Fifteenth Amendment grants all adult male citizens the right to vote.”

Sharon uses graphics to organize the information and make it easier for readers to process it. Typically, the graphics contain concise, pointed diction that leads to further questions. In this case, the graphic states that the 15th Amendment gave American men the right to vote, which raises questions about women’s right to vote.

“Signs on public facilities often read COLORED and WHITE in an effort to keep one race from coming in contact with the other. Segregation was part of everyday life almost everywhere, especially in the South.”

Images complement the text. In addition to reading about the signs, readers see two pictures of them, creating a striking visual. The phrase “everyday life” indicates the normalization of racism after slavery.

“The black families who fled the South during this period hoped to find a better life and escape Jim Crow life. However, they soon discovered that Jim Crow traveled, too.”

The movement of Black families thematically links to change through persistence. The families weren’t content to tolerate racist norms. The phrase “Jim Crow traveled, too” is figurative. This racist caricature didn’t literally follow the Black families to their new homes, but the racist norms that he represented trailed them.

“Mallie got a light-skinned niece, who could pass for white, to purchase the Pepper Street house for them.”

This passage, describing how Mallie used her niece, alludes to colorism and passing. Colorism is a prejudiced hierarchy in which “light-skinned” Black people get preferable treatment due to their proximity to whiteness. Some light-skinned Black people, like Mallie’s niece, can “pass” or look like a white person. Mallie exploited the concept for her family’s benefit.

“But the victory party didn’t last. The next morning, America woke up still separate and unequal.”

Sharon confronts the limits of sports and its symbolic impact. White and Black Americans celebrated Joe Louis’s defeat of Max Schmeling, but the joy quickly vanished, and the racism returned.

“One newspaper called my father the greatest base runner ever to play on a junior college baseball team. That same newspaper named Dad athlete of the year. His exploits on the football field added to the legend.”

The hyperbolic diction here emphasizes Jackie’s extraordinary athletic accomplishments. The sweeping, unmitigated language notes that he was a “legend” and “the greatest,” leaving no doubt about his skills.

“But perhaps the most significant thing to happen to Dad that year was meeting Rachel Annetta Isum…my mom.”

Sharon juxtaposes her father’s athletic accomplishments at UCLA with him meeting her mother, and the contrast highlights the importance of personal relationships. Finding love and a life partner was more important than what Jackie did in college sports.

“Although my dad knew that the black press, some liberal sportswriters, and a few politicians were fighting for an end to Jim Crow baseball, he had little faith that it would happen in his lifetime. Little did Dad know that change was close…or that he was the prime candidate to break down the racial barrier.”

Segregated baseball tested Jackie’s persistence, and Sharon implies that he didn’t think MLB would include Black people anytime soon. In addition, the quote builds suspense, setting the stage for Jackie to combat racism in the major leagues.

“Could post-World War II teams afford to rebuild and be successful without including the enormous talent pool that existed within the Negro Leagues? Could the business of baseball grow when it was being accused of racism?”

These questions allude to The Tension Between Activism and Capitalism. Rickey realized that success was inseparable from business. A winning team had a better chance of drawing fans who would pay to see the team flourish. By tapping into the Negro Leagues’ “enormous talent pool,” MLB teams improved. Thus, desegregating baseball and profitability entwined.

“There were two basic reasons why Branch Rickey wanted to break baseball’s color line. First, he deeply believed in equality and thought it was unfair to keep black ballplayers out of the major leagues. Second, he wanted to build the strongest team that would win games and excite the fans. Rickey knew that the talent pool in the Negro Leagues was too tempting for a smart businessman to ignore.”

Sharon applies activism and capitalism to Rickey. The Dodgers’ president and general manager wanted to promote “equality.” At the same time, he was a “smart businessman,” so he was aware that Black players could help his teams win and make money. Sharon omits the fact that Rickey didn’t compensate the Monarchs for taking Jackie. By not paying the Negro League team, Rickey furthered unfair racial dynamics, which made him come across as an underhanded businessperson.

