Please comment on the film. What was most interesting or shocking to you about it? What did you learn from it?
Are sports a microcosm of society?
Can sports change society (for good or for bad)?
Are those in professional sports role models? Ought they be? Comment on Jackie Robinson, but also the Dodger's manager, Leo Durocher, who was suspended by the Baseball Commissioner for moral impropriety involving a divorced woman.
Is race still an issue in sports? (see other post) Is homosexuality the new issue? How do you think that will resolve?
So far I think the video has been very racist. It almost makes me angry watching the movie and seeing how the white people treat Robinson. I guess it's surprising because I didn't know racism was so strong in sports back then. I also struggle with the conception of White Supremacy--why whites are better and have more privilege over those of color. I don't understand why the white pitchers wouldn't accept Robinson, either. I guess it has to do with the time period.
ReplyDeleteTo answer "is race still an issue in sports"--yes. It still is a problem today. I think racism is more an issue that homosexuality. I don't have evidence to support my thoughts, but I think that homosexuality is more widely supported these days. In the case of professional sports, I think many hide their sexual identity, and if they do share it, that others will support them. Sexuality is something we openly talk about. Racism isn't talked about that much. Many people think it's over...so they don't question it. But it still exists. Even if it's subconscious, racism is very well alive today. I don't know how to fix it, or if racism will ever end. One can only hope.
I agree with Nicci that I do not understand White Supremacy and the apparent difference between whites and those of color. I do not see how people could justify all of this hatred on what? What is different?
DeleteSo far watching the video is makes me angry to see racism be like a norm to some of the people. I learned and continue to learn all of the barriers that are put up for people who are not white males in our society. I think sports can change society for the good. In professional sports each players is constantly fighting to keep their spot on the team and if they can still play as a uniform team why can't society conform as a whole to make the best of our situations.
ReplyDeleteProfessional athletes are role model for everyone. They are role models for just about every kid and some adults simple because they get to do what they love to do everyday. I think race does play a role in sports and i think it always will still exist in the future but it is how people react to it that will determine how bad it will be.
A great movie; however, the philadephia manager sickened me. I can not fathom how people could be born that way and be that cruel to a man whom they never even knew. Now a days we don't get that many view points of the old days where this was prominent, which is good that we don't see it. I do think we need to remind ourselves of what we have learned because we can prepare for the future by looking at our past, to not make the same mistakes they made. I believe that Robinson was one of the strongest men alive, not physically but mentally. To put up with as much stuff he was receiving, the letters threatening his family and himself. I want to aspire to have the mental strength that he had. Once again this was a fantastic movie with a reminder of our horrendous past.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nick that we should be reminded about our past so we can have a better future. I believe that this movie was made to do such a thing. To show us how everyone once thought and to show that its not right to treat a human being that way. Jackie was a hero to many people. He impacted the MLB and set standards that said that everyone is equal and its not ok to treat a person of color or minority that way.
DeleteThe most shocking, and honestly terrifying part of the film, is watching how the young, white boys imitate the negative behavior of their fathers. However, my favorite part and what I believe to be motivation for Jackie is when HE is getting his ankle stitched and the manager walks in and tells him He saw a white boy pretending to be Robinson by rubbing dirt on his hands at the plate. I think these two points show we are not born to be against a race but instead it is something we learn.
ReplyDeleteWhile the main focus is obviously Robinson I believe it also took the manager immense courage and resilience to sign Robinson onto his team. While this decision put him under fire by baseball fans everywhere it also could have lead to the crashing of the entire Dodgers Organization.
I think that homosexuality has become a bigger matter in sports than race has, particularly in mens sports.
I also believe that professional athletes are role models to a lot of people, and that when they are signing their contracts they are also agreeing to act responsibly. With the amount these athletes are being paid I don't think it is asking too much for them to act responsibly and show what a good role model is.
A great movie that shows how sports was an initiating factor for the equality of races and looking past the color of one's skin. It was shocking to see how people treated one another back in that day and to realize it was not that long ago. How could people treat another that way? Luckily, Jackie Robinson was a very strong minded person and persevered through all the racism and terrible comments. I believe sports can change the society for the better and in some cases worst. This is a prime example of how sports changed society for the better. Those who do good on and off the field should be viewed as role models and Jackie Robinson is a prime example of a great role model.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jake here. It was very shocking to see how people treated one another the way that they did. It is also crazy to think that this type of behavior was not that long ago in our history. In my opinion, I think that Jackie Robinson is one of the toughest men to ever step foot on this earth. The type of behavior that this man had to deal with was unacceptable and disturbing. The movie 42 does an excellent job at portraying what Robinson had to deal with and how he was able to overcome such triumph. Robinson not only changed the game of baseball but for all sports as well. He made it very clear that race does not matter and everybody should be looked at as one. Robinson is a legend, an icon and a hero.
