Jackie Robinson Interview
Q. What happened in the famous meeting between you, the famous Jackie Robinson, and Branch Rickey?
A. For three hours Rickey told me what I was going to face. He challenged me with racial epithets. After a long while, which I had to hold my hands behind my back because I was so angry, it became apparent to me. Branch Rickey wants someone who have the guts not to fight back.
Q. What was it like breaking the color-barrier?
A. Breaking the color-barrier was difficult. I was often shouted at by fans and players at games. There were also people who wouldn’t allow me hotel rooms.
Q. How do you feel about the way racism affects our country?
A. I really think it needs to change. I know I am a successful man with a lot of money, but I don’t believe I have it made. I believe I’ll have it made when everyone is treated equally, no matter the color of their skin.
Q. How did you feel when you got kicked off two planes, and were moved to different seats in a Greyhound bus?
A. I felt utterly disgraced. I have no idea why I would be forced off of a plane, two planes! All because of the color of my skin. It got even worse when, after all of this running around because of the planes, we would be moved from the reclining white-people seats to the straight-backed black seats.
Q. What did you and Pee Wee Reese talk about during the Braves game?
A. To be honest, neither one of us remembers. We were playing and the players started shouting at us, me because of my skin, and Pee Wee because he was my friend. After that Pee Wee came right up to me and put his arm around my shoulder and we just talked. The Braves players soon shut up.
Q. How did you feel when you got traded to the Giants?
A. I was disgraced. It was an unbelievable move by Walter O’Malley. I had done all these things in Brooklyn for the Dodgers and then just like that I was gone.
Q. How do you feel about being in the Hall of Fame?
A. Well, beside it being the greatest honor a baseball player can achieve, I am honored, but also surprised. I am honored because people think I was a great enough ballplayer to be in the Hall of Fame. But I am also surprised because after all these racist years, people have come to accept me, this also makes me overjoyed.
Q. How did you feel about finishing second in 1954?
A. That’s what happens when you have a poorly managed team. The only thing we could think about was the next year. I’m not gonna say it wasn’t disappointing, to come so far and too loose. But the only thing we focused on was the next year, 1955.
Q. Why would you risk your life every winter going out on that frozen lake so your kids could ice-skate?
A. I would go out on the ice every winter and make sure it was safe, just so my kids could have all the fun they deserved. I love my kids, and they love me so I try to give back. It is also fun to watch them laughing and playing. It is worth the risk to go out on a frozen lake, and not know how to swim.
Q. How did you feel after your son came back from drug rehabilitation?
A. I believe that my son was a changed man. After he was cleared, he volunteered to work at the same center that helped him, so he could help others recovering from drugs. I am so very sad that I had to lose him in a car accident.
A. For three hours Rickey told me what I was going to face. He challenged me with racial epithets. After a long while, which I had to hold my hands behind my back because I was so angry, it became apparent to me. Branch Rickey wants someone who have the guts not to fight back.
Q. What was it like breaking the color-barrier?
A. Breaking the color-barrier was difficult. I was often shouted at by fans and players at games. There were also people who wouldn’t allow me hotel rooms.
Q. How do you feel about the way racism affects our country?
A. I really think it needs to change. I know I am a successful man with a lot of money, but I don’t believe I have it made. I believe I’ll have it made when everyone is treated equally, no matter the color of their skin.
Q. How did you feel when you got kicked off two planes, and were moved to different seats in a Greyhound bus?
A. I felt utterly disgraced. I have no idea why I would be forced off of a plane, two planes! All because of the color of my skin. It got even worse when, after all of this running around because of the planes, we would be moved from the reclining white-people seats to the straight-backed black seats.
Q. What did you and Pee Wee Reese talk about during the Braves game?
A. To be honest, neither one of us remembers. We were playing and the players started shouting at us, me because of my skin, and Pee Wee because he was my friend. After that Pee Wee came right up to me and put his arm around my shoulder and we just talked. The Braves players soon shut up.
Q. How did you feel when you got traded to the Giants?
A. I was disgraced. It was an unbelievable move by Walter O’Malley. I had done all these things in Brooklyn for the Dodgers and then just like that I was gone.
Q. How do you feel about being in the Hall of Fame?
A. Well, beside it being the greatest honor a baseball player can achieve, I am honored, but also surprised. I am honored because people think I was a great enough ballplayer to be in the Hall of Fame. But I am also surprised because after all these racist years, people have come to accept me, this also makes me overjoyed.
Q. How did you feel about finishing second in 1954?
A. That’s what happens when you have a poorly managed team. The only thing we could think about was the next year. I’m not gonna say it wasn’t disappointing, to come so far and too loose. But the only thing we focused on was the next year, 1955.
Q. Why would you risk your life every winter going out on that frozen lake so your kids could ice-skate?
A. I would go out on the ice every winter and make sure it was safe, just so my kids could have all the fun they deserved. I love my kids, and they love me so I try to give back. It is also fun to watch them laughing and playing. It is worth the risk to go out on a frozen lake, and not know how to swim.
Q. How did you feel after your son came back from drug rehabilitation?
A. I believe that my son was a changed man. After he was cleared, he volunteered to work at the same center that helped him, so he could help others recovering from drugs. I am so very sad that I had to lose him in a car accident.