“[B]efore Rickey set up a face-to-face meeting, he called out to California to speak with people who knew my dad.”

The way that Rickey gathered information about Jackie made Rickey look like a spy. At the same time, the intense collection of information spotlights the pressure of the position; it’s as if Rickey were picking someone to turn into a superhero.

“According to newspapers, magazines, books, and movies, Branch Rickey and my dad eyed each other cautiously during the warm-up discussion.”

Rickey and Jackie’s cautious behavior indicated that neither was naive about what was happening. Other issues were involved aside from combating racism. Additionally, the mention of media sources reminds readers that Sharon isn’t giving a firsthand account. For most of Jackie’s playing career, Sharon was either not yet born or quite young. Like other biographers, she must rely on external sources.

“Rickey jumped into a monologue where he quickly shifted roles from that of a racist fan to a spiteful teammate. He taunted my dad with angry, mean insults.”

Through imagery, Sharon creates an antagonistic atmosphere. To test Jackie’s resolve, Rickey morphed into a racist fan and then a bigoted teammate. He wanted to prepare Jackie. Vivid diction helps immerse readers in the contentious scene.

“Rickey made it clear to my father that the first three years would be critical. For the sake of racial equality, he’d have to adopt a nonviolent approach to change. My father agreed.”

Rickey’s demand about how Jackie dealt with prejudice connects him to The Different Methods to Combat Racism. Rickey didn’t just want Jackie to be “nonviolent”; he didn’t want Jackie to react at all. By ignoring the virulent bigotry, Jackie realized that silence helped promote “racial equality.”

“‘The Noble Experiment’ began.”

Chapter 6 ends with a cliffhanger, creating intrigue to drive readers’ curiosity to continue to the next chapter and learn what happened when Jackie signed on with the Dodgers. The diction suggests that the primary motivation was racial progress, so it was “noble.” At the same time, the word “experiment” dehumanizes Jackie, turning him into a guinea pig or lab rat.

“Branch Rickey had broken his own rule about not having wives at spring training and had invited my mother to join Dad.”

Rickey revealed compassion by letting Rachel stay with Jackie during spring training. Her presence underscores the importance of personal relationships: Rachel helped Jackie adjust to his new environment. Sharon includes pictures of their letters to show her parents’ closeness.

“My father joined black pitcher Johnny Wright and 200 white players for the Royals’ practice.”

The appearance of Wright is an unexplained twist. Rickey signed the Black pitcher so that Jackie wouldn’t be the only Black player during this first spring training. Hypothetically, Wright, not Jackie, could have been the first Black player in MLB.

“Threatening letters were mailed to our home—but so were baskets of fan mail!”

Between two images of death threats, Sharon includes the above quote in a caption. The threats show the lack of boundaries between Jackie’s professional life and home life. At the same time, Jackie amassed many fans, and they sent their support directly to his home.

“As the two teammates stood talking, the fans got the message. They stopped heckling and settled down to watch the game.”

Pee Wee Reese contributed to the different methods of combating racism. His physical embrace of Jackie quieted the racist fans. He didn’t use words but actions, creating a model for the fans to follow.

“When I arrived on January 13, 1950, she and Dad were thrilled. My timing was impeccable. It was off-season for baseball and just before Dad had to go to Los Angeles for the filming of the motion picture The Jackie Robinson Story.”

Sharon places herself within Jackie’s history, using her birth as a way to trace Jackie’s career. As the “motion picture” reveals, Jackie materially benefited from playing with the Dodgers.

“Without letting on that he intended to retire rather than accept the trade, Dad’s agent made a deal with Look magazine. They got the exclusive rights to print my father’s retirement story.”

The trade between the Dodgers and the Giants reveals that baseball is exploitative in other aspects besides race. However, Jackie outmaneuvered the Dodgers, figuring out a way to end his career with them and make money from his retirement announcement.