DeleteI agree with both Jake and Tyler because it is so shocking to me that my grandparents lived in these times. They experienced these types of things on a daily basis. This was only 70 years ago and if those type of things were going on today all hell would break lose. The things that happened to Jackie Robinson and his family were just absurd and sad. It is really sad that this how people used to think and thought it was right.
DeleteI agree with everyone here. Jackie Robinson is a true American hero who single handily broke the color barrier, not only in sports but throughout our country. I did believe that sports could change society or influence them with how they handle the racism cases in their respective leagues, but I have recently withdrawn that opinion. The case in Ferguson is why I dont think sports can influence society. The NBA handled their recent cases in a peaceful, yet elongated manner. The case in Ferguson is being handled in a violent way, by some, and should be handled how others are handling it with a peaceful protest. Racism is clearly prevalent in our society and I hope that some athletes can stand up and help dissolve this situation instead of antagonizing it on social media. 42 was a great movie that showed how our society can change in situations, but we need another "Jackie Robinson" in the present to help our country through rough times.
DeleteIt is so easy to forget that the United States was a radically different place only seventy years—one lifetime—ago. It is so tempting to want to be able to go back into time and tell Robinson how groundbreaking his actions are and how he will become a part of a movement that would not just transform baseball but also the whole world. I likewise became so disgusted with some of the characters in the film: from the airline employee to the member of the lynch mob to the many racist baseball fans and players. It is just so unfathomable to consider why and how these people could have so much hate.
ReplyDeleteI noticed in one blog post that someone rightfully expressed disgust over the actions of the Philadelphia manager. This might just be a semantic issue, but I think one has to be careful in stating that they were born that way. No one is born racist—inherently, racism as ugly as it is must be indoctrinated to pass from one individual to the next, similarly to the little boy in the film who did not completely understand why everyone was yelling slurs at Robinson but decided to take part anyway. That boy was not born racist but began to reflect the attitudes of those around him—which in many cases he will unfortunately continue to reflect for the rest of his life.
In general, I really appreciated this film and felt that the dramatic performances of the actors effectively relayed the emotions one would feel if he or she found themselves in the place of Robinson. I also found the historical narratives at the end of the film interesting and felt that they complemented the plot of the movie. It was extremely satisfying to hear of the success of heroes in this film and the failures of the Philadelphia manager and the other unsavory individuals. Awesome movie.
Valid point Michael, It is different for us to think that our world was like that at one point, but as we saw in the movie with the kid it is the actions and beliefs of our parents/the people who raise us which create the future that we see today.
DeleteI'm a bit late in commenting about this, but this movie was very eye-opening, sickening (as far as in the treatment of colored people), and at the same time inspirational. We see how life was for a colored man during the era of segregation and accepted racism, and he rose above all of that to become one of the greatest baseball players of his time and an even better role model. He killed hatred with indifference and kindness--if only we all could do that--despite constantly being challenged by racist, seething white men always trying to get him to react or to break down. Jackie Robinson was a strong, strong man and deserves so much respect.
ReplyDeleteSports are a big part of society, and if they don't accept something society is less likely to accept it as well. Hence why when those in baseball didn't want a black man playing with them, society was very adamant against it as well. But then the sports world began to accept Robinson, which helped lead towards the end of segregation. I'm not saying sports helps the world to change, but it does reflect on society much more than I'd like to admit.
People in the sports world are role models, whether they like it or not. They're in the public eye and people, especially kids, look up to them and want to be just like them. Robinson is a great role model for everyone because he took the peaceful route towards integration because he simply wanted to play baseball no matter what. He wasn't hateful, he didn't provoke anyone, he just played his sport the best he could. Leo Durocher, despite his moral impropriety of sleeping with a married woman and leading to her divorce, could be considered a role model only if one disregards his personal life. Funny how indirectly causing a divorce is grounds for suspension but blatant racism was just fine, huh? A sign of the times, I guess.
Hatred for things we can't control--race, gender, sexuality, etc.--will never fully die as long as people continue to express these ideas around their children who pick up the beliefs as their own and continue to let them spread. No one is born racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, or hateful. The environments in which we grow up make us the way we are. But if we discourage such behavior and promote tolerance, love, and acceptance, maybe then hatred will become the minority and we won't have to discuss such issues anymore. It's unlikely, but it's an idea.
I believe sports are a microcosm for society, with money in a big way. People with lots of money and power don't apply to the same rules as the rest of the population, they can flaunt their money and be free of almost any crimes. I believe we all learn from our parents, but once you get older you can definitely change your ways. A big reason kids keep the same mind set they do throughout their lives is because of ignorance. If the parents don't do a better job then the kid with have to learn for themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great movie, i have seen this movie multiple times now and it keeps getting better and better to me. Sports can definitely change a society.I say that because for example, look at hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The next year after Katrina, the New Orleans saints one the super bowl and it uplifted that society and it gave them hope. So, sports can definitely change society.
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