Ken Burn's Jackie Robinson on PBS

Sneakylong

Anyone else see the PBS documentary by Ken Burns on Jackie Robinson? It was shown in two parts on Monday and Tuesday. I thought it was great. Really showed more of the whole man rather than just the myth. What I got out of it was although in many instances we've come a long way with racial inequality, we still have a long ways to go.

The indignities Robinson went through were horrific and only highlighted the indignities and discrimination his race had endured for decades. He did as much for his race as anyone and was an early pioneer in the civil rights battle.

I recommend seeing it if you missed it. I'm sure it will be re-broadcast several times.

FauxAmish

I got to see the PBS special, both episodes.

Another great Ken Burns documentary.

I got to meet Jackie Robinson, along with Ted Williams, Bob Feller, and Carl Erskine back in I think 1963.

I remember that Jackie was very personable, especially to us kids.

Sneakylong

FauxAmish

Cool story to have met him. The closest I ever got to Ted Williams was an autographed baseball from the 1957 Red Sox. Unfortunately it was stolen in a burglary in 1991. The documentary reminded me that Jackie Robinson was 28 when he was called up to the Dodgers.

Although a relatively short career in baseball retiring after 10 hall of fame years, he left a huge imprint that is still honored today as on April 15th every year all major league players wear number 42.

I believe it was Howard Cosell that said Jackie Robinson was his favorite sports person he ever met and interviewed. Also, the documentary reminded me that my team the Red Sox were the last to have a black player (Pumpsie Green) on the team in 1959.

Oldprof

I watched it both nights and enjoyed it very much. Ken Burns has done a masterful job of documenting Jackie Robinson's life and times. Although I grew up as a white kid in the segregated South of the 1950s I always felt the virulent racism and discrimination against Black people was unjust. For one thing, it was totally incompatible with the teachings of Jesus Christ that I was exposed to each Sunday at church services. Ken Burn's treatment of this unfortunate history seemed spot on to me. Jackie Robinson was a man of great ability, dignity, and intelligence. I admire what he was able to accomplish in his all too short life.

mainuh

When I was a kid, @ 12 years old, I caddie at Yale Golf Course.
The caddy master called my name one morning and I walked from the
shack to pick up my bags ( I carried dbl. bags /more $ ).
The caddy master pulled me aside before I met my loop and told me that the
Black gentleman in my pair was Jackie Robinson.
His advice was basically the caddy credo -" keep up, shut up and remember you
represent our course. "

It was an uneventful loop, he played well as I recall and no, I did not ask for an autograph.

rob