PhilYouIn.com

There is a bronze statue in Coney Island, in front of the Mets’ Minor League, Class A baseball stadium. It depicts a famous incident that occurred in 1947.

It seems that Jackie Robinson, in his rookie year as the very first Black player in Major League Baseball, was on the receiving end of some merciless treatment from irate fans as well as opposing players during a game in Cincinnati.

Disgusting racial epithets were being screamed at him. People wanted Robinson off the field; up until that year, baseball was a game for the white man only. And they wanted to make it that way again.

Suddenly, Robinson’s teammate, Pee Wee Reese, had heard enough. Reese bravely ran over from his shortstop position on the other side of the infield to Robinson, who was playing first base, and put his arm around him.

They just stood there for a few minutes. It was an emotional, unforgettable show of support and solidarity.

The statue’s inscription says, in part: “This simple gesture challenged prejudice and created a powerful and enduring friendship.”

I learned about the incident in elementary school in the 1960s. The statue depicting the event was built so people would never forget it.

What a terrific story!

Too bad it never happened.

That’s right. It’s nothing but a big fairytale.

Pee Wee Reese certainly was a supporter of Jackie Robinson, but he never spoke of the ‘incident.’ Robinson never referred to it, either. No story appeared in any newspaper the following day, not in the white press or Black press (separated back then. Just like the water fountains and bathrooms). Not the day after that, either. Or the following week. Or the following month, or year.

The story first appeared in 1952. Five years later! Why would this ‘event’ have been created, and so celebrated?

In Robinson’s first year, lots of fans, and players, and press were shocked that a Black man would be allowed on the same playing field as whites. They could not accept such a sacrilege.

White owned restaurants would not serve him. White owned hotels refused him entry. Because when it became evident he had the talent, they all tried their best to break him spiritually and emotionally.

Despite all the physical and vocal abuse heaped upon him, Robinson simply refused to quit. He would not even defend himself that first year, lest the ‘powers that be’ use any exhibition of retribution as an excuse to get rid him.

In the ensuing years, it was obvious that Robinson was in the big leagues to stay; he was named Rookie of the Year in 1947, and would be the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1949. And he obviously was plenty tough. Plus other Black players, like teammate Roy Campanella and Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians had broken the color barrier as well. The wall had crumbled at last.

And so, we came to a very rare time in the history of our country: a time when a large group of angry white people, try as they might, could not get their way.

Upon realizing it, perhaps they thought it wise to get on the right side of history; perhaps by trying to hijack some credit for Jackie Robinson’s bravery.

Have a white player share in his heroics. Better yet, make a white guy Robinson’s savior! To make future white fans feel good about themselves. How crafty!

Maybe that’s what they mean about America being great: when the people who are in power exhibit abhorrent behavior, they can just rewrite history; make things up in order to make themselves look better.

Because when you look at that statue, whose ‘bravery’ is actually being celebrated?