JACK ROOSEVELT ROBINSON CROSSED THE WHITE LINE AT EBBETS FIELD, CHANGING A GAME, AND A COUNTRY, FOREVER.

WITH QUIET DIGNITY AND STEADFAST CONVICTION, JACKIE SHOWED THE WORLD WHAT COURAGE, DETERMINATION, AND PRIDE, REGARDLESS OF COLOR, COULD ACCOMPLISH.

BANK OF AMERICA IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE JACKIE'S LEGACY AND FOLLOW IN HIS COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL AMERICANS.

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: IF I HAD A ROOM JAMMED WITH TROPHIES, AWARDS, AND CITATIONS, AND A CHILD OF MINE CAME INTO THAT ROOM AND ASKED WHAT I HAD DONE IN DEFENSE OF BLACK PEOPLE AND DECENT WHITES FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM-- AND IF I HAD TO TELL THAT CHILD I HAD KEPT QUIET, THAT I HAD BEEN TIMID, I WOULD HAVE TO MARK MYSELF A TOTAL FAILURE IN THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF LIVING.

JACKIE ROBINSON.

WOMAN: I THINK THE THING I MISS THE MOST IS HAVING A TRUSTED FRIEND.

I DO HAVE FRIENDS.

I HAVE GOOD FRIENDS.

BUT IT'S NOT LIKE HAVING JACK.

AND THE SECOND THING I MISS MOST IS HAVING HIS ARMS AROUND ME.

HE WAS VERY, VERY...

UM...EXPRESSIVE.

AND...AH...LOVING.

AND I MISS THAT.

I MISS THAT A LOT.

NARRATOR: HE WAS AN UNCOMPROMISING CRUSADER WHO LIFTED HIMSELF UP FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO BECOME, FOR A TIME, ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED MEN IN AMERICA.

HE WAS A SUPREMELY GIFTED ATHLETE WHOSE SKILLS ON THE BALL FIELD CAPTIVATED AMERICANS OF ALL RACES, AND IN THE PROCESS, CHALLENGED THE PREJUDICED NOTIONS OF WHAT A BLACK MAN COULD ACHIEVE.

HE WAS AN IMPATIENT, STRONG-WILLED, AND SHARP-TONGUED COMPETITOR, WHO NONETHELESS TURNED THE OTHER CHEEK TO THE THREATS AND ABUSE HE WOULD ENDURE-- AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.

AND WHEN HE FINALLY DID FIGHT BACK, HE DREW THE SCORN OF FANS, A ONCE-ADORING PRESS-- EVEN HIS OWN TEAMMATES.

AFTER BASEBALL, HE FOUND NEW WAYS TO USE HIS FAME TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATION, BUT AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HE HAD ONCE SEEMED TO EMBODY BECAME MORE MILITANT, ITS DEMANDS MORE STRIDENT, HE WAS ACCUSED OF BEING OUT OF TOUCH--AN UNCLE TOM.

THROUGH IT ALL, IN A COUNTRY DEEPLY DIVIDED BY RACE, WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAD FEW RIGHTS AND FEWER OPPORTUNITIES, HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP.

"JACKIE ROBINSON," MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ONCE SAID, "WAS A SIT-INNER BEFORE SIT-INS, A FREEDOM RIDER BEFORE FREEDOM RIDES."

MAN: JACKIE ROBINSON LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR AMERICA TO SEE ITS BLACK CITIZENS AS SUBJECTS AND NOT JUST OBJECTS.

IT, IT, IT, IT MEANT THAT THERE WERE 6- AND 7- AND 8-YEAR-OLD BOYS WHO SUDDENLY THOUGHT A BLACK MAN WAS A HERO.

MAN 2: WE HAVE VERY FEW WEAPONS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST OUR CONDITION SINCE NOBODY ELSE IN THE SOCIETY SHARES THAT CONDITION WITH US.

HE BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL VOICES WE HAD.

TO EXTRICATE OURSELVES FROM THE EVILS AND THE PAIN OF THAT HISTORY.

WHAT WILL YOU SAY IN BEHALF OF THE NEEDS OF THOSE OF US WHO CANNOT SPEAK OR CANNOT HAVE THE VOICE THAT YOU HAVE?

RACHEL ROBINSON: JACK WAS ALWAYS PROUD OF HIS RACE.

HELD HIS HEAD HIGH; WALKED WITH A KIND OF A SWAGGER.

HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE NEGATIVES AND ALL OF THE CHALLENGES OF THE SOCIETY.

SO, HE WAS READY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND HE FELT HE SHOULD BE THE ONE TO DO THAT.

MAN: NOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT JACKIE ROBINSON, OF ALL PEOPLE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU HAVE LESS RIGHT TO PROTEST AGAINST WHAT'S GOING ON THAN ANYBODY THAT I KNOW OF.

THEY SAID, "JACKIE ROBINSON, YOU HAVE IT MADE AND YOU OUGHT NOT TO BE A PART OF THIS MOVEMENT."

AND I SAY TO YOU, THAT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT THERE IS NOT ONE NEGRO, NOT ONE THAT I KNOW IN THIS COUNTRY THAT HAS IT MADE UNTIL THE MOST UNDERPRIVILEGED NEGRO IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA HAS IT MADE.

[APPLAUSE] NARRATOR: JACK ROOSEVELT ROBINSON WAS BORN THE YOUNGEST OF 5 CHILDREN NEAR THE SMALL TOWN OF CAIRO, GEORGIA, ON JANUARY 31, 1919.

HIS FATHER JERRY ROBINSON WAS A TENANT FARMER; HIS MOTHER MALLIE THE PIOUS AND DETERMINED DAUGHTER OF SLAVES.

HIS MIDDLE NAME WAS A TRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN EX-PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT, WHO HAD DIED EARLIER THAT MONTH.

IN POST-RECONSTRUCTION AMERICA, BLACK FAMILIES LIVED UNDER JIM CROW SEGREGATION, FACING A CONSTANT THREAT OF VIOLENCE.

THE YEAR ROBINSON WAS BORN, AT LEAST 21 AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE LYNCHED IN GEORGIA ALONE.

MAN: ♪ YOU GOT TO MOVE, YOU GOT TO MOVE ♪ NARRATOR: ALMOST 9 OUT OF 10 BLACKS STILL LIVED IN THE SOUTH, MANY JUST SCRAPING BY AS SHARECROPPERS OR FARMHANDS.

JACK'S FATHER WAS NO DIFFERENT.

HE GREW PEANUTS, COTTON, VEGETABLES, AND SUGAR CANE FOR A MEAGER MONTHLY SALARY ON A PLANTATION OWNED BY A MAN NAMED JAMES SASSER.

WHEN JACK'S MOTHER MALLIE CONVINCED HER HUSBAND TO DEMAND A SHARE OF THE PROFITS, SASSER AGREED, AND THE ROBINSONS' FORTUNES IMPROVED.

BUT WITH MONEY IN HIS POCKET, JACK'S FATHER WAS DRAWN TO THE FASTER PACE OF LIFE IN TOWN AND BEGAN TO STRAY.

WOMAN: HIS FATHER LEFT THE FAMILY WHEN MY FATHER WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD, AND JUST WALKED OFF THE FARM SAYING, "I'M GOING TO THE CITY TO FIND A JOB."

OF COURSE HE WASN'T; OR HE MAY HAVE BEEN BUT WITH NO INTENTIONS OF BRINGING HIS FAMILY ALONG.

NARRATOR: JAMES SASSER BLAMED MALLIE FOR DRIVING ONE OF HIS BEST LABORERS AWAY.

HE CALLED HER "TOO UPPITY FOR HER OWN GOOD."

SHARON ROBINSON: AND MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS A VERY STRONG WOMAN, KNEW THAT SHE COULD NOT RAISE HER 4 BOYS AND ONE GIRL IN THE DEEP SOUTH, AND BE A SHARECROPPER.

SHE HAD A BROTHER WHO HAD MOVED TO LOS ANGELES.

SO, SHE HAD A PLACE TO GO.

NARRATOR: IN 1920, MALLIE ROBINSON AND HER CHILDREN-- EDGAR, FRANK, MACK, WILLA MAE, AND ONE-YEAR-OLD JACK-- GATHERED THEIR BELONGINGS AND QUIETLY BOARDED A MIDNIGHT TRAIN, HEADING FOR CALIFORNIA, DETERMINED TO ESCAPE THE PRISON OF JIM CROW.

THE ROBINSONS WERE PART OF WHAT CAME TO BE CALLED THE GREAT MIGRATION.

OVER THE NEXT 6 DECADES, MORE THAN 6 MILLION SOUTHERN BLACKS WOULD DEPART FOR PLACES LIKE DETROIT AND CHICAGO, OAKLAND AND LOS ANGELES, NEWARK AND BROOKLYN.

MAN: MANY BLACK PARENTS, THEY WANTED SOMETHING BETTER FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH THEY COULD GET THIS REMAINING IN THE SOUTH.

LIKE SO MANY OTHER AMERICAN PARENTS, "I WANNA GO SOMEWHERE "WHERE I FEEL MY CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SUCCEED BETTER THAN I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCEED."

NARRATOR: MALLIE AND HER FAMILY SETTLED WITH HER HALF-BROTHER IN PASADENA, A WELL-TO-DO AND MOSTLY WHITE CITY NEAR LOS ANGELES, WHERE MALLIE BELIEVED THERE WOULD BE MORE OPPORTUNITY.

BUT PASADENA HAD ITS OWN VERSION OF JIM CROW.

THE MUNICIPAL POOL WAS FOR WHITES ONLY, UNTIL PROTESTS BY AFRICAN- AMERICAN ACTIVISTS INSPIRED WHAT WAS CALLED "INTERNATIONAL DAY."

ON TUESDAYS, BLACK, ASIAN, AND MEXICAN RESIDENTS WERE ALLOWED TO SWIM.

BUT CITY OFFICIALS PROMISED WHITES THAT THE POOL WOULD BE DRAINED AND CLEANED BEFORE REOPENING.

MALLIE FOUND WORK AS A MAID FOR A WHITE FAMILY WHO SOMETIMES ALLOWED HER TO TAKE LEFTOVERS HOME FOR HER CHILDREN AND SHE SAVED WHAT LITTLE MONEY SHE COULD.

EVERYBODY WENT TO WORK AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING, OR SCHOOL.

AND MY AUNT WILLA MAE, SHE TOOK MY FATHER, WHO WAS NOT OF THE AGE EVEN FOR KINDERGARTEN, AND SAT HIM IN THE SANDBOX WHILE SHE WENT TO SCHOOL AND SHE CHECKED ON HIM DURING THE BREAKS AND WHAT NOT.

NARRATOR: WHEN JACK WAS 3, MALLIE MOVED HER FAMILY INTO THEIR OWN HOUSE AT 121 PEPPER STREET.

RACHEL ROBINSON: SHE HAD THE NERVE TO BUY A HOUSE ON PEPPER STREET, WHICH WAS A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHERE SHE GOT THE MONEY WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A HOME.

SHARON ROBINSON: THE WHITES THAT LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET MY GRANDMOTHER TO MOVE.

AND SHE SAID, "WE'RE NOT GOING."

UM...THEY BURNED A CROSS ON HER FRONT LAWN; THEY WOULD CALL THE POLICE EVERY TIME MY UNCLE WOULD JUST...AH...ROLLER SKATE ON THE SIDEWALK; AH...THERE'S THAT SORT OF MOMENT MY FATHER HAS THIS FACE-TO-FACE WITH A LITTLE WHITE GIRL ACROSS THE STREET AND THEY'RE BOTH YELLING RACIST NAMES AT EACH OTHER.

AND THEN THE FATHER COMES OUT AND STARTS THROWING ROCKS AT MY DAD.

NARRATOR: JACK ROBINSON THREW THE ROCKS BACK.

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: I WAS A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE PEPPER STREET GANG, MADE UP OF BLACKS, JAPANESE, AND MEXICAN KIDS.

ALL OF US CAME FROM POOR FAMILIES AND HAD EXTRA TIME ON OUR HANDS.

WE THREW DIRT CLODS AT CARS, SWIPED FRUIT FROM STANDS AND RAN OFF IN A PACK, SNITCHED WHAT WE COULD FROM THE LOCAL STORES-- AND ALL THE TIME WE WERE AWARE OF A GROWING RESENTMENT AT BEING DEPRIVED OF THE ADVANTAGES THE WHITE KIDS HAD.

NARRATOR: THE GREAT DEPRESSION THAT BEGAN WITH THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929 HIT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ESPECIALLY HARD.

IN MANY PLACES, BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATES WERE DOUBLE OR EVEN TRIPLE THOSE OF WHITES.

THOUGH MALLIE SOMEHOW REMAINED EMPLOYED, SHE STRUGGLED TO PROVIDE FOR HER FAMILY.

SOME DAYS THEY SURVIVED ON BREAD AND SUGAR WATER.

MEANWHILE, TWO OF MALLIE'S SONS HAD BEGUN TO EXCEL AT SPORTS.

JACK'S TALENTS ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND SO IMPRESSED HIS CLASSMATES THAT THEY OFFERED TO SHARE THEIR LUNCHES WITH HIM IF HE CHOSE TO PLAY ON THEIR TEAM.

[GUNSHOT] HIS OLDER BROTHER MACK EARNED A PLACE ON THE 1936 U.S. OLYMPIC TRACK AND FIELD TEAM THAT COMPETED IN BERLIN.

HE OUTRAN HITLER'S ARYAN SPRINTERS AND FINISHED BEHIND ONLY JESSE OWENS IN THE 200-METER DASH.

BUT WHEN HE CAME HOME TO PASADENA, THE ONLY WORK MACK ROBINSON COULD FIND WAS AS A STREET SWEEPER.

IF IT HAD BEEN A DIFFERENT TIME, YOU KNOW, MACK ROBINSON MIGHT HAVE BECOME A GREAT CELEBRITY.

THERE JUST WEREN'T MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

AND HE WOULD WEAR HIS OLYMPIC JACKET WHILE HE CLEANED THE STREETS.

NARRATOR: IN 1937, JACK ROBINSON ENROLLED AT PASADENA JUNIOR COLLEGE.

HE WAS OUTSTANDING IN EVERY SPORT HE PLAYED, AND BEGAN TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA.

BUT HE WAS ALSO GETTING A REPUTATION AS A TROUBLEMAKER.

AFTER A BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST ALL-WHITE LONG BEACH, AN OPPOSING PLAYER THREW A PUNCH AT HIM IN FRUSTRATION.

ROBINSON HIT BACK, THE PLAYER WENT DOWN, AND THE GYM ERUPTED INTO A MELEE.

