Jackie Robinson walked onto the diamond on April 15, 1947, as first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making history as the first African American to integrate Major League Baseball in the twentieth century. Today a national icon, Robinson was a complicated man who navigated an even more complicated world that both celebrated and despised him. This collection of essays explores Robinson's perspectives and legacies on civil rights, sports, faith, youth, and nonviolence, while providing rare glimpses into the struggles and strength of one of the nation's most athletically gifted and politically significant citizens. -- adapted from jacket

""42 Today" is an exploration of Jackie Robinson and his legacy."-- Provided by publisher.

Washington mews books

Foreword : Taking Jackie Robinson seriously / Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon

Introduction : That day / Michael G. Long

Foundations. The owner / Howard Bryant ; A Methodist life / Randal Maurice Jelks

Baseball. Jackie Robinson ball / George Vecsey ; Telling it the right way / Jonathan Eig ; A champion of nonviolence? / Mark Kurlansky ; The white media missed it / Chris Lamb ; On retiring 42 / David Naze

Civil rights and politics. Before the world failed him / Sridhar Pappu ; The dilemma of the Black Republican / Gerald Early ; "I've got to be me" : Robinson and the long Black freedom struggle / Yohuru Williams

The wide world of sports. The first famous jock for justice / Peter Dreier ; Supporting Black women athletes / Amira Rose Davis ; The challenges of a gay Jackie Robinson / Adam Amel Rogers

Afterword : The legacy of perfection / Kevin Merida.

Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972 > Influence.

Discrimination in sports > United States > History > 20th century.

African American baseball players > Biography.

United States > Race relations > History > 20th century.

Biographies.

History.

Biographies.

collective biographies.

Project Muse. distributor