{"id":508,"date":"2011-04-14T12:22:56","date_gmt":"2011-04-14T16:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/activistfaith\/?p=508"},"modified":"2011-04-14T12:22:56","modified_gmt":"2011-04-14T16:22:56","slug":"faith-changes-society-the-example-of-jackie-robinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/activistfaith\/2011\/04\/faith-changes-society-the-example-of-jackie-robinson.html","title":{"rendered":"Faith Changes Society: The Example of Jackie Robinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A recent CNN story<\/a> tells an little-known tale of a minister who played a significant role in bringing Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers, shattering Major League Baseball’s color barrier in the process.<\/p>\n

As I mention in my book Undefending Christianity<\/em><\/a>, Christian faith is a major factor that has shaped many positive changes taking place regarding issues of race, but there are too few “good stories” to share. This is one of them. Be inspired. Be changed. Faith changes society.<\/strong><\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

Fifield, who was pastor of the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn in the 1940s, counted Rickey, then general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, as one of his parishioners.<\/p>\n

A century earlier, that church had played a part in American history through its first pastor and anti-slavery activist, Henry Ward Beecher, and his connections to the fabled \u201cunderground railroad,\u201d the secretive network that helped escaped slaves flee safely to northern states and to Canada.<\/p>\n

Fifield\u2019s historical footnote of faith was more passive. In a paper titled \u201cBranch Rickey\u2019s \u2018Day of Decision\u2019,\u201d June Fifield wrote about a visit Rickey paid to her husband\u2019s office at the church just before his decision to sign Robinson.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let me interrupt, I can\u2019t talk with you,\u201d Rickey said as he walked into the minister\u2019s office, according to the paper. \u201cI just want to be here. Do you mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men passed the time without words \u2013 the minister going about his work; Richey frenetically pacing the floor, stopping only occasionally to peer out the window on the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood that surrounded the church.<\/p>\n

Amid ongoing silence, more pacing, more stopping, more pacing, more stopping from Rickey for some 45 minutes, according to the article.<\/p>\n

Finally, Rickey didn\u2019t just break the silence, he shattered it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got it,\u201d Rickey yelled emphatically as he banged his fist on the desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot what, Branch?\u201d Fifield asked. \u201cWendell,\u201d Rickey said, \u201cI\u2019ve decided to sign Jackie Robinson!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

+++<\/p>\n

DILLON BURROUGHS<\/strong> is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith. Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books include Undefending Christianity<\/em><\/a>, Not in My Town<\/em><\/a> (with Charles J. Powell), and Thirst No More<\/em> (October). Discover more at ActivistFaith.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A recent CNN story tells an little-known tale of a minister who played a significant role in bringing Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers, shattering Major League Baseball’s color barrier in the process. 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