A FEW DAYS LATER, WHEN A PASADENA POLICE OFFICER OVERHEARD JACK AND A FRIEND SINGING A POPULAR SONG, "FLAT FOOT FLOOGIE," HE TOOK OFFENSE AND THREW THEM IN JAIL.

LATER, JACK AND SOME FRIENDS WERE INSULTED BY A WHITE MAN WHO HAD PULLED UP ALONGSIDE THEIR CAR.

A CROWD GATHERED.

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS THE WHINE OF A SIREN AND A MOTORCYCLE COP WOBBLED HIS MACHINE THROUGH THE CROWD.

HE PULLED OUT HIS REVOLVER AND BEGAN YELLING.

I FOUND MYSELF UP AGAINST THE SIDE OF MY CAR WITH A GUN BARREL PRESSED UNSTEADILY INTO THE PIT OF MY STOMACH.

I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.

NARRATOR: ROBINSON WAS ARRESTED AGAIN.

BUT HE NEVER GAVE IN.

IN PASADENA, HE MOVED DOWN FROM THE SEGREGATED BALCONY OF THE MOVIE THEATER ONTO THE MAIN FLOOR, AND WHEN THE STAFF BEHIND A WOOLWORTH'S LUNCH COUNTER WAS RELUCTANT TO SERVE HIM, HE STAYED ON HIS STOOL UNTIL SOMEONE DID.

JACK'S SUCCESS AT SPORTS MADE HIM A SOUGHT-AFTER RECRUIT AMONG THE FEW 4-YEAR COLLEGES THAT WOULD EVEN CONSIDER A BLACK PLAYER.

AN ALUMNUS OF ALL-WHITE STANFORD UNIVERSITY OFFERED TO PAY HIS COLLEGE TUITION AT ANY SCHOOL WHERE HE WOULD NOT PLAY AGAINST STANFORD.

JACK TURNED HIM DOWN AND CHOSE NEARBY UCLA.

ARRIVING ON CAMPUS, ROBINSON DISCOVERED THAT WHILE THE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS RECRUITED SOME BLACK ATHLETES, THE STUDENT POPULATION WAS LESS THAN 1% AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE BLACK FACULTY MEMBER.

BUT ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, ROBINSON WAS IMMEDIATELY AT HOME.

IN A GAME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, ROBINSON RETURNED A PUNT 65-YARDS, EARNING A STANDING OVATION FROM THE OPPOSING FANS.

[CROWD CHEERING] TRAILING OREGON LATE IN ANOTHER GAME, ROBINSON RAN 23 YARDS FOR ONE TOUCHDOWN, THEN DASHED 83 YARDS TO SCORE AGAIN.

"I GUESS YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A MECHANIZED CAVALRY UNIT TO STOP THIS GUY," OREGON'S COACH COMPLAINED.

THE PRESS BEGAN TO CALL HIM JACKIE.

THAT WINTER, JACK STARRED ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM.

IN THE SPRING, HE WON THE NCAA TITLE IN THE BROAD JUMP AND STARTED AT SHORTSTOP ON THE BASEBALL TEAM.

BY THE END OF HIS FIRST FULL YEAR, HE HAD LETTERED IN 4 VARSITY SPORTS.

MAN: YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT JACKIE ROBINSON WAS THE GREATEST ATHLETE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

HIS ABILITY AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER, AS A TRACK STAR, AS A BASEBALL PLAYER, AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

JACKIE ROBINSON COULD HAVE BEEN A STAR IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SPORTS.

NOT JUST A GOOD PLAYER, BUT A SUPERSTAR.

MAN 2: HERE'S THE CONTEXT, THOUGH: THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" WOULD SAY, "DUSKY JACKIE ROBINSON... "CARRIED THE FOOTBALL AS THOUGH HE WAS CARRYING A WATERMELON, RUNNING FROM ITS OWNER WHO HAD A SHOTGUN."

THAT WAS SPORTS WRITING WHEN JACKIE ROBINSON WAS BEGINNING HIS ATHLETIC ASCENT.

NARRATOR: IN THE FALL OF 1940, ROBINSON'S SENIOR YEAR AT UCLA, HE MET A 17-YEAR-OLD NURSING STUDENT FROM LOS ANGELES NAMED RACHEL ISUM.

SHE WAS THE STUDIOUS AND DRIVEN DAUGHTER OF A DISABLED WORLD WAR I VETERAN AND HIS WIFE, A SELF-EMPLOYED CATERER.

RACHEL ROBINSON: FIRST OF ALL, HE WAS BIG MAN ON CAMPUS AND VERY ATTRACTIVE IN THAT RESPECT.

I EXPECTED HIM TO HAVE A BIG EGO AND BE AN IMPOSSIBLE PERSON TO TALK TO.

I WAS REALLY, REALLY SURPRISED WHEN HE CAME UP TO ME AND HE HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

HE RELATED TO ME QUICKLY AND EASILY.

AND I HAD TO RETHINK MY VIEW OF HIM AS AN ATHLETE AND A MAN.

NARRATOR: JACKIE WAS DRAWN TO RACHEL'S CHARM, AMBITION, AND HER BEAUTY.

HE WAS AT EASE WITH HER, HE REMEMBERED, AND FELT THAT HE COULD TELL HER ANYTHING AND SHE WOULD BE HONEST AND DIRECT IN RETURN.

RACHEL LOVED THAT JACKIE WORE WHITE SHIRTS, WHICH EMPHASIZED HIS DARK SKIN.

"HE WAS NEVER, EVER ASHAMED OF HIS COLOR," SHE RECALLED.

RACHEL ROBINSON: I ENCOURAGED HIM TO COURT ME BECAUSE WE PARKED IN THE SAME PARKING LOT, AND I USED TO GET THERE EARLY SO I COULD PARK SO I COULD SEE HIM IN THE MORNING.

SO, I WAS A PART OF THAT COURTSHIP...UM....

BUT I LOVED HIM VERY SOON AFTER AND WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.

NARRATOR: IN MARCH OF 1941, JACKIE OFFICIALLY WITHDREW FROM UCLA.

HE WAS JUST A FEW MONTHS SHY OF GRADUATION.

RACHEL ROBINSON: JACK WAS NOT A GREAT STUDENT.

HE'S LIKE A C STUDENT.

AND GOT HIS WORK IN AND DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO GET OUT ON THE FIELD.

YOU CAN ONLY HAVE 4 YEARS TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS.

SO, WHEN HIS ELIGIBILITY WAS UP, HE LOST HIS INTEREST IN SCHOOL, BUT HE SAYS IT'S BECAUSE MALLIE NEEDED HIM TO GO TO WORK.

MAN: YOU JUST HAD TWO SEPARATE SOCIETIES.

YOU HAD A BLACK SOCIETY, A WHITE SOCIETY.

I COULD BECOME A POLICEMAN BUT I COULDN'T ARREST WHITE PEOPLE; A LAWYER--I COULDN'T REPRESENT WHITE PEOPLE; A DOCTOR--I COULDN'T TREAT WHITE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.

A BASEBALL PLAYER, BUT I COULDN'T PLAY WITH WHITES.

YOU WAS NOT INCLUDED AS A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY.

NARRATOR: SINCE EMANCIPATION, AFRICAN-AMERICANS REMAINED LARGELY IMPOVERISHED, SUPPRESSED BY SEGREGATION, AND TERRORIZED BY WHITE VIOLENCE.

BUT THEY HAD CREATED THEIR OWN BUSINESSES NONETHELESS-- CATERING EXCLUSIVELY TO BLACK PATRONS-- BEAUTY SALONS AND BANKS, BARBERSHOPS AND FUNERAL PARLORS.

FOR DECADES, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE HAD CAMPAIGNED AGAINST LYNCHING.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEPING CAR PORTERS DEMANDED BETTER WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR ITS MEMBERS.

BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT THE OLD CONFEDERACY IGNITED EXPECTATIONS WITH EACH NEW GRADUATING CLASS.

NATIONWIDE, BLACK NEWSPAPERS INFORMED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF READERS.

IN SPORTS, JACK JOHNSON AND LATER JOE LOUIS REIGNED AS HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION, EACH DEFEATING WHITE FIGHTERS FOR THE TITLE.

[CROWD CHEERING] AND BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE BARRED FROM PLAYING IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL PASTIME, THEY FORMED THEIR OWN SEPARATE BUT ATHLETICALLY EQUAL LEAGUES AND TEAMS.

MANY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES' TOP PLAYERS-- COOL PAPA BELL, JOSH GIBSON, LEROY SATCHEL PAIGE-- HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH TALENT FOR THE MAJORS.

THERE HAD BEEN A FEW BLACK PLAYERS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, BUT BY THE 1890S, THEY WERE GONE-- FORCED OUT BY A SO-CALLED "GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT."

MAN: IT'S VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THE FICTION THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS COULD WALK ONTO A MAJOR LEAGUE FIELD IF ONLY THEY WERE GOOD ENOUGH.

THERE WAS NO PIONEERING OWNER WHO WAS GOING TO SPEAK FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

SO, THERE WAS NO ACTION REQUIRED TO ENFORCE THE GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT.

IT JUST PROCEEDED OF ITS OWN NOXIOUS FORCE.

NARRATOR: THE WHITE PRESS RARELY DISCUSSED BASEBALL'S COLOR LINE, BUT IN THE 1930S, IN THE PAGES OF THE "PITTSBURGH COURIER," HARLEM'S "AMSTERDAM NEWS," THE "BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN," AND "THE CHICAGO DEFENDER"-- BLACK SPORTSWRITERS LAUNCHED A DECADE-LONG ASSAULT ON THE BAN.

WENDELL SMITH OF THE "PITTSBURGH COURIER," THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST BLACK NEWSPAPER, INSISTED THAT HIS PAPER ATTACK THE PROHIBITION OF BLACKS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES "UNTIL WE DROP FROM EXHAUSTION."

SMITH INTERVIEWED PLAYERS, MANAGERS, AND TOP MAJOR LEAGUE EXECUTIVES ABOUT THEIR VIEWS ON THE COLOR LINE.

THEY ALL BLAMED OTHERS FOR THE BAN.

THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL, KENNESAW MOUNTAIN LANDIS, AN IMPLACABLE FOE OF INTEGRATION, CLAIMED THAT THE "SUBJECT OF NEGRO BALL PLAYERS HAD NEVER COME UP."

IN THE SUMMER OF 1941, JACKIE ROBINSON WORKED FOR A TIME COORDINATING ATHLETICS AT A YOUTH CAMP.

WHEN THE CAMP DISBANDED, HE JOINED AN INTEGRATED SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL TEAM IN HONOLULU, SUPPLEMENTING HIS INCOME WITH A CONSTRUCTION JOB NEAR THE AMERICAN NAVAL BASE AT PEARL HARBOR.

ON DECEMBER 5, 1941, WITH HIS BRIEF FOOTBALL SEASON OVER, JACKIE SET SAIL ON THE "SS LURLINE," HEADING HOME TO CALIFORNIA.

TWO DAYS LATER, JACKIE NOTICED THE CREW PAINTING THE PORTHOLES OF THE SHIP BLACK.

MAN ON RADIO: THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR.

STAY TUNED TO WOR FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH WILL BE BROADCAST IMMEDIATELY AS RECEIVED.

NARRATOR: BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR BEGAN, LESS THAN 2% OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICEMEN IN THE ARMY AND NAVY WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

NOW BLACKS ENTERED THE MILITARY IN EVER INCREASING NUMBERS.

BELAFONTE: WHEN I ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, MY ROMANTIC, ADVENTUROUS VIEW OF THIS CHALLENGING MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY WAS TO BE OFF SOMEWHERE IN THE BIG BATTLES OF, AH, NAVAL HISTORY AT THAT TIME.

BUT NOTHING COULD HAVE BEEN FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

WE WERE RELEGATED TO THE MOST MENIAL OF TASKS AS SERVICEMEN.

IF YOU WERE BLACK, YOU WERE A COOK AND YOU DEALT IN THE MESS HALL.

NOT ONE IOTA OF WHAT THEY SAID THAT WAR WAS ABOUT WAS IMPARTED TO US.

NARRATOR: IN THE SPRING OF 1942, 23-YEAR-OLD JACKIE ROBINSON WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AND SENT TO FORT RILEY, IN KANSAS, FOR BASIC TRAINING.

HE PROVED TO BE AN EXPERT MARKSMAN, AND HIS COLLEGE EDUCATION AND ATHLETIC TALENTS MADE HIM AN OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL.

BUT WHEN HE APPLIED, HE WAS REJECTED.

JACKIE WAS NOT EVEN WELCOME ON THE BASEBALL DIAMONDS AT FORT RILEY, WHERE THE COACH HAD DECLARED, "I'LL BREAK UP THE TEAM BEFORE I'LL HAVE A NIGGER ON IT."

BUT JACKIE SOON FOUND AN IMPORTANT ALLY.

JOE LOUIS, THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, HAD ENLISTED AND WAS SENT TO FORT RILEY.

THE BOXER MADE A CALL TO A FRIEND AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT ON ROBINSON'S BEHALF, AND BY THE END OF 1942, HE HAD BEEN ACCEPTED INTO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, GRADUATING A FEW MONTHS LATER AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT.

RACHEL ROBINSON: HE WROTE ME EVERY WEEK.

AND EVERY FRIDAY HE SENT ME A BOX OF CHOCOLATES.

SO, MY DORM, THEY WOULD GATHER ON FRIDAY FOR MY BOX OF CHOCOLATES.

BUT HE WROTE WONDERFUL LETTERS.

VERY, VERY WONDERFUL LETTERS.

MAN: ♪ ...IS I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, EVEN THOUGH... ♪ MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: LAST NIGHT, MY DARLING, I THOUGHT ABOUT OUR LOVE AND HOW WONDERFUL IT IS.

AS LONG AS I KNOW YOUR LOVE IS STRONG, I'LL MAKE IT.

TOGETHER WE FORM A STRONG TEAM AND I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE FUTURE AT ALL.

MAN: ♪ ...WHERE OUR LOVE HAS GONE ♪ NARRATOR: DURING A BRIEF LEAVE IN MARCH OF 1943, JACKIE VISITED RACHEL AND PRESENTED HER WITH A DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING.

SHE SAID YES.

MAN: ♪ NEVER DREAMED YOU'D... ♪ NARRATOR: BUT LATER, AT FORT RILEY, JACKIE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM RACHEL.

SHE WAS JOINING THE CADET NURSE CORPS, A STUDENT ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD HELP HER PAY FOR SCHOOL.

BELIEVING THAT RACHEL WAS NOW IN THE ARMY, WHERE SHE WOULD BE SPENDING HER TIME WITH OTHER SOLDIERS, JACKIE RECALLED, "I SHOOK WITH RAGE AND YOUTHFUL JEALOUSY."

