Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports and the American Dream (Routledge Revivals)

There are defining moments in the life of a nation when a single individual can shape events for generations to come.For America, the spring of 1947 was such a moment, and Jackie Robinson was the man who made the difference." With these words, President Clinton contributed to Long Island University's three-day celebration of that momentous event in American history when Robinson became the first African American to play major league baseball. First published in 1998, Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports and the American Dream includes presentations from that celebration, especially chosen for their fresh perspectives and illuminating insights.A heady mix of journalism, scholarship, and memory offers a presentation that far transcends the retelling of just another sports story.Readers get a true sense of the social conditions prior to Robinson's arrival in the major leagues and the ripple effect his breakthrough had on the nation.Anecdotes enliven the story and offer more than the usual "large