MovieChat Forums > 42 (2013) Discussion > Jackie Robinson the Hero?

Jackie Robinson the Hero?

posted 12 years ago by animegirl24
8 replies | jump to latest

As much as I did enjoy this movie to an extent, though I must admit that I was also making a birthday cake in the kitchen while my friend and her family were watching right in front of me there was one thing I noticed. Jackie Robinson was the hero? Yes because this was a major push through the Civil Rights era, of course, Jackie would have gone through MAJOR discrimination! However the real hero of this movie and history itself was the man who believed him enough to hire him in the first place! Had it not been for him and the major crap he had to go through and was willing to stick through it, Jackie RObinson would most likely not have been given this chance to change things. Just something I'd like to put out there.

[–] joekiddlouischama 12 years ago

Did you not notice that 42 portrayed Branch Rickey as a virtual saint?

Regardless, I do think that the real hero is the man who actually suffered that abuse and thrived in spite of it. Playing major league baseball is difficult enough; playing it on an elite level while being hounded, ostracized, or isolated simply because of your skin color is amazing. Players don't want to be distracted, yet Robinson flourished despite being the center of a hurricane.

[–] animegirl24 12 years ago

As much as I agree with you, and I do apologize, but I didn't also mention I was baking in the kitchen while the movie was playing not to mention it was also over a month ago so I apologize now if my comment seemed off. And yes I do agree that Jackie Robinson faced the abuse and thrived from it and that's why he was seen as a hero, however Branch Rickey also faced quite a bit of abuse that was mentioned in the movie however we also do not know how much more he faced just from the movie. Jackie Robinson's employment was risking not only his career but the careers of everyone on the team! And again had Branch Rickey not employed Jackie we might not have such a story to even create into a movie.

[–] Prismark10 11 years ago

The film is as much about Branch Rickey as well as Robinson!

Its that man again!!

[–] fnj2002 11 years ago

Jackie is the fundamental hero. Branch Ricky tagged onto that heroism. He comported himself well, but Jackie was the spark plug.

Branch gives an eloquent explanation of this to Jackie. Jackie wants to know "why". Branch says, in essence, because Jackie gave him the opportunity to take actions which allowed him to once again be proud to be in love with baseball.

[–] Hlewis-592-972455 11 years ago

How about Larry Doby, who debuted 2 and 1/2 months after Jackie did in the American League, he had the same abuse yet none of the recognition. Few people know his name, he's the Buzz Aldrin of MLB

[–] bbb984 11 years ago

Wow - I knew Doby was the first in the AL, but I always assumed it was the next year or maybe even '49.

[–] Doc80 11 years ago

You said it right in your own response. He is the Buzz Aldrin of this story. When this movie was coming out, someone was asking when their would be a movie about Larry Doby and I asked him what Buzz Aldrin said when he stepped foot on the moon. No one really knows the answer to that question because honestly, no one cares what he said because he wasn't the first. It may be unfair but that's the way history works. If you aren't the first to do something, you are quickly forgotten.

[–] Alfriend 11 years ago

Doby was a great man and player. I think his lack of recognition may have been just because he was second and also because Larry was by nature a quiet man who just went out and did his job.
Jackie was in the parlance of the times a serious race man who was also a spectacular player. Jackie not only broke the color line but he brought an excitement to baseball that hadn't been seen since the days of Cobb and Wagner. Jackie just getting on base with a walk could mean a run scored wbich he did a number of times all on his own.
Also perhaps being in Cleveland as opposed to NYC could have made a difference in terms of national coverage. It is interesting too that while the Dodgers in effect became America's team so to speak and the team for African Americans the same could not be said of the Cleveland Indians.
Doby was a steady, talented quietly heroic player who should have and should be recognized for being the second man to break the color line and the first in the American League.