HE WROTE BACK, INSISTING THAT SHE NOT JOIN.

HE GOT VERY UPSET, 'CAUSE HE THOUGHT I WAS COMING INTO THE ARMY AS A NURSE AND I WASN'T.

SO, WE HAD A LITTLE, THAT WAS ONE OF OUR, OUR LITTLE SPATS.

AND I HAD TO SEND HIM HIS RING BACK SO HE WOULDN'T THINK HE COULD TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

MAN: ♪ I WONDER WHERE OUR LOVE HAS GONE ♪ NARRATOR: THEY BROKE UP.

IN APRIL 1944, ROBINSON WAS TRANSFERRED TO CAMP HOOD IN TEXAS.

HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ALL-BLACK 761ST TANK BATTALION, WHICH WAS TRAINING TO FIGHT IN EUROPE AS PART OF GENERAL GEORGE PATTON'S THIRD ARMY.

JACKIE ROBINSON FULLY EXPECTED THAT HE WOULD BE GOING TO WAR WITH THEM.

MAN: THE BROOKLYN OF THE 1940S WAS MORE A VILLAGE THAN A BOROUGH, MORE A BOROUGH THAN A CITY.

IT WAS REALLY VERY IDYLLIC.

AND MANHATTAN, WHICH WE NEVER CALLED MANHATTAN, WE REFERRED TO AS THE CITY, WE NEVER WENT TO.

THERE WAS NO REASON TO GO TO IT.

ANYTHING WE EVER WANTED WAS RIGHT IN OUR LITTLE VILLAGE, WHAT WE USED TO CALL "BENSONHOIST."

IT WAS ALL WHITE; IT WAS EITHER ITALIAN OR IT WAS JEWISH.

WE HAD NO IRISH PEOPLE.

SURELY THERE WERE NO BLACKS.

IT WAS JUST US, VILLAGERS.

MAN 2: WHERE WE WERE, BED STUY, IT WAS A VERY MIXED NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE WERE PEOPLE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS KIND OF SELF-CONTAINED IN THE SENSE THAT THE PARENTS LOOKED OUT FOR THE CHILDREN.

IT WAS JUST A NICE PLACE TO BE: NICE HOMES, NICE KIDS, NICE PARENTS.

MAN ON RADIO: BACK AT EBBETS FIELD, BROOKLYN.

TO US, BROOKLYN AND THE BROOKLYN DODGERS WERE SYNONYMOUS, ONE AND THE SAME THING.

BUT WE DIDN'T GO SEE THE BROOKLYN DODGERS PLAY.

MOST OF US DIDN'T.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY.

MAN ON RADIO: NOW HERE'S REISER, HE'S BEEN UP TWICE, HE'S HAD ONE HIT.

THE FIRST PITCH, HE HITS A HIGH FLY BALL INTO RIGHT FIELD.

IT'S A HOME RUN... WALDON, JR.: WE WOULD CREATE A DIAMOND IN THE STREET WITH CHALK AND PLAY GAMES, APING AS BEST WE COULD WHAT THE DODGERS WERE DOING OUT AT EBBETS FIELD.

MAN ON RADIO: THE DODGERS HAVE THE BASES FOB, THEY ARE FULL OF BROOKLYNS.

UHLBERG: AND WHAT YOU LISTENED TO ON THE RADIO WAS ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY AND THAT WAS RED BARBER, ANNOUNCING THE GAMES FOR THE BROOKLYN DODGERS.

BARBER: AND IT'S NOW A 3-TO-2 BALL GAME, THE TYING RUN'S AT SECOND AND THEY'RE GOING WILD HERE IN BROOKLYN.

WALDON, JR.: EVERY KID, NO MATTER WHERE HE'S FROM IN BROOKLYN, WHETHER IT WAS FROM CONEY ISLAND OR BENSONHURST OR BUSHWICK OR WHERE WE WERE IN BED STUY, BASEBALL WAS DE RIGUEUR.

NARRATOR: SINCE 1913, THE BROOKLYN DODGERS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE HAD PLAYED THEIR HOME GAMES AT EBBETS FIELD, AN INTIMATE BALLPARK IN THE FLATBUSH SECTION OF BROOKLYN FEATURING A MARBLE ROTUNDA WITH CHANDELIERS MADE IN THE SHAPE OF BATS AND BALLS.

NO MATTER THE ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS, THE TEAM WAS BEST KNOWN FOR THE HAPLESS WAY THEY PERFORMED ON THE FIELD.

LOYAL FANS CALLED THEM "DEM BUMS."

UHLBERG: EVERY YEAR BEGAN WITH HIGH HOPES; AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE HAD UPS AND DOWNS; AND COME THE END OF THE YEAR, DISASTER.

"WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR" WAS THE CRY.

NARRATOR: IN 1942, THE DODGERS HIRED BRANCH RICKEY AS PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER.

HE WOULD SET IN MOTION EVENTS THAT WOULD HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE GAME OF BASEBALL-- AND THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

BORN ON A FARM IN STOCKDALE, OHIO IN 1881, WESLEY BRANCH RICKEY WAS A DEVOUT WESLEYAN METHODIST WITH A FIERCE SENSE OF MORAL JUSTICE.

A FAILED CATCHER WITH A LAW DEGREE, RICKEY HAD ALREADY TRANSFORMED THE CASH-STRAPPED ST. LOUIS CARDINALS INTO A PERENNIAL CONTENDER BY DEVELOPING HIS OWN YOUNG TALENT.

HE WAS SHREWD, RELENTLESS, AND WILLING TO EXPERIMENT.

OVER 23 SEASONS WITH THE CARDINALS, HIS CLUB WOULD WIN 6 PENNANTS AND 4 WORLD SERIES TITLES.

MAN: AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS FAME IN ST. LOUIS, ONE OF THE SPORTSWRITERS SAID, "HE HAD THE FACE OF A DEACON, THE MANNERS OF A DIPLOMAT, "AND HE COULD GET IN AND OUT OF YOUR POCKETS WITHOUT MUSSING A HAIR."

EIG: HE WAS A VERY RELIGIOUS MAN.

HE WOULD NOT PLAY ON SUNDAYS.

HE WOULD NOT, AH, ATTEND GAMES ON SUNDAYS, ALTHOUGH HE WOULD HAPPILY TAKE THE, THE MONEY, AH, FROM GAMES THAT WERE PLAYED ON SUNDAYS WHEN HE BECAME AN OWNER.

SO, HE, HE, HE HAD THESE VERY STRICT MORALS; HE HAD THESE VERY HIGH LOFTY VALUES; THIS GREAT INTELLECT; BUT HE WAS ALSO A VERY PRAGMATIC MAN.

HE STILL LIKED THE IDEA OF, OF MAKING MONEY.

MAN: YOU'D GO IN AFTER YOU'D HAD A GOOD YEAR.

AND YOU WANNA TALK TO THE BOSS NOW BEHIND THE BIG DESK, AND YOU'RE GONNA SIT THERE AND PLEAD YOUR CASE TO GET A RAISE.

HE'D DISARM YA BEFORE YOU GOT STARTED BY SMILING AND SAYIN', "SON, YOU HAD A NICE YEAR.

WE'VE DECIDED TO LET YOU COME BACK."

"REALLY?

THANK YOU, MR.

RICKEY."

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: TO MANAGE HIS TEAM, RICKEY HIRED BACK LEO DUROCHER, A FORMER SHORTSTOP WITH A TASTE FOR THE HIGH LIFE AND TIES TO NOTORIOUS GAMBLERS.

HE ALSO LURED TWO KEY SCOUTS AWAY FROM ST. LOUIS, PURGED THE ROSTER OF POPULAR BUT EXPENSIVE STARS, AND PROMISED TO DELIVER BIG PROFITS TO THE SHAREHOLDERS.

BUT FOR YEARS, RICKEY HAD BEEN HAUNTED BY THE DISCRIMINATION HE HAD WITNESSED IN HIS COUNTRY AND IN ITS NATIONAL GAME.

NOW HE RESOLVED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT: TO BRING BLACK PLAYERS TO THE DODGERS.

EIG: THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH INTEGRATION TO ACCOMPLISH SEVERAL OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS: ONE WAS TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO REALLY PROMOTE AND LIVE THE VALUES THAT HE PREACHED AS A RELIGIOUS MAN.

HE ALSO REALLY LIKED TO WIN AND HE SAW A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

THERE WERE THESE GREAT POOLS OF TALENT IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES THAT WERE NOT BEING TAPPED.

AND I THINK HE SAW THAT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN BLACK FANS TO THE BALLPARK.

NARRATOR: IN EARLY 1943, THE CLUB'S DIRECTORS PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT TO RICKEY'S PLAN TO INTEGRATE THE DODGERS.

RICKEY IMMEDIATELY INSTRUCTED HIS SCOUTS TO BEGIN SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT MAN.

BACK AT CAMP HOOD, TEXAS, THE 761ST TANK BATTALION WAS PREPARING TO GO OVERSEAS.

ON THE EVENING OF JULY 6, 1944, ONE MONTH AFTER ALLIED FORCES LANDED IN NORMANDY, JACKIE ROBINSON BOARDED A MILITARY BUS HEADED TO NEARBY TEMPLE, TEXAS.

RACHEL ROBINSON: HE GOT ON THE BUS, ON THE ARMY GROUNDS, AND HE SAT NEXT TO A WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS WHITE.

SHE WAS A FRIEND OF HIS.

AND SHE WASN'T WHITE.

THE BUS DRIVER CAME BACK AND SAID, "MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE BUS."

AND JACK REFUSED.

HE SAID, "I WILL NOT."

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: I IGNORED HIM.

I HAD JUST SEEN THE ARMY REGULATIONS THAT HAD BEEN SENT OUT: NO DISCRIMINATION ON ANY ARMY VEHICLE ON AN ARMY POST IN THE UNITED STATES.

I REFUSED TO ALLOW THIS CIVILIAN TO DICTATE TO ME WHERE I WAS GONNA SIT.

EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL RIGHT IF I HAD BEEN A "YASSUH BOSS" TYPE.

NARRATOR: AT THE LAST STOP ON THE BASE, THE BUS DRIVER DEMANDED JACKIE'S IDENTIFICATION.

A WHITE WOMAN THREATENED TO PRESS CHARGES.

WITNESSES RECALLED JACKIE SWEARING AT HER, BUT ROBINSON CLAIMED THAT HE HAD ONLY TOLD THE BUS DRIVER, "QUIT ... WITH ME."

THE MILITARY POLICE ARRIVED AND WERE DISRESPECTFUL TO ROBINSON.

HE REFUSED TO BACK DOWN.

BRYANT: THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BLACK MEN IN 1944 WHO CHALLENGED WHITE AUTHORITY IN SUCH A BOLD WAY, NOT JUST REFUSING TO GIVE UP HIS SEAT, NOT JUST REFUSING TO DO WHAT HE WAS TOLD, BUT TO ACTIVELY STAND UP AND SWEAR AT THEM.

EARLY: THE FACT THAT HE STOOD UP AND HE SPOKE IN A VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE WAY TO THE OFFICERS THAT CAME WAS EXTREMELY THREATENING...AH... AND EXTREMELY UNSETTLING TO THE WHITE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.

HE WAS VERY LUCKY IN MANY RESPECTS THAT HE WASN'T... UM...THAT IT DIDN'T TURN VIOLENT.

NARRATOR: ROBINSON WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH INSUBORDINATION.

THE TRIAL BEGAN ON AUGUST 2, 1944.

IN HIS TESTIMONY, JACKIE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD THREATENED A PRIVATE WHO HAD INSULTED HIM.

"IF YOU EVER CALL ME A NIGGER AGAIN I'LL BREAK YOU IN TWO," HE'D SAID.

WHEN ASKED WHAT THE WORD NIGGER MEANT, ROBINSON SAID, "MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A SLAVE, "AND SHE SAID THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD "WAS A LOW, UNCOUTH PERSON.

"I DON'T CONSIDER THAT I AM LOW AND UNCOUTH.

I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF A NIGGER AT ALL."

MAN: JACK AS A YOUNG MAN ALWAYS RAILED AGAINST SEGREGATION.

HE ALWAYS CARRIED HIMSELF WITH A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN A WAY THAT SAYS, "I WILL NOT BE IGNORED.

I WILL NOT BE DENIED."

WHAT YOU SEE AT THE FOREFRONT OF JACK'S CONSCIOUSNESS AT ALL TIMES IS THE FACT THAT HE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE RACE TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'LL WIN FULL EQUALITY.

AND JACK IN THAT SENSE IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL RACE MAN.

NARRATOR: ROBINSON WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES.

BUT HE WAS DISGUSTED WITH THE WAY THE ARMY HAD TREATED HIM.

HE WROTE A SHARPLY WORDED LETTER TO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, ASKING TO BE RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY.

THE ARMY GRANTED HIM AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE.

[EXPLOSION] WHILE ROBINSON WAS ON TRIAL, THE 761ST BATTALION HAD GONE OFF TO WAR.

THEY BECAME THE FIRST ARMORED UNIT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS TO SEE COMBAT.

ONE DAY WHILE WAITING FOR WORD OF HIS RELEASE, ROBINSON HAD WALKED PAST A BASEBALL FIELD WHERE A SOLDIER WAS PRACTICING HIS CURVEBALL.

AFTER THE TWO PLAYED CATCH, THE SOLDIER TOLD JACKIE THAT THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS OF THE NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE WERE LOOKING FOR GOOD PLAYERS.

WHEN ROBINSON RETURNED TO PASADENA, HIS MOTHER SUGGESTED THAT HE CALL RACHEL.

THEY WERE STILL ESTRANGED.

"AFTER THE FIRST FEW WORDS," HE RECALLED, "I KNEW SHE WAS HAPPY TO HEAR FROM ME.

"I SET SOME KIND OF SPEED RECORD GETTING TO SAN FRANCISCO."

THEY AGREED TO RESUME THEIR ENGAGEMENT.

RACHEL ROBINSON: I FELT HE ADORED ME.

AND I CHERISHED THAT.

HE DIDN'T JUST RESPECT ME, HE NEEDED ME.

HE...AH...WANTED ME TO DO THINGS WITH HIM.

HE...AH...WAS....AH...LOVING IN, IN THE WAY HE APPROACHED ME.

THERE WAS THAT KIND OF SHARING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

I SAW THE POTENTIAL IN HIM TO GO SOMEPLACE.

AND EVEN TAKE A KIND OF LEADERSHIP ROLE IN WHAT HE DID.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE FUTURE HELD...AH....

I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A FUTURE.

AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.

NARRATOR: IN LATE MARCH, 1945, JACKIE ROBINSON REPORTED TO THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS SPRING TRAINING CAMP IN HOUSTON, WHERE HE MADE THE TEAM AS SHORTSTOP.

MAN: WHEN JACKIE CAME TO THE MONARCHS, WE'D BEEN GOING FOR 30 YEARS, GOING TO THIS FILLING STATION IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'D BUY THE GAS BUT WE COULDN'T USE THE RESTROOM.

JACKIE WANTED TO USE THE RESTROOM, SO JACKIE SAY, "I'M GOING TO THE RESTROOM."

MAN SAY, "BOY, YOU CAN'T GO TO THAT RESTROOM."

JACKIE SAID, "TAKE THE HOSE OUT THE TANK."

TOOK THE, TAKE THE HOSE OUT THE TANK.

THIS GUY GONNA SELL 50 GALLONS, I MEAN 100 GALLONS OF GAS.

HE AIN'T GOING TO SELL 100 GALLONS OF GAS IN ANOTHER MONTH.

SEE, SO HE SAY, "WELL, THEN, I TELL YOU WHAT."

SAY, JACKIE SAID, "WE DON'T GET, WE CAN'T GO TO RESTROOM, "WE WON'T GET ANY GAS HERE.

WE GET IT SOMEPLACE ELSE."

HE SAID, "WELL, YOU BOYS CAN GO TO THE RESTROOM BUT DON'T STAY LONG."

SO, ACTUALLY, HE STARTED SOMETHING THERE.

NOW, EVERY PLACE WE WOULD GO, WE WANTED TO KNOW FIRST COULD WE USE THE RESTROOM.

IF WE COULDN'T USE THE RESTROOM--NO GAS.

NARRATOR: JACKIE HATED LIFE IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES.

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: THE TEAMS WERE POORLY FINANCED.

TRAVEL SCHEDULES WERE UNBELIEVABLY HECTIC.

SOME OF THE CRUMMY EATING JOINTS WOULD NOT SERVE US AT ALL.

YOU WERE LUCKY IF THEY MAGNANIMOUSLY PERMITTED YOU TO CARRY OUT SOME GREASY HAMBURGERS IN A PAPER BAG WITH A CONTAINER OF COFFEE.

YOU WERE REALLY LIVING WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO GET A PLATE OF COLD CUTS.

RACHEL ROBINSON: BUT WHAT HE LOVED ABOUT IT WAS BEING WITH SATCHEL PAIGE AND SOME OF THE GREATS.

AND HE GOT A CHANCE TO LEARN FROM THEM AND GOT A CHANCE TO ASSOCIATE WITH THEM.

NARRATOR: ROBINSON HAD PLAYED-- AND PLAYED WELL--IN ONLY A FEW EXHIBITION GAMES IN EARLY APRIL, WHEN HE GOT A CALL FROM WENDELL SMITH, THE "PITTSBURGH COURIER" SPORTSWRITER.

UNDER PRESSURE FROM AN ACTIVIST CITY COUNCILMAN, THE BOSTON RED SOX HAD RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO STAGE A TRYOUT FOR 3 BLACK PLAYERS.

WENDELL SMITH ARRANGED FOR MARVIN WILLIAMS OF THE PHILADELPHIA STARS, SAM JETHROE OF THE CLEVELAND BUCKEYES, AND JACKIE ROBINSON OF THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS TO TRAVEL TO BOSTON TO AUDITION AT FENWAY PARK.

"NOT FOR ONE MINUTE DID WE BELIEVE THE TRYOUT WAS SINCERE," ROBINSON REMEMBERED.

HE RETURNED TO THE MONARCHS AND NONE OF THE 3 PLAYERS EVER HEARD FROM THE RED SOX AGAIN.

MEANWHILE, KENNESAW MOUNTAIN LANDIS, WHO HAD DONE MORE THAN ANY OTHER TO PERPETUATE BASEBALL'S COLOR LINE, HAD DIED.

THE NEW COMMISSIONER, HAPPY CHANDLER, AN EX-SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY, SEEMED WILLING AT LEAST TO DISCUSS INTEGRATION, TELLING ONE BLACK REPORTER THAT HE OPPOSED "BARRING NEGROES FROM BASEBALL JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NEGROES."

BRANCH RICKEY SAW AN OPENING AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE HIS PLANS.

THEN HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM WENDELL SMITH, WHO HAD JUST ATTENDED THE TRYOUT HELD BY THE RED SOX.

ONE OF THE 3 BLACK PLAYERS HAD ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED THE SCOUTS.

HIS NAME WAS JACKIE ROBINSON.

RICKEY QUICKLY DISPATCHED HIS SCOUTS TO SEE ROBINSON PLAY.

THE REPORTS WERE PROMISING.

HE BATTED WELL WITH TWO STRIKES, BUNTED BEAUTIFULLY, AND WAS A STANDOUT AT SHORTSTOP.

RICKEY ALSO WANTED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE MAN HIMSELF.

OLD FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES TOLD HIM ABOUT JACKIE'S HAIR-TRIGGER TEMPER, HIS EARLY SCRAPES WITH THE POLICE, AND HOW, ONE FORMER TEAMMATE SAID, HE WAS ALWAYS "SHOOTING OFF HIS MOUTH ABOUT HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS."

THORN: IF RICKEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE BEST BALL PLAYER IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES, HE WOULD HAVE SIGNED MONTE IRVIN OR HE WOULD HAVE SIGNED SAM JETHROE.

THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TWO LOGICAL CANDIDATES.

ROBINSON WAS NOT IN THEIR LEAGUE IN TERMS OF DEMONSTRATED ABILITY AT THE NEGRO LEAGUE LEVEL.

BUT RICKEY WAS NOT SHOPPING MERELY FOR BASEBALL ABILITY; HE WENT SHOPPING FOR CHARACTER.

RACHEL ROBINSON: HE NOT ONLY NEEDED A TALENTED PERSON BUT HE NEEDED SOMEONE WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY FIGHT BACK.

HE NEEDED A SOLDIER.

[SHIP'S HORN BLOWS] [PEOPLE CHEERING] BELAFONTE: WE CAME HOME TO CELEBRATE.

AND WE FOUND THAT AT THE TABLE OF VICTORY THERE'D BEEN NO PLACE SETTINGS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

WE HAD NO RIGHT AT THAT FEAST.

NARRATOR: THE SECOND WORLD WAR HAD PUT IN STARK RELIEF THE DISCRIMINATION THAT AFRICAN- AMERICANS CONTINUED TO FACE.

BLACK SOLDIERS RETURNED FROM FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM OVERSEAS ONLY TO FIND THEY WERE STILL BEING DENIED FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY AT HOME.

BELAFONTE: WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

WE DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND WOULD FIGHT FOR MANY, MANY MORE YEARS TO GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

OUR STRUGGLE WAS FAR FROM OVER.

NARRATOR: WITH THE END OF THE WAR, THE CAMPAIGN TO INTEGRATE BASEBALL WAS REINVIGORATED.

EIG: YOU HAD COMMUNISTS ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN NEW YORK CITY.

YOU HAD A MUCH STRONGER LABOR MOVEMENT STARTING TO TAKE HOLD.

BASEBALL WAS SEEN AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

BECAUSE IT WAS SO PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT WAS SO BELOVED, A LOT OF THESE GROUPS THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN EASIER TARGET, AND ONE THAT WOULD REALLY HAVE GREAT SYMBOLIC STRENGTH.

SO, A LOT OF THEIR EFFORTS WERE CONCENTRATED ON PUSHING BASEBALL OWNERS TO THINK ABOUT INTEGRATING.

MAN: THE PAPER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY WAS CALLED THE "DAILY WORKER," AND IT HAD A ONE-MAN SPORTS SECTION, AND HIS NAME WAS LESTER RODNEY.

AND HE CAMPAIGNED TIRELESSLY AND PASSIONATELY ON THE ISSUE OF BLACKS BELONG IN ORGANIZED BASEBALL.

NARRATOR: WHEN YANKEES' STAR JOE DIMAGGIO TOLD WHITE REPORTERS THAT THE NEGRO LEAGUE'S SATCHEL PAIGE WAS THE BEST PITCHER HE'D EVER FACED, "THE DAILY WORKER" WAS THE ONLY PAPER THAT PRINTED HIS REMARKS.

ON OPENING DAY 1945, COMMUNIST PARTY PROTESTERS HAD GREETED FANS OUTSIDE YANKEE STADIUM WITH BANNERS READING, "IF WE CAN STOP BULLETS, WHY NOT BALLS?"

BENJAMIN DAVIS, A COMMUNIST CITY COUNCILMAN FROM HARLEM, HANDED OUT FLYERS DEPICTING A DEAD BLACK SOLDIER AND A BLACK BASEBALL PLAYER.

THE CAPTION READ, "GOOD ENOUGH TO DIE FOR HIS COUNTRY, BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ORGANIZED BASEBALL."

NEW YORK CITY'S PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN MAYOR, FIORELLO LAGUARDIA, ALSO GOT INVOLVED.

HE URGED THE CITY'S 3 BIG LEAGUE CLUBS TO SIGN BLACK PLAYERS AND FORMED A COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THEIR DISCRIMINATORY HIRING PRACTICES.

THORN: RICKEY STARTED TO GET PRESSURE AND HE FEARED THAT NOT ONLY HIS PLACE IN HISTORY, BUT HIS ENTIRE PLAN, WOULD UNRAVEL AND THAT HE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE SEEN AS RESPONDING TO POLITICAL PRESSURES BY SIGNING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

RICKEY WANTED TO DO IT HIS OWN WAY.

NARRATOR: BRANCH RICKEY CALLED HIS SCOUT CLYDE SUKEFORTH.

SUKEFORTH: WELL, HE CALLED ME AND HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO SEE A GAME IN CHICAGO, FRIDAY NIGHT."

THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS ARE PLAYING IN THERE WITH THE CHICAGO LINCOLN GIANTS.

HE SAID, "PAYIN' PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO A FELLA NAMED ROBINSON."

NARRATOR: AFTER THE GAME, SUKEFORTH INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO ROBINSON AND EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD COME ON BEHALF OF BRANCH RICKEY.

SUKEFORTH: HE WAS POURING THE QUESTIONS TO ME ABOUT "WHY IS RICKEY INTERESTED IN ME?"

AND THE MORE YOU TALKED TO THE GUY THE MORE YOU WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE GUY.

THE DETERMINATION WRITTEN ALL OVER HIM.

AND I SAID, "WE'LL GO INTO BROOKLYN SUNDAY NIGHT AND I'M SURE RICKEY CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS."

NARRATOR: AT 10:00 ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 28, 1945, SUKEFORTH MET ROBINSON OUTSIDE THE DODGERS OFFICES ON MONTAGUE STREET AND USHERED HIM UPSTAIRS TO MEET BRANCH RICKEY.

INSIDE, RICKEY ROSE, CIGAR IN HAND, AND GREETED ROBINSON--AND THEN RETURNED TO HIS SEAT BEHIND HIS GREAT MAHOGANY DESK, WHERE HE QUIETLY STARED AT JACKIE, SUKEFORTH RECALLED, "AS IF HE WERE TRYING TO GET INSIDE THE MAN."

ROBINSON STARED RIGHT BACK.

RACHEL ROBINSON: WHEN HE FIRST MET JACK HE SAID, "DO YOU HAVE A WOMAN?"

AND JACK SAID, "YES."

HE SAID, "WELL, YOU'LL NEED HER."

AND HE SORT OF PREDICTED THAT.

AND, AND THAT I THINK WAS PART OF HIS PLAN.

I WAS A PART OF HIS PLAN.

NARRATOR: RICKEY ENCOURAGED ROBINSON TO MARRY RACHEL.

THEN, AFTER A FLURRY OF OTHER PERSONAL QUESTIONS, TURNED THE CONVERSATION TO BASEBALL.

SUKEFORTH: HE SAID, "WHAT I NEED IS MORE THAN A GREAT PLAYER.

I NEED A MAN THAT WILL TAKE ABUSE, INSULTS," AND HE SAID, AH, "IN OTHER WORDS, CARRY THE FLAG FOR THE RACE."

MR. RICKEY TOOK ROBINSON INTO EVERY POSSIBLE NEGATIVE SITUATION HE WOULD ENCOUNTER.

HE SCREAMED IN HIS FACE EVERY EXPLETIVE THAT ROBINSON WOULD EVER HEAR.

AND HE SAID FINALLY, "THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BE "THE FIRST MAN TO DO THIS, IS YOU'LL HAVE TO PROMISE ME "THAT YOU WILL NOT ANSWER BACK.

YOU CANNOT WIN THIS BY A RETALIATION."

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: ALL MY LIFE I HAD BELIEVED IN PAYBACK, RETALIATION.

THE MOST LUXURIOUS POSSESSION, THE RICHEST TREASURE ANYBODY HAS, IS HIS PERSONAL DIGNITY.

I HAD A QUESTION AND IT WAS THE AGE-OLD ONE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO SELL YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.

COULD I TURN THE OTHER CHEEK?

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WOULD DO IT.

YET I KNEW THAT I MUST.

SUKEFORTH: AND HE SAID, "MR. RICKEY, "IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS GAMBLE, I'LL PROMISE YOU THERE WILL BE NO INCIDENT."

AND THAT WAS JUST WHAT RICKEY WANTED TO HEAR.

NARRATOR: BUT IF ROBINSON WANTED TO MAKE THE DODGERS, HE WOULD--LIKE MOST PLAYERS-- FIRST HAVE TO PROVE HIMSELF IN THE MINOR LEAGUES.

IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, RICKEY MET WITH SEVERAL OTHER TALENTED NEGRO LEAGUERS, INCLUDING A PROMISING YOUNG RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER NAMED DON NEWCOMBE AND A STOCKY, POWER-HITTING CATCHER, ROY CAMPANELLA, WHO HAD TERRORIZED NEGRO LEAGUE PITCHERS EVER SINCE HE MADE THE BALTIMORE ELITE GIANTS AT JUST 16 YEARS OLD.

THORN: WE HAVE JACKIE ROBINSON POSITED AS THE LONE PIONEER.

BRANCH RICKEY KNEW THAT ROBINSON WAS GOING TO BE HIS PRIMARY CARRIER OF THE NEWS, THE MESSAGE.

BUT HE INTENDED TO ALSO BRING IN SOME OTHER PLAYERS WHO WERE ROBINSON'S EQUAL OR SUPERIOR, SO AS TO NOT PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON JACKIE.

NARRATOR: RICKEY HAD HOPED TO SIGN ALL OF THEM, BUT HIS CAREFULLY LAID PLANS WERE DERAILED BY OUTSIDE EVENTS.

HE LEARNED THAT MAYOR LA GUARDIA WAS GOING TO USE HIS WEEKLY RADIO SHOW TO STEP UP PRESSURE ON THE 3 NEW YORK CLUBS TO INTEGRATE, UNDERCUTTING THE MOMENT RICKEY WANTED TO CONTROL.

HE HAD TO GO PUBLIC.

HE IMMEDIATELY ORDERED ROBINSON TO ATTEND A PRESS CONFERENCE IN MONTREAL, HOME OF THE DODGERS' TOP MINOR LEAGUE TEAM, THE ROYALS.

HECTOR RACINE, PRESIDENT OF THE ROYALS, INTRODUCED JACKIE ROBINSON TO STUNNED MONTREAL REPORTERS.

"WE ARE SIGNING THIS BOY," HE TOLD THE WRITERS, "BECAUSE WE THINK IT A MATTER OF FAIRNESS."

ROBINSON IMPRESSED EVERYONE WITH HIS INTELLIGENCE AND SELF-ASSURANCE, AND WHILE HE ACKNOWLEDGED CONCERN OVER HOW PLAYERS AND FANS WOULD RESPOND, HE INSISTED HE WAS READY TO TAKE THE CHANCE.

"MAYBE I'M DOING SOMETHING FOR MY RACE," HE TOLD THEM.

THE SIGNING DOMINATED THE FRONT PAGES OF BLACK NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING THE "PITTSBURGH COURIER," WHICH RAN 10 RELATED STORIES IN ITS NEXT ISSUE.

HARLEM CONGRESSMAN ADAM CLAYTON POWELL, JR. USED THE NEWS TO DEMAND EQUALITY ACROSS SOCIETY.

BRANCH RICKEY WAS HAILED AS THE NEXT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

ONE COLUMNIST FOR THE "COURIER" ADVISED ROBINSON TO EMULATE JOE LOUIS, WHO HAD ALWAYS BEEN CAREFUL TO APPEAR HUMBLE AND HAD AVOIDED SPEAKING PUBLICLY ABOUT MATTERS OF RACE.

IN THE WHITE PRESS, THE STORY WAS MOSTLY CONFINED TO THE SPORTS PAGES.

"DAILY NEWS" COLUMNIST JIMMY POWERS, DOUBTING THAT ROBINSON HAD THE SKILLS TO MAKE THE MAJORS, PRONOUNCED HIM A 1,000-TO-1 SHOT.

FEW PLAYERS MADE STATEMENTS.

BUT THE BROOKLYN DODGERS' STAR OUTFIELDER DIXIE WALKER, WHO CAME FROM LEEDS, ALABAMA, VOLUNTEERED THAT HE WASN'T WORRIED-- AS LONG AS JACKIE ROBINSON WASN'T JOINING HIS TEAM.

RACHEL ROBINSON: IT WAS MY MOTHER'S IDEA.

WE WOULD HAVE HAD A SMALL WEDDING AND BEEN FINISHED WITH IT.

SHE WANTED ME TO HAVE THE GOWN, THE BIGGEST CHURCH IN LOS ANGELES, AND ALL THE FLOWERS AND EVERYTHING.

I PUT A DRESS AWAY AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE AND PAID ON IT FOR A YEAR BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO TAKE IT OUT.

BUT WE DID HAVE A GRAND WEDDING.

NARRATOR: ON FEBRUARY 10, 1946, JACKIE AND RACHEL WERE MARRIED AT THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH OF CHRIST IN LOS ANGELES.

A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE NEWLYWEDS PREPARED TO LEAVE FOR SPRING TRAINING IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, WHERE JACKIE WAS TO TRY OUT FOR THE MONTREAL ROYALS.

BRANCH RICKEY HAD INVITED RACHEL TO JOIN HIM THERE, THE ONLY WIFE ALLOWED AT DODGERS CAMP.

THEY WERE TO FLY TO DAYTONA BEACH, WITH STOPOVERS IN NEW ORLEANS AND PENSACOLA, FLORIDA ALONG THE WAY.

RACHEL ROBINSON: WE NEVER REALLY HAD A HONEYMOON.

WE WENT TO OUR FIRST SPRING TRAINING ON OUR HONEYMOON.

IT WAS TERRIBLE.

WE WERE BUMPED FROM TWO PLANES TO GETTING THERE.

AND FORTUNATELY MALLIE HAD MET US AT THE AIRPORT WITH A SHOE BOX FULL OF FRIED CHICKEN AND SHE SAID, "TAKE THIS ON WITH YOU, YOU MAY NEED IT."

WE WERE EMBARRASSED.

WE WERE BUMPED IN NEW ORLEANS.

WE WERE BUMPED IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

AND WHITE PASSENGERS WERE PUT ON IN OUR PLACE.

I'D NEVER SEEN SIGNS ON RESTROOMS, ON WATER FAUCETS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

SO, I WENT INTO THE LADIES, WHITE LADIES BATHROOM JUST SO I COULD RECOVER, RECOVER MY OWN SENSE OF MYSELF.

AND I WALKED INTO THERE AND DID WHAT I HAD TO DO AND NODDED AT THE LADIES AND WALKED OUT.

WE FINALLY TOOK A BUS TO SPRING TRAINING FROM JACKSONVILLE.

ON OUR HONEYMOON.

WE WENT TO THE BACK OF THE BUS.

AND WHEN IT GOT DARK, I STARTED TO CRY BECAUSE I HAD FELT MY GREAT HUSBAND WHO HAD BEEN A FIGHTER AND A DIGNIFIED PERSON HAD BEEN REDUCED BY DISCRIMINATION AND BY SEGREGATION.

AND HE HAD SORT OF CAVED IN TO WHAT THE SOCIETY WANTED IN THE SOUTH.

BUT THE FRIED CHICKEN WAS GREAT.

NARRATOR: WHEN THEY FINALLY ARRIVED AT DAYTONA BEACH RUMPLED, EXHAUSTED, AND A DAY LATE, THEY WERE MET BY WENDELL SMITH, WHO WAS COVERING THE STORY FOR THE "PITTSBURGH COURIER."

RICKEY HAD ALSO HIRED HIM TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE ROBINSONS.

THAT NIGHT, ANGRY ABOUT THE INDIGNITIES HE'D SUFFERED ON THE TRIP, AND SKEPTICAL THAT HE WOULD GET A FAIR SHOT AT MAKING THE TEAM, ROBINSON TOLD WENDELL SMITH THAT HE WANTED TO QUIT.

SMITH STAYED UP LATE CONVINCING HIM THAT HIS SACRIFICE WOULD BE WORTH IT IF IT MEANT CLEARING A PATH FOR BLACKS INTO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

ROBINSON AGREED TO STAY.

RACHEL ROBINSON: AND WENDELL, FROM THAT POINT ON, WAS WITH US ALL OF THE TIME.

HE WOULD PICK UP ON THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING AND INFORM US OF THINGS IN ADVANCE SO WE'D BE PREPARED FOR THINGS.

AND THEN WE'D HAVE HIM TO SIT WITH WHEN THINGS WENT WRONG AND SAY, "WHAT HAPPENED?"

NARRATOR: ALSO AT SPRING TRAINING WAS JOHN WRIGHT, A LANKY PITCHER FROM NEW ORLEANS WHO HAD WON 30 GAMES WITH THE HOMESTEAD GRAYS.

ALTHOUGH WRIGHT WOULD FACE THE SAME INDIGNITIES, ROBINSON WOULD GET ALL THE ATTENTION-- AND FACE ALL THE PRESSURE.

WRIGHT WOULDN'T LAST LONG, AND SOON RETURNED TO THE NEGRO LEAGUES.

FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF SPRING TRAINING, THE MONTREAL TEAM WOULD PRACTICE IN SANFORD, 40 MILES FROM DAYTONA BEACH.

SUKEFORTH: THE THING THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET IS THAT FIRST DAY OF THAT SANFORD CAMP.

NEWSPAPERMEN, PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S A POSSIBLE RACE RIOT IN THE MAKING.

THAT'S THE FEELING.

AND THE TENSION-- YOU COULD ALMOST FEEL IT.

IT WAS SOMETHING.

I WALKED OUT WITH ROBINSON AND HE SAID, "WELL, THIS IS IT."

NARRATOR: THE PRESS BARRAGED JACKIE WITH QUESTIONS.

"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET ALONG WITH THESE WHITE BOYS?," ONE REPORTER ASKED.

JACKIE REMINDED THEM THAT HE'D SERVED WITH WHITES IN THE ARMY AND PLAYED ALONGSIDE THEM IN COLLEGE.

"WHAT'LL YOU DO IF A PITCHER THROWS AT YOUR HEAD?"

ANOTHER DEMANDED.

"I'LL DUCK," HE RESPONDED.

"ARE YOU AFTER PEE WEE REESE'S JOB?"

A THIRD ASKED.

"I CAN'T WORRY ABOUT BROOKLYN," HE REPLIED.

"I HAVEN'T MADE THE MONTREAL TEAM YET."

BUT AFTER TWO DAYS IN SANFORD, WENDELL SMITH GOT A CALL FROM RICKEY.

A GROUP OF LOCAL MEN HAD DEMANDED THAT THE TWO BLACK PLAYERS LEAVE TOWN IMMEDIATELY.

THERE WERE RUMORS THAT ANGRY WHITES WOULD SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE STAYING.

THEY RETREATED BACK TO THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF DAYTONA BEACH.

RACHEL ROBINSON: INDIVIDUAL DOUBTS, I KNOW I HAD THEM AND I'M SURE JACK HAD AT TIMES.

WHETHER WE COULD HOLD TOGETHER, WHETHER WE COULD FIGHT OFF THE, THE ATTACKS, WHETHER WE COULD STILL BE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE WANTED TO BE.

BUT WE DIDN'T TELL EACH OTHER THAT.

NARRATOR: ON MARCH 17, MONTREAL PLAYED ITS FIRST OFFICIAL EXHIBITION GAME AGAINST THE DODGERS, AT CITY ISLAND PARK IN DAYTONA BEACH.

MORE THAN 1,000 BLACK FANS TURNED OUT TO ROOT FOR JACKIE-- AND WERE CONFINED TO THE SEGREGATED SECTION.

RACHEL ROBINSON: AND THE STANDS GOT FILLED WITH BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAD TO SIT ON THE GROUND SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY, THEY NEVER GAVE THEM ENOUGH SPACE.

BUT THEIR ROOTING AND THEIR BEING THERE WITH HATS ON AND ALREADY PROUD, VERY PROUD OF HIM.

NARRATOR: 12-YEAR-OLD ED CHARLES LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ROYALS' PRACTICE FIELD.

CHARLES: EACH TIME HE COME TO THE PLATE WE JUST APPLAUD AND GET ALL HAPPY AND STUFF.

WE ALSO PRAYED THAT HE'D GET A HIT EVERY TIME HE COME TO BAT.

WE WANTED HIM TO BE PERFECT, YOU KNOW.

RACHEL ROBINSON: HE KNEW THAT IF HE FAILED THAT SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL PROGRESS IN AMERICA WAS GOING TO GET SET BACK.

AND HE FELT THE WEIGHT OF BLACK PEOPLE ON HIS SHOULDERS.

NARRATOR: WHEN THE ROYALS WENT ON THE ROAD, TEAMS IN JACKSONVILLE, SAVANNAH, AND RICHMOND REFUSED TO PLAY AGAINST ROBINSON.

IN DELAND, FLORIDA, THE CITY CANCELLED A GAME, CLAIMING THE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK.

IT WAS A DAY GAME.

BACK IN SANFORD, A GAME AGAINST THE ST. PAUL SAINTS BEGAN WITHOUT INCIDENT.

BUT IN THE THIRD INNING, THE LOCAL POLICE CHIEF STOPPED THE GAME AND THREATENED TO ARREST MONTREAL MANAGER CLAY HOPPER IF HE DIDN'T REMOVE ROBINSON FROM THE LINEUP.

ROBINSON WAS BENCHED.

ALL SPRING, JACKIE STRUGGLED AT THE PLATE.

ONE WHITE REPORTER OPENLY QUESTIONED WHETHER HE'D STILL BE AT TRAINING CAMP IF HE WERE WHITE.

BRANCH RICKEY REMAINED CALM.

"HE'LL HIT," HE TOLD ONE REPORTER.

"AND HE'LL BE QUITE A BALL PLAYER.

I'M SURE OF THAT."

RACHEL ACCOMPANIED HIM EVERYWHERE.

JACKIE BEGAN THINKING OF THEM AS A TEAM OF TWO, HE REMEMBERED, USING "WE" TO DESCRIBE EVEN THINGS HE HAD DONE ON THE FIELD.

RACHEL ROBINSON: IT WAS US AGAINST THE WORLD AND WE ENJOYED THAT AND KIND OF LAUGHED ABOUT IT AND... AND STRUTTED AROUND WITH THAT IN MIND.

AND SO IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO FEEL THAT, THAT...AH...

THEY COULDN'T SEPARATE US.

THEY COULD DO A LOT OF THINGS TO US, BUT THEY COULDN'T SEPARATE US.

NARRATOR: AS ROBINSON SETTLED IN AT SPRING TRAINING, HIS HITTING IMPROVED AND HE SOON WON A SPOT PLAYING SECOND BASE FOR THE MONTREAL ROYALS.

THE TEAM TRAVELED NORTH, WHERE THEY WOULD OPEN THEIR SEASON AGAINST THE JERSEY CITY GIANTS.

ON APRIL 18, 1946, THE CAPACITY CROWD AT ROOSEVELT STADIUM INCLUDED THOUSANDS OF BLACK FANS EAGER TO SEE JACKIE PLAY.

IN HIS SECOND AT-BAT, WITH TWO RUNNERS ON BASE, HE HIT A HOME RUN INTO THE LEFT FIELD STANDS.

ROBINSON FINISHED THE DAY 4-FOR-5, WITH TWO STOLEN BASES AND 4 RUNS SCORED.

MONTREAL WON, 14 TO ONE.

THE "NEW YORK TIMES" REFERRED TO IT AS A "BRILLIANT PERSONAL TRIUMPH."

TWO WEEKS LATER, THE ROBINSONS REACHED MONTREAL.

RACHEL ROBINSON: MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WAS TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE.

AND IN THE STATES, THAT'S WHERE DISCRIMINATION HITS YOU STRAIGHT IN THE FACE.

PEOPLE DON'T WANNA RENT TO YOU.

SO, I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND I EXPECTED TO BE REJECTED.

THE WOMAN CAME TO THE DOOR.

AND SHE SMILED AT ME AND SHE SAID, "COME IN."

AND SHE SHOWED ME AROUND THE APARTMENT.

AND THEN SHE MADE TEA AND HAD ME SIT FOR TEA.

AND THEN SHE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO BE SURE "TO USE MY LINENS AND MY CHINA.

AND I WANT YOU TO BE HERE."

AND THAT INTRODUCTION JUST SET UP MONTREAL FOR US.

IT WAS FABULOUS.

NARRATOR: THAT SPRING, RACHEL HAD LEARNED THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.

SHE KEPT THE NEWS TO HERSELF FOR A TIME SO THAT JACKIE COULD FOCUS ON BASEBALL.

MONTREAL FANS WELCOMED ROBINSON, BUT ON THE ROAD, OPPOSING FANS AND PLAYERS WERE LESS KIND.

PITCHERS AIMED AT HIS HEAD, BASE RUNNERS TRIED TO SPIKE HIM WITH THEIR CLEATS, CROWDS RAINED DOWN ABUSE.

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: I WAS OVERESTIMATING MY STAMINA AND UNDERESTIMATING THE BEATING I WAS TAKING.

I COULDN'T SLEEP AND OFTEN COULDN'T EAT.

THE DOCTOR WAS AFRAID I WAS GOING TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

HE ADVISED ME TO TAKE A BRIEF REST.

DOCTOR'S ORDERS OR NOT, I JUST COULDN'T KEEP MY MIND OFF BASEBALL.

NARRATOR: IN BALTIMORE, RACHEL SAT IN FRONT OF AN ANGRY WHITE FAN WHO SCREAMED ABOUT "THAT NIGGER SON OF A BITCH."

AND I'D SIT UP TALL AND KINDA, Y'KNOW, TRY TO WH...FEND IT OFF.

I WAS VERY PROTECTIVE, PROBABLY MORE THAN I NEEDED TO BE.

NARRATOR: IN SYRACUSE, AN OPPOSING PLAYER THREW A BLACK CAT ONTO THE FIELD, CALLING OUT, "HEY, JACKIE, HERE'S YOUR COUSIN."

SHARON ROBINSON: MY FATHER'S FURIOUS, GETS UP TO BAT; HITS A DOUBLE.

ON THE NEXT...UM...PERSON UP AT BAT, MY FATHER COMES HOME.

HE LOOKS OVER AT THAT, AT HIS OPPONENTS AND SAYS, "HEY, I GUESS MY COUSIN'S HAPPY NOW."

NARRATOR: IN SPITE OF THE PRESSURE, JACKIE PLAYED BRILLIANTLY, FINISHING THE SEASON WITH A LEAGUE-LEADING .349 BATTING AVERAGE.

MONTREAL WON THE PENNANT BY 18 1/2 GAMES, THEIR BEST SEASON EVER.

THE ROYALS TRAVELED TO KENTUCKY TO FACE THE LOUISVILLE COLONELS IN THE MINOR LEAGUE'S WORLD SERIES.

FOR THE FIRST 3 GAMES, WITH FANS HURLING INSULTS, ROBINSON STRUGGLED AT THE PLATE.

THE COLONELS TOOK TWO OF THE FIRST 3.

BUT BACK IN MONTREAL, JACKIE STARTED TO HIT AGAIN.

IN GAME 5, HE HAD A DOUBLE AND A TRIPLE, AND SCORED TWICE.

HE GOT TWO MORE HITS IN GAME 6, AS THE ROYALS BEAT THE COLONELS TO WIN WHAT WAS CALLED THE LITTLE WORLD SERIES.

ECSTATIC MONTREAL FANS WOULDN'T LET ROBINSON LEAVE THE STADIUM.

RACHEL ROBINSON: JACK WAS DRESSED AND CAME OUT OF THE CLUBHOUSE AND A MOB PICKED HIM UP ON THEIR SHOULDERS AND RAN DOWN THE STREET SINGING AND CELEBRATING HIM.

NARRATOR: "IT WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY DAY IN HISTORY," WROTE SAM MALTIN IN THE "PITTSBURGH COURIER," "THAT A BLACK MAN RAN FROM A WHITE MOB WITH LOVE INSTEAD OF LYNCHING ON ITS MIND."

JACKIE'S FIRST SEASON IN THE MINORS HAD BEEN AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.

THE ROBINSONS RETURNED TO LOS ANGELES, WHERE, IN NOVEMBER, RACHEL GAVE BIRTH TO A SON, JACK ROOSEVELT ROBINSON, JR.

THEY HAD SURVIVED THE ROLLERCOASTER OF 1946, BUT THEY STILL DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER JACKIE HAD A FUTURE WITH THE DODGERS.

ERSKINE: MR. RICKEY SENT BUZZIE BAVASI TO MONTREAL TO SEE JACKIE IN HIS FIRST YEAR IN THE MINORS.

AND BUZZIE HAPPENED TO SIT IN THE AREA WHERE THE WIVES WERE.

RACHEL WAS IN THE GROUP.

WHEN BUZZIE SAW HER, LISTENED TO HER, AND REALIZED SHE HERSELF WAS A COLLEGE GRADUATE AND VERY INTELLIGENT, A VERY CLASSY PERSON, HE WENT BACK AND SAID TO MR. RICKEY, "IF JACKIE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO PICK HER FOR HIS WIFE, HE'S THE GUY YOU WANT."

MAN: ♪ KNOCK ME A KISS, YOU NEVER MISS ♪ ♪ WHEN I'M READY TO GO ♪ ♪ BUT IF YOU CAN'T SMILE AND SAY YES ♪ ♪ PLEASE DON'T CRY AND SAY NO ♪ OBAMA: I THINK ANY TIME YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AN ENDEAVOR THAT INVOLVES ENORMOUS STRESS, FINDING YOURSELF QUESTIONED IN TERMS OF WHETHER YOU SHOULD BE WHERE YOU ARE.

TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK, UH, AND HAVE A, HAVE REFUGE, UH, WITH SOMEONE WHO YOU KNOW LOVES YOU, AND YOU KNOW HAS YOUR BACK, UM...YOU KNOW THAT'S PRICELESS.

WOMAN: JUST BEING ABLE TO FIND THAT SOLACE AND THAT PEACE TO WITHSTAND ALL THE NEGATIVE ENERGY.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO DO THAT ALONE, SO, THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAMILY, THAN, THAN A REAL PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHAT MADE HIM SUCH A GREAT MAN, BECAUSE HE HAD THE JUDGMENT TO FIND A PARTNER, UH, THAT, WELL-- I, I THINK THAT THAT'S TRUE.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A SIGN OF HIS CHARACTER, THAT HE CHOSE A WOMAN THAT WAS HIS EQUAL.

I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD HAVE HAD JACKIE ROBINSON WITHOUT RACHEL.

NARRATOR: IN AUGUST OF 1946, BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL'S OWNERS HAD GATHERED FOR A RARE SUMMER MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FINDINGS OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE HEADED BY YANKEES GENERAL MANAGER LARRY MACPHAIL.

THE REPORT OFFERED A LITANY OF ARGUMENTS JUSTIFYING THE CONTINUED EXCLUSION OF BLACKS FROM THE MAJOR LEAGUES.

LOWENFISH: THE MACPHAIL REPORT SAID THAT THE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTIES COULD DECLINE AND THAT WAS THE VEILED WAY OF SAYING BLACK FANS COMING INTO OUR BALLPARK WILL DRIVE WHITE FANS AWAY.

I MEAN, THE YANKEES INTO THE 1950S SAID BLUNTLY, YOU KNOW, OUR WESTCHESTER SUBURBAN FANS DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE BALLPARK WITH BLACK FANS.

NARRATOR: WHILE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE OWNERS WERE NOT EAGER TO SEE A BLACK PLAYER IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES, RICKEY KNEW THAT THERE REMAINED NO WRITTEN RULE THAT COULD KEEP HIM FROM PROMOTING ROBINSON FROM THE ROYALS TO THE DODGERS.

BUT FOR HIS EXPERIMENT TO BE A SUCCESS, HE WOULD NEED SUPPORT IN BROOKLYN.

EIG: HE WENT AND MET WITH MANY BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERS, PRIESTS, LAWYERS, AND SAID, "YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR FANS.

"YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE.

"YOU NEED TO TELL THEM NOT TO DRINK TOO MUCH AT THE BALLPARK "AND NOT TO COME TO THE BALLPARK DRUNK "AND NOT TO BRING BOOZE WITH THEM WHEN THEY COME.

"THEY'RE GOING TO BE REPRESENTING THEIR PEOPLE, THEIR RACE.

AND I NEED YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY BEHAVE."

AND THIS SEEMS PATRONIZING BUT, YOU SEE SOME OF THIS EXACT LANGUAGE BEING REPEATED IN THE BLACK NEWSPAPERS OF THE TIME URGING FANS, YOU KNOW, "WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

"LET'S NOT DO ANYTHING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR JACKIE ROBINSON THAN IT ALREADY IS."

NARRATOR: ACROSS THE MAJOR LEAGUES, SOUTHERNERS AND SOUTHERN CULTURE DOMINATED CLUBHOUSES.

MORE THAN 1/3 OF ALL MAJOR LEAGUERS HAILED FROM THE FORMER CONFEDERATE STATES.

THE DODGERS WERE NO EXCEPTION.

THE POPULAR VETERAN OUTFIELDER FRED "DIXIE" WALKER SPENT HIS OFF-SEASONS SELLING HARDWARE OUTSIDE OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

SOUTH CAROLINA-BORN PITCHER KIRBY HIGBE HAD ONCE TOLD A RADIO HOST THAT HE HAD STRENGTHENED HIS ARM AS A BOY BY "THROWING ROCKS AT NEGROES."

SHORTSTOP PEE WEE REESE WAS FROM LOUISVILLE AND HAD NEVER IN HIS LIFE, HE SAID, SHAKEN THE HAND OF A BLACK PERSON.

KAHN: PEE WEE'S FATHER WAS A RAILROAD DETECTIVE ON THE LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE.

HE TOOK PEE WEE TO A TREE AND HE SAID, "WHEN A NIGGER GETS UPPITY, THAT'S THE BRANCH WE HANG HIM FROM."

RICKEY FELT THAT WHEN THE PLAYERS SAW ROBINSON, THEY WOULD SAY, "WELL, HE'LL WIN US 5 OR 6 GAMES A YEAR, "WE'LL PASS THE CARDINALS, WE'LL GET IN THE WORLD SERIES, "AND WE'LL GET THAT PRECIOUS WORLD SERIES SHARE OF $6,000 OR $8,000."

RICKEY, WHO HAD A FINE SENSE OF MONEY, THOUGHT THE PLAYERS WOULD SAY, "THAT'LL TRUMP EVERYTHING."

AU CONTRAIRE.

DIXIE WALKER, DODGER RIGHT FIELDER, VERY POPULAR PLAYER, VERY CHARMING FELLER, HE PREPARED A PETITION SAYING, "IF YOU PROMOTE A BLACK MAN, WE WILL NOT PLAY."

EIG: THERE PROBABLY WAS A PETITION.

THERE CERTAINLY WAS AT LEAST A DRIVE, A MOVEMENT.

IT WENT FAR ENOUGH TO GET BRANCH RICKEY'S ATTENTION AND HE DECIDED HE WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND HE CALLED LEO DUROCHER AND SAID, "STOMP THIS FIRE OUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE CAN'T LET IT SPREAD."

KAHN: AND DUROCHER HEARING ABOUT IT, CALLED A MEETING OF THE PLAYERS AND SAID, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR PETITION.

"IF A GUY CAN WIN GAMES FOR ME, I DON'T CARE IF HE'S WHITE OR BLACK OR STRIPED OR GREEN, HE'S GONNA PLAY FOR ME."

NARRATOR: RICKEY MET WITH EACH DISSENTER.

KIRBY HIGBE STOOD FIRM, AND WAS TRADED TO PITTSBURGH.

CARL FURILLO BACKED DOWN IMMEDIATELY.

DIXIE WALKER LEFT A NOTE FOR RICKEY ASKING TO BE TRADED.

ERSKINE: LEEDS, ALABAMA IS WHERE DIXIE WALKER HAD HIS HARDWARE STORE.

HE HAD TO GO HOME AND ANSWER TO HIS CUSTOMERS, TO HIS FRIENDS, "DO YOU MEAN YOU SHOWER WITH THIS GUY?

DO YOU EAT WITH THIS GUY?

WE DON'T DO THAT."

NARRATOR: RICKEY EXPLORED TRADING WALKER, BUT DECIDED THAT HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO LOSE HIS STAR OUTFIELDER.

AND HE CONTINUED TO COUNT ON LEO DUROCHER TO KEEP THE TEAM IN LINE.

BUT DUROCHER'S ABRASIVE PERSONALITY, HIS WOMANIZING, AND HIS LINKS TO GAMBLERS CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.

NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: IN BROOKLYN, A BASEBALL TIME BOMB BLASTS LEO DUROCHER RIGHT OUT OF EBBETS FIELD.

THE DODGERS MANAGER IS SUSPENDED FOR ONE YEAR BY COMMISSIONER CHANDLER.

DUROCHER, ADMIRED BY MANY, CRITICIZED BY OTHERS, IS BANISHED FOR "AN ACCUMULATION OF UNPLEASANT INCIDENTS DETRIMENTAL TO BASEBALL."

BUT BASEBALL IS BASEBALL.

RIGHT OR WRONG, NO MAN IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME ITSELF.

NARRATOR: ON APRIL 10, IN THE SIXTH INNING OF A PRE-SEASON GAME BETWEEN THE ROYALS AND THE DODGERS, REPORTERS WERE HANDED A PRESS RELEASE.

"THE BROOKLYN DODGERS TODAY PURCHASED THE CONTRACT OF "JACKIE ROOSEVELT ROBINSON FROM THE MONTREAL ROYALS.

HE WILL REPORT IMMEDIATELY."

THE NEXT MORNING, THE DODGERS MADE IT OFFICIAL, SIGNING ROBINSON TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR $5,000, THE LEAGUE MINIMUM.

JACKIE AND RACHEL MOVED INTO A SMALL ROOM AT THE MCALPIN HOTEL ON 32ND STREET IN MANHATTAN WITH JACKIE, JR.

THEY TOOK TURNS EATING AT A NEARBY CAFETERIA, AND WARMED THE BABY'S BOTTLES WITH A HOT PLATE.

REPORTERS OFTEN KNOCKED ON THE DOOR FOR AN INTERVIEW, AND CROWDED INTO THE ROOM, HUNG WITH DRYING DIAPERS.

MEANWHILE, AS OPENING DAY APPROACHED, PLAYERS IN CLUBHOUSES ACROSS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WERE DISCUSSING A STRIKE TO PROTEST THE ARRIVAL OF A BLACK MAN IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

THORN: THE MOMENT THAT JACKIE ROBINSON SET FOOT ON THE FIELD, DIXIE WALKER WAS TO HAVE TELEGRAMMED THE OTHER CLUBHOUSES AND THEY WERE TO HAVE ACTED IN ACCORDANCE.

OF ALL THE CLUBS THAT TOOK THE VOTE ON WHETHER TO STRIKE OR NOT, ONLY THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES VOTED NOT TO ENGAGE IN THE STRIKE AND IT WAS BY A VOTE OF 13 TO 12.

HANK WYSE OF THE CUBS REPORTED THAT 24 OF THE 25 CUBS AGREED TO STRIKE.

EARLY: THE BIGGEST DILEMMA FOR AMERICA WAS RACE.

AMERICA NEEDED TO LIVE UP TO ITS CREED OF DEMOCRACY.

AND HERE IT IS BEING SYMBOLICALLY PLAYED OUT ON THIS BASEBALL FIELD.

SO, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF AT STAKE WITH THIS.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT OF BOTH HOPE AND TENSION...AH...

IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, WHO WANT TO SEE HIM FAIL AND WANT TO SEE THIS WHOLE EXPERIMENT FAIL.

NARRATOR: DETERMINED TO SEE THE EXPERIMENT SUCCEED, BRANCH RICKEY HAD ALREADY APPROACHED RED BARBER FOR SUPPORT.

RICKEY KNEW HIS POPULAR BROADCASTER WOULD HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT ROBINSON'S ARRIVAL.

BARBER: I WAS BORN IN COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI.

I GREW UP IN, AH, SANFORD, FLORIDA, WENT TO A SEGREGATED UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

AH, AH, TH-, THIS WAS SOMETHING I, I, I HAD NEVER EVEN, EVEN DREAMED OF AND IT WAS A SHOCK TO ME.

I THINK IT IS ONLY HONEST TO, TO, SAY SO.

BUT THEN I BEGAN TO, TO REALIZE CERTAIN THINGS.

ONE: I HAD NOTHING TO DO ABOUT BEING BORN WHITE.

I COULD HAVE BEEN BORN BLACK AND SO, THEREFORE, I SHOULDN'T BE TOO PROUD ABOUT THE FACT THAT I HAD A WHITE SKIN.

I HADN'T, AH, SELECTED IT.

AND SUDDENLY I REALIZED, AH, THAT I WAS A REPORTER.

I WAS NOT MR. RICKEY.

I WAS NOT MANAGER DUROCHER.

I WAS NOT ANY OF THE BALLPLAYERS.

ALL I WOULD HAVE TO DO WHEN THE BLACK MAN CAME TO THE WHITE DODGERS WAS SIMPLY REPORT WHAT HE DID ON THE FIELD.

ON THAT FIRST DAY, I WAS VERY, VERY ANXIOUS.

AND I HAD MY SMALL CHILD WITH ME.

SO, I USED HIM AS A WAY OF KIND OF MANAGING THE DAY.

WE WENT OUTSIDE TO GET A CAB.

THE CABS DIDN'T WANNA GO TO BROOKLYN AND I DON'T THINK THEY WANTED TO PICK ME UP EITHER BECAUSE OF MY COLOR.

BUT, UM, WE GOT TO THE BALLPARK.

AND I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE HOT DOG STAND AND ASKED THEM TO HEAT JACKIE'S BOTTLE OF MILK SO THAT I COULD TAKE CARE OF HIM.

AND THEN MRS. CAMPANELLA'S MOTHER PUT HIM UNDER HER FUR COAT BECAUSE I HAD HIM DRESSED IN SPRING CLOTHES AND HE WAS FREEZING.

SO, WE PUT HIM IN, UNDER HER, AND THEN I COULD SETTLE DOWN AND WATCH THE GAME.

NARRATOR: APRIL 15, 1947 WAS OPENING DAY.

26,623 PEOPLE, 6,000 LESS THAN CAPACITY, TURNED OUT TO SEE THE BROOKLYN DODGERS FACE THE BOSTON BRAVES AT EBBETS FIELD.

PLAYING FIRST BASE FOR THE DODGERS WAS NUMBER 42, JACKIE ROBINSON.

MAN: I SAT BEHIND THE VISITOR'S DUGOUT.

AND I WAS SO PROUD IN WATCHING JACKIE.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE THERE TO SEE JACKIE THAT DAY.

THEY WATCHED AND THEY ENJOYED AND THEY WORSHIPED HIM.

THEY WORSHIPED JACKIE ROBINSON, AS DID I.

MAN: THE PITCHER THAT DAY WAS JOHNNY SAIN, A 24-GAME WINNER WHO HAD A MEAN CURVE BALL.

AND THE TEST OF A MAJOR LEAGUER IS HITTING THAT CURVE BALL.

WELL, JACKIE DIDN'T GET A HIT, BUT HE NEVER STRUCK OUT.

I WAS CONVINCED, AND I THINK A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE CONVINCED, THIS GUY CAN PLAY THE GAME.

NARRATOR: BATTING SECOND, ROBINSON DREW A WALK, REACHED ON AN ERROR, AND SCORED A RUN.

AT FIRST BASE, HE HANDLED EACH CHANCE FLAWLESSLY.

THE DODGERS WON 5-3.

FOR THE BLACK PRESS, JACKIE'S ARRIVAL WAS A LANDMARK EVENT.

BUT IN OTHER PAPERS, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DAY WENT UNRECOGNIZED.

THORN: SOME PAPERS DID NOT EVEN MENTION THAT HE WAS A NEGRO.

CERTAINLY HE WAS NOT THE LEAD STORY.

THE LEAD STORY WAS THE DODGERS WERE PLAYING THE BRAVES.

AND ONE TEAM WAS GONNA WIN AND ONE TEAM WAS GONNA LOSE.

IN RETROSPECT, IT SEEMS A HUGE MILESTONE.

RACHEL ROBINSON: FOR JACK TO HAVE ARRIVED, BEEN ABLE TO PLAY, THERE WAS A CERTAIN SENSE THAT THERE'S CHANGE POSSIBLE IN AMERICA.

AND WE GOT IT FROM THE PRESS AND FROM THE FANS AND FROM EVEN OPPOSING PLAYERS.

SO, IT HAD SOME REAL SIGNIFICANCE AND WE'RE STILL CELEBRATING IT TO THIS VERY DAY.

NARRATOR: THE STRIKE NEVER MATERIALIZED.

NO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER WOULD EVER REFUSE TO TAKE THE FIELD AGAINST THE INTEGRATED BROOKLYN DODGERS.

ROBINSON'S FIRST WEEK PASSED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

IN A LOSS TO THE GIANTS AT THE POLO GROUNDS, JACKIE SCORED TWICE AND HIT HIS FIRST BIG LEAGUE HOME RUN.

BUT WHEN THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES CAME TO EBBETS FIELD, THEIR MANAGER, BEN CHAPMAN, A SHARP-TONGUED ALABAMAN KNOWN FOR HIS RUTHLESS BENCH JOCKEYING, DID HIS BEST TO UPSET ROBINSON.

MAN: AND WHEN JACKIE CAME TO BAT, HE JUST SAID, "HEY, BOY, I NEED A SHINE.

"COME SHINE MY SHOES.

"HEY, BOY, HOW COME YOU AIN'T PICKIN' COTTON?

HEY, BOY, COME OVER AND LET ME RUB YOUR HEAD FOR GOOD LUCK."

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: FOR ONE WILD AND RAGE-CRAZED MINUTE, I THOUGHT, "TO HELL WITH MR. RICKEY'S 'NOBLE EXPERIMENT.'

IT'S CLEAR IT WON'T SUCCEED."

I THOUGHT WHAT A GLORIOUS, CLEANSING THING IT WOULD BE TO LET GO.

TO HELL WITH THE IMAGE OF THE PATIENT BLACK FREAK.

I COULD THROW DOWN MY BAT, STRIDE OVER TO THAT PHILLIES DUGOUT, GRAB ONE OF THOSE WHITE SONS OF BITCHES, AND SMASH HIS TEETH IN WITH MY DESPISED BLACK FIST.

NARRATOR: HE DIDN'T.

BELAFONTE: HERE WE WERE WITH THESE QUESTIONS SEETHING IN AMERICA.

THE COUNTRY WAS AFLAME WITH THESE ISSUES OF RACE.

AND THIS GUY STEPS INTO THIS SPACE ASKING US TO SEE HIM NOT ONLY AS EQUAL, BUT AS SUPERIOR.

NA, NA, NA, NA, NA.

LET'S NIGGER HIM TO DEATH.

WE, WE'LL CHALLENGE HIS HUMANITY, WE'LL CHALLENGE HIS SENSE OF MANHOOD.

NOTHING SHALL BE...

AH...WITHHELD.

AND FOR HIM TO, TO RESIST THAT AND TO DO WHAT HE DID WAS IN ITSELF ITS OWN MIRACLE.

NARRATOR: ROBINSON FACED EVERYTHING RICKEY SAID HE WOULD.

PITCHERS THREW AT HIS HEAD.

MORE THAN ONCE, RUNNERS SPRINTING TOWARDS FIRST BASE SPIKED ROBINSON WITH THEIR CLEATS.

AND A HARD SLIDE BY ROBINSON WOULD NOT GO UNNOTICED BY OPPOSING INFIELDERS.

BEFORE BROOKLYN PLAYED BEN CHAPMAN'S PHILLIES IN PHILADELPHIA, BRANCH RICKEY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEAM.

DON'T "BRING THE NIGGER HERE," HE SAID.

"WE'RE JUST NOT READY FOR THAT SORT OF THING YET."

AND RICKEY SAID, "WELL, HE'S A MEMBER "IN GOOD STANDING OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE "AND IF YOU DON'T WANNA PLAY US WE'LL ACCEPT THE FORFEIT OF, OF THE GAME."

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: YOU THOUGHT OF PHILADELPHIA AS THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE, BUT YET, WHEN YOU WENT TO PHILADELPHIA, YOU COULDN'T STAY IN THE SAME HOTEL, YOU HAD TO FIND YOUR OWN ACCOMMODATIONS.

AND THEN THERE WAS BEN CHAPMAN AND SOME OF THE OTHER PHILLIES, WHO WERE VICIOUS AND UNCALLED FOR.

NARRATOR: DURING ONE GAME, CUBS SHORTSTOP LEN MERULLO KICKED JACKIE AS THEY UNTANGLED THEMSELVES AFTER A CLOSE PLAY AT SECOND.

AS THE BROOKLYN BENCH SHOUTED AT MERULLO, JACKIE ANGRILY PICKED HIMSELF UP BUT DIDN'T STRIKE BACK.

IN THE FACE OF EACH PROVOCATION, HE CONTROLLED HIS TEMPER.

THE BLACK PAPERS WERE SAYING THAT, "IF THIS WORKS, "WE CAN INTEGRATE THE MILITARY NEXT.

IF THIS WORKS, WE CAN INTEGRATE MORE COLLEGES NEXT."

ROBINSON WAS A TRIAL BALLOON AND EVERYBODY WAS WATCHING.

THORN: JACKIE WAS NOT UNCERTAIN ABOUT HIS SKILLS.

HE WAS NOT UNCERTAIN ABOUT HIS ABILITY.

HE DIDN'T SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY.

AND HE DID NOT TAKE INDIGNITY WITH A SMILE.

FOR HIM TO AGREE WITH RICKEY THAT HE WOULD ENDURE WHATEVER WAS THROWN AT HIM, ATE HIM ALIVE.

NARRATOR: AWAY FROM THE FIELD, JACKIE SPENT LITTLE TIME WITH HIS TEAMMATES.

ON THE ROAD, HE STILL HAD TO STAY AT JIM CROW HOTELS AND TOOK HIS MEALS ALONE.

JIMMY CANNON, WRITING IN THE "NEW YORK POST," CALLED JACKIE THE "LONELIEST MAN I HAVE EVER SEEN IN SPORTS."

RACHEL ROBINSON: I WENT TO EVERY HOME GAME.

MY PRESENCE AT THE GAME MEANT NOT JUST SUPPORT BUT IT MEANT I SAW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.

I WAS A WITNESS.

AND SO HE COULD SAY, "DID YOU SEE THAT?

DID YOU SEE THAT?

AND HOW DID YOU FEEL?"

AND I'D ASK HIM HOW DID HE FEEL?

YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO, WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE GAME.

HE WANTED HOME TO BE A HAVEN AS MUCH AS I DID AND A PLACE WHERE WE COULD ENJOY OURSELVES AND WE COULD BE IN LOVE, AND REST FROM THE OUTSIDE, FROM THE FIGHT.

THE FIGHT WAS OUTSIDE.

IT WASN'T IN OUR HOUSE.

AND HE DIDN'T, NEITHER OF US WANTED TO BRING IT IN THERE.

NARRATOR: THE PRESSURE, HATE MAIL, AND THREATS TOOK THEIR TOLL.

THROUGH APRIL, HE STRUGGLED TO GET HIS BATTING AVERAGE ABOVE .225.

THOUGH ROBINSON WAS PLAYING EVERY DAY, HE FEARED BEING BENCHED OR DEMOTED.

THEN, ON MAY 9, IN A SHOW OF FAITH, BRANCH RICKEY SOLD BROOKLYN'S OTHER FIRST BASEMAN TO THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.

THAT NIGHT, JACKIE SINGLED, DOUBLED, AND DROVE IN TWO RUNS.

BY THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, HIS AVERAGE REACHED .300.

RACHEL ROBINSON: ONE WAY OF FIGHTING BACK IS TO DO WELL.

YOU KNOW, SHUT 'EM UP BY HITTING, AND, AND, AND NOT HAVING TEARS IN YOUR EYES AND PAIN IN YOUR HEART BUT, YOU KNOW, PLAYING WELL.

AND THAT WAS HIS ONE WAY OF FIGHTING BACK WAS TO DO WELL.

AND TO HAVE HIS TEAM WIN.

AND THEY DID WIN.

THEY WON A LOT OF GAMES.

O'NEIL: JACKIE TOOK BLACK BASEBALL TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES, SEE?

AT THE TIME, BASEBALL WAS, AH, A BASE TO BASE THING.

YOU HIT THE BALL, YOU WAIT ON FIRST BASE TILL SOMEBODY HIT IT AGAIN.

SEE?

BUT, IN OUR BASEBALL, YOU GOT ON BASE.

IF YOU WALKED, YOU STOLE SECOND, YOU'D TRY TO STEAL, THEY'D BUNT YOU OVER TO THIRD AND YOU ACTUALLY SCORED RUNS WITHOUT A HIT.

THIS WAS OUR BASEBALL.

THORN: THE STEAL, THE SACRIFICE, THE DARING BASE RUNNING, THE STEAL OF HOME.

THINGS THAT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN TO ANY GREAT EFFECT IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FOR TWO DECADES WERE BACK.

AND WHEN YOU COMBINE SPEED WITH POWER, YOU HAVE THE BEGINNING OF THE MODERN GAME.

EVERYBODY ELSE JUST TOOK THEIR LEAD OFF THE BASE.

JACKIE MADE IT, MADE IT THEATER.

YOU COULDN'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF HIM AND NEITHER COULD THE PITCHER.

AND HE HAD WHAT I CALL QUICK SPEED.

THAT'S WHY HE WAS A GOOD BASE STEALER.

HE'D TAKE TWO STEPS AND HE WAS FULL SPEED.

ANDERSON: HE WAS NOT ONLY FAST BUT HE WAS WISE AND HE KNEW WHEN TO STEAL, HE KNEW WHEN TO TAKE THE EXTRA BASE.

STEALING HOME DEMANDS PERFECT TIMING.

YOU CAN'T GO A SECOND TOO LATE OR A SECOND TOO EARLY.

AND HE COULD DO IT.

NARRATOR: "JACKIE'S NIMBLE; JACKIE'S QUICK; JACKIE'S MAKING THE TURNSTILES CLICK," WROTE WENDELL SMITH.

ACROSS THE LEAGUE, FANS BEGAN TURNING OUT IN RECORD NUMBERS TO SEE ROBINSON AND THE DODGERS.

HALF OF THE 27,000 FANS FILLING CROSLEY FIELD TO SEE JACKIE'S FIRST GAME IN CINCINNATI WERE BLACK, MANY HAVING MADE LONG TRIPS BY BUS OR TRAIN TO CHEER ON BROOKLYN'S FIRST BASEMAN.

NEWCOMBE: ALL THESE PEOPLE COMIN' FROM MEMPHIS, BLACK PEOPLE, COMIN' FROM LITTLE ROCK ON THE FRIED CHICKEN SPECIALS, SLEEPING ON, ON BENCHES OUTSIDE THE TRAIN STATION, SLEEPING ON THE GROUND.

THEY LOVED THE DODGERS AND JACKIE ROBINSON.

ERSKINE: THE SCORE SEEMED ALMOST INCIDENTAL.

WHAT DID JACKIE DO?

IF EVER THE OWNERS THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD HURT ATTENDANCE THEY WERE DEAD WRONG.

[CHUCKLES] NARRATOR: FOR ROBINSON'S CHICAGO DEBUT, 46,572 FANS HAD JAMMED WRIGLEY FIELD, WHILE ANOTHER 20,000 MILLED ABOUT OUTSIDE, UNABLE TO FIND A TICKET.

IT WAS THE LARGEST PAID CROWD EVER TO SEE A CUBS GAME AT WRIGLEY.

AND IN BROOKLYN, ECSTATIC FANS FROM ACROSS THE BOROUGH EMBRACED THEIR NEW HERO.

WALDON, JR.: WE HAD ARRIVED.

EVERYBODY FELT BETTER, BREATHED DEEPER, WALKED TALLER, STEPPED, AS, AH, THE EXPRESSION GOES, WITH A LITTLE MORE GLIDE IN THEIR STRIDE AND DIP IN THEIR HIP.

'CAUSE JACKIE ROBINSON HAD COME TO BASEBALL.

UHLBERG: I WAS THE FIRSTBORN HEARING CHILD OF TWO DEAF PARENTS.

AND THE SUBJECT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS, "J. I HAD TO SPELL IT: JACKIE ROBINSON.

BLACK PLAYER, BASEBALL."

"WHO?!

WHO?!

WHAT?!

WHAT?!"

BECAUSE THIS PLAYER WAS DIFFERENT.

HE WAS BLACK AND HE WAS GONNA BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY, NOT JUST AS A BASEBALL PLAYER.

FROM THEN ON MY FATHER WAS HOOKED.

JACKIE ROBINSON WAS HIS SUBJECT.

ANNOUNCER: ...AND JACKIE ROBINSON... UHLBERG: HE WOULD ASK ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON ON THE RADIO AND I WOULD SIGN FURIOUSLY.

OF COURSE, I COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH RED BARBER, AND CERTAINLY I COULDN'T DUPLICATE HIS ACCENT!

BARBER: ...THE BALL GAME IN THIS SERIES, JUST AS TIGHT AS A BRAND-NEW PAIR OF SHOES ON A RAINY DAY.

NARRATOR: BY THE END OF JUNE, STRONG HITTING BY BRUCE EDWARDS, CARL FURILLO, AND JACKIE ROBINSON, AND DOMINANT PITCHING BY RALPH BRANCA, PROPELLED BROOKLYN TO FIRST PLACE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.

EIG: ROBINSON IS MAKING ALL OF THEM LOOK GOOD.

THEIR BATTING AVERAGES GO UP.

THEY'RE DRIVING IN MORE RUNS.

THEN YOU START TO SEE A TRANSFORMATION.

EVEN DIXIE WALKER, WHO WAS THE MOST VIOLENTLY OPPOSED TO THIS EXPERIMENT, EVEN DIXIE WALKER BEGINS TO GIVE HIM BATTING TIPS.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE'S LOST HIS RACIST INSTINCTS, IT'S BECAUSE HE WANTS TO WIN.

CHARLES: WE USED TO GET THE BROOKLYN DODGERS GAME ON THE RADIO.

AND THEY REFERRED TO 'EM AS THE BUMS.

AND THAT SORT OF STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME 'CAUSE HERE, LIKE, OUR STATUS, BLACKS IN AMERICA, WAS LOW, TOO.

WE LOOKED UPON JACKIE AS SOMEONE BRINGIN' HOPE, THAT THINGS WAS GONNA GET BETTER.

THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF A CHANGE.

MAN: I GREW UP IN THE GREAT PLAINS, OUT ON THE PRAIRIE IN A SUCCESSION OF SMALL TOWNS.

AND MY DAD WAS THE LAST OF 10 CHILDREN.

HE'D HAD A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT HE WAS EVER RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THE SKILLS THAT HE HAD.

AND SO, HE IDENTIFIED WITH PEOPLE WHO SEEMED TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR IN FACT WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

IT CERTAINLY WAS A FAMILY DECISION THAT ONCE THEY HEARD THAT THE DODGERS HAD SIGNED A NEGRO, THE FIRST EVER TO PLAY IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES, THERE WAS A FAMILY CONSENSUS THAT WE WOULD BE FOR THE DODGERS.

AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON, WE LIVED AND DIED DODGER BLUE.

AND FOR ME, THERE WAS NO LARGER FIGURE IN MY LIFE THAN JACKIE ROBINSON.

MAN 2: WHEN JACKIE CAME IN, HE COULD DO EVERYTHING: HE COULD RUN, HE COULD HIT.

HE WAS VERY SPECIAL.

BOY, I SAID TO MYSELF...EH...

I GOT A CHANCE.

IF JACKIE CAN MAKE IT, I HAVE A CHANCE TO GET TO THE MAJORS.

NARRATOR: ON JULY 5, THE CLEVELAND INDIANS OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE SIGNED LARRY DOBY, A 26-YEAR-OLD OUTFIELDER FOR THE NEWARK EAGLES.

HE HAD BEEN LEADING THE NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE WITH A .458 BATTING AVERAGE.

THAT SEASON, DOBY MOSTLY SAT ON THE BENCH, APPEARING ONLY OCCASIONALLY AS A PINCH HITTER.

BUT HIS PRESENCE SIGNALED THAT BLACKS WERE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES-- BOTH LEAGUES--TO STAY.

MAN: WELL, A FIRST IS REALLY NO GOOD UNLESS THERE'S A SECOND.

TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FIRST CAN OPEN A DOOR, AND THEN THAT SECOND CREATES A TREND.

THOSE DOORS CAN'T BE PERMITTED TO EVEN APPEAR TO SHUT OR TO CLOSE.

THE FOOT FIRST, THE ARMS AND ELBOWS SECOND AND THE TOTAL BODY NEXT IN THE DOOR TO KEEP IT OPEN FOR OTHERS TO COME THROUGH.

EIG: THE STORY GOES THAT THE DODGERS WENT TO CINCINNATI, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE TWO MOST SOUTHERN CITIES ON THE CIRCUIT.

AND IT WAS ALSO VERY CLOSE TO THE HOME OF PEE WEE REESE, WHO GREW UP IN KENTUCKY.

AND THAT ROBINSON WAS TAKING HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE ABUSE THERE FROM THE FANS.

PEOPLE CALLING HIM NIGGER, SHOUTING DEATH THREATS.

AND THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS SHOWER OF ABUSE, PEE WEE REESE STEPPED ACROSS THE FIELD, DRAMATICALLY PUT HIS ARM AROUND JACKIE ROBINSON, AND SENT THIS MESSAGE TO THE FANS AND TO HIS OWN TEAMMATES AND TO THE OPPOSING TEAM THAT ROBINSON WAS ONE OF US.

AND TODAY IT'S REMEMBERED IN STATUES, IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAPPENED.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT THIS EVER HAPPENED.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENED.

IT IS LIKELY THAT IF IT HAPPENED IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN 1947, BECAUSE REESE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE TRAIPSED ACROSS THE DIAMOND TO FIRST BASE TO THROW HIS ARM AROUND JACKIE.

AND EVEN IF THERE WERE EVIDENCE FOR IT, HOW MUCH ARE WE TO CONGRATULATE A PERSON FOR BEHAVING PROPERLY?

NARRATOR: THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE GESTURE THAT YEAR IN EITHER THE WHITE OR BLACK PRESS.

RACHEL ROBINSON: WHEN THEY DECIDED TO MAKE A STATUE OF JACK AND PEE WEE WITH HIS ARM ON JACK'S SHOULDER, I ASKED THEM NOT TO DO IT, AND TOLD THEM I HAD A BETTER PICTURE THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO MAKE A STATUE OF, OF THE TWO OF THEM WHERE THEY WERE COMING OFF THE FIELD AND THEIR HANDS TOUCHED.

AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS THE WAY WE WANNA PRESENT THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT BLACK MAN AND THAT WHITE MAN, AS PARTNERS.

AND NO ONE WOULD BUY IT.

EIG: WE WANNA FEEL LIKE WHITE PEOPLE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS, THAT WE WERE OPEN-MINDED, THAT WE SAW WHAT WAS RIGHT AND WE WANTED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND PEE WEE REESE IS OUR SYMBOL FOR THAT.

WE ALL WANNA BE THE ONE WHO'S WISE ENOUGH TO SEE THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AS A COUNTRY.

SO THE, THE MYTH SERVES A REALLY NICE PURPOSE.

UM...UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A MYTH.

NARRATOR: AS THE 1947 SEASON STRETCHED INTO MID-AUGUST, THE DODGERS HELD A SLIM LEAD OVER THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS FOR FIRST PLACE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.

WITH ST. LOUIS DUE AT EBBETS FIELD FOR A CRITICAL 3-GAME SERIES, A 17-YEAR-OLD DIE-HARD CARDINALS FAN FROM RICHMOND, VIRGINIA NAMED DOUG WILDER WAS INVITED TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY NORTH TO BROOKLYN TO SEE HIS FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE GAME.

WILDER: THE BARBER SHOP WAS MY FORUM AND THE GUYS WHO RAN THE BARBER SHOP, THEY LOVED FOR ME TO COME IN AND BRING MY ENCYCLOPEDIA.

THEY LIKED FOR ME TO RUN MY MOUTH AND TALK AND CHALLENGE OTHERS AND HE, THEY WOULD TELL THE OTHERS, "SHUT UP.

LISTEN TO THE KID."

AND SO, WHEN HEARING ABOUT JACKIE ROBINSON FINALLY PLAYING FOR THE DODGERS, THEY CAME AND KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND SAID, "YOU THINK YOU WANT TO GO TO THE, AH, BALL GAME TOMORROW?"

AND I SAID, "WOW."

THEY HAD BOUGHT A BRAND-NEW BUICK, AND THEY FITTED ME IN THE BACK [LAUGHS].

AND, UH, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO SEE THE CARDINALS LIKE ME, THEY WERE GOING TO SEE JACKIE.

NARRATOR: THAT SAME SUMMER, LOUIS UHLBERG HAD COME HOME WITH A SURPRISE FOR HIS SON.

THOUGH MYRON FOLLOWED THE DODGERS RELIGIOUSLY, LIKE MOST BOYS FROM HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, HE HAD NEVER SEEN THEM IN PERSON.

AS A LATE BIRTHDAY PRESENT, HIS FATHER HAD SECURED TWO TICKETS FOR A GAME AT EBBETS FIELD AGAINST THE RIVAL CARDINALS.

UHLBERG: I WAS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THOSE TICKETS AND I COULD HARDLY SLEEP THE WHOLE WEEK PRIOR TO THE GAME.

AS YOU GET OFF THE SUBWAY, YOU HAVE TO WALK A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AND YOU TURN A CORNER AND THERE'S EBBETS FIELD.

AND THEN WE WENT INTO THE ANTEROOM.

I REMEMBER THESE WOODEN TURNSTILES AND THIS HUGE CHANDELIER WITH BASEBALL BATS AND BASEBALLS ON IT.

TO ME, IT LOOKED LIKE, AH, IT LOOKED LIKE A COUNTRYSIDE, ALL GREEN, BEAUTIFULLY MANICURED.

THE WHOLE THING WAS ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMING.

WILDER: THE PLACE WAS PACKED!

EBBETS FIELD IN BROOKLYN WAS FILLED UP, RABID FANS SCREAMING AND HOLLERING.

"HIT THE BALL, JACKIE BOY, C'MON, JACKIE, C'MON!"

MY FATHER HAD GOTTEN SEATS IN A BOX, BOX SEATS ALONG THE FIRST BASE LINE BECAUSE JACKIE ROBINSON WAS PLAYING FIRST BASE.

WE HAD GREAT SEATS ON THE FIRST BASE LINE.

AND, UH, I DIDN'T APPRECIATE HOW GREAT THE SEATS WERE UNTIL LATER.

UHLBERG: MY FATHER HAD NO INTEREST IN THE GAME.

WITH LASER INTENSITY HE WAS FOCUSED ON JACKIE ROBINSON.

WILDER: THEY THREW THE BALL TO JACKIE.

AND HE STRETCHED HIS FOOT AND SLAUGHTER CAME AND SPIKED HIM RIGHT ACROSS THE ACHILLES TENDON.

THE FANS, THEY LET IT BE KNOWN THAT JACKIE WAS THEIRS AND YOU'VE HURT ONE OF OURS.

WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT UP WITH IT.

UHLBERG: AND THE FANS WERE SCREAMING, "JACKIE, JACKIE, JACKIE!"

AND MY FATHER WAS SCREAMING, "AHJAY, AHJAY...AH..." IN HIS DEAF, GUTTURAL VOICE.

THE FANS STOPPED LOOKING AT JACKIE ROBINSON IN THE FIELD AND STARTED LOOKING: WHO WAS THIS SCREAMING IN THIS STRAINED VOