Celebration of a Life
Those of us who follow baseball know that last week Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day. The most visible part of that annual celebration is that all the players on all the teams wear number forty-two on their jerseys – Robinson’s number when he played for the Dodgers. After breaking the color barrier in baseball, Jackie Robinson continued to be an advocate for civil rights for the rest of his life. Even after he hung up his cleats, he continued to “move runners along”.
Walking Across the Infield
While the pressure was always on Jackie, there were others who realized they could help his cause.
Among them were Branch Rickey and Pee Wee Reese. In the movie “42” which tells the story of Robinson’s journey as the first black man to play in the majors, there is a scene which depicts the event that likely inspired the tradition on Jackie Robinson Day. During warm-ups before an away game in a hostile southern city, the hometown fans were booing and shouting deplorable insults at Jackie. In response, his teammate Pee Wee Reese, a beloved player and future Hall of Famer, walked across the infield and put his arm around Robinson’s shoulder so that the crowd could see his support. Then he said to Jackie, “Maybe tomorrow we’ll all wear 42. That way they won’t tell us apart.” (Even though the actual encounter was likely embellished a bit by Hollywood, the scene and Pee Wee’s words created a powerful moment.)
On that day in Cincinnati, perhaps Pee Wee Reese in a supporting role, helped change the story. After his act of courage, person by person, day by day, folks began to see that players of different colors and different backgrounds could play baseball together. And, if they could play the cherished national past time together; perhaps there was a way for us all to play together outside the stadiums, too.
Bullies On The Playground
What does this have to do with parenting and fatherhood? A lesson for their backpacks. Sometimes others need help. Sometimes we can be the ones to answer the call. Everyday some kid is “picked on” because they are different. The wrong color, too short, too smart… They are bullied on the playground, left out of the games when choosing sides, ignored because they are not pretty enough.
We can choose to teach our children to act like Pee Wee. We can teach our kids to be the ones who reach out and soothe the hurt. At some time, most of us will find ourselves in situations when we are less vulnerable than others. It is then we have the chance to step in. By our example we can show our children how to be the ones who have the courage to “walk across the infield” and put their arms around the ones who are being targeted or left out. Our children can become the ones who assure that everyone is included in the game; that no one sits alone in the cafeteria; or endures recess alone. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to do. Sometimes it is uncomfortable to step into the center of attention. So we can encourage our children to simply “do the next right thing.” Maybe just stand by them. Just be present. Just like their dad.
Same Name
Dads can be the example for their kids. Although all dads are unique in their own ways, when they are standing in carpool line, dressed in the same shirts, it is hard to tell them apart. Rather than wearing the same number on their backs, they answer to the same name. Regardless of their color, nationality, size, shape or other unique characteristics; they’re all just “dad”.
Powerful Example
In that scene from the movie, a young fan yells racial slurs at Robinson because his father is yelling along with the rest of the crowd. Not knowing why, the boy is simply following the powerful example of his father. Fathers have the power of example. A dad can exert the power of division, exclusion, and hatred. Or fortunately, he also holds the powers of unity, inclusion, and acceptance. As heroes to our children, we can choose how we influence them.
We need to help our kids understand the roles they can play in the story of our community. How they can stand by others who need a supporting cast – so someday, they won’t tell us apart.
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