
Strength for the Fight
Description
Alles über E-Books | Antworten auf Fragen rund um E-Books, Kopierschutz und Dateiformate finden Sie in unserem Info- & Hilfebereich.
How faith sustained Jackie Robinson-both as an athlete and as an activist.
The integration of Major League Baseball in 1947 was a triumph. But it was also a fight. As the first Black major leaguer since the 1880s, Jackie Robinson knew he was not going to be welcomed into America's pastime with open arms. Anticipating hostility, he promised Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey that he would "turn the other cheek" during his first years in the league, despite his fiercely competitive disposition. Robinson later said that his faith in God had sustained him-giving him the strength he needed to play the game he loved at the highest level without retaliating against the abuse inflicted upon him by opposing players and fans.
Faith was a key component of Robinson's life, but not in the way we see it with many prominent Christian athletes today. Whereas the Tim Tebows and Clayton Kershaws of the sports world emphasize personal spirituality, Robinson found inspiration in the Bible's teachings on human dignity and social justice. He grew up a devout Methodist (a heritage he shared with Branch Rickey) and identified with the theological convictions and social concerns of many of his fellow mainline Protestants-especially those of the Black church. While he humbly stated that he could not claim to be a deeply religious man, he spoke frequently in African American congregations and described a special affinity he and other Black Christians felt for the biblical character Job, who had also kept faith despite suffering and injustice. In his eulogy for Robinson, Jesse Jackson described Robinson as a "co-partner of God," who lived out his faith in his civil rights activism, both during and after his baseball career.
Robinson's faith will resonate with many Christians who believe, as he did, that "a person can be quite religious and at the same time militant in the defense of his ideals." This religious biography of Robinson chronicles the important role of faith in his life, from his childhood to his groundbreaking baseball career through his transformative civil rights work, and, in the process, helps to humanize the man who has become a mythic figure in both sports history and American culture.
More details
Other editions
Additional editions

Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Jackie Robinson-a Trailblazer and a Man of Faith
- 1. "God Will Have to Keep His Eye on You": From Birth to the Negro League 1919-1945
- 2. Robinson and Rickey: The Great Experiment 1945
- 3. Robinson Smashes the Color Barrier: The Montreal Royals 1946
- 4. Robinson Triumphs over Adversity: "The Year All Hell Broke Loose" 1947
- 5. "I Am a Religious Man": Major League Stardom 1948-1956
- 6. "Still Slaying Dragons": Civil Rights Activism 1956-1972
- 7. Religion, Politics, and Business: The Pulpit, the Ballot, and the Buck 1956-1972
- Conclusion: The Faith and Impact of Jackie Robinson
- Abbreviations
- Notes
- A Note on Sources
System requirements
File format: ePUB
Copy protection: Adobe-DRM (Digital Rights Management)
System requirements:
- Computer (Windows; MacOS X; Linux): Install the free reader Adobe Digital Editions prior to download (see eBook Help).
- Tablet/smartphone (Android; iOS): Install the free app Adobe Digital Editions or the app PocketBook before downloading (see eBook Help).
- E-reader: Bookeen, Kobo, Pocketbook, Sony, Tolino and many more (not Kindle).
The file format ePub works well for novels and non-fiction books – i.e., „flowing” text without complex layout. On an e-reader or smartphone, line and page breaks automatically adjust to fit the small displays.
This eBook uses Adobe-DRM, a „hard” copy protection. If the necessary requirements are not met, unfortunately you will not be able to open the eBook. You will therefore need to prepare your reading hardware before downloading.
Please note: We strongly recommend that you authorise using your personal Adobe ID after installation of any reading software.
For more information, see our ebook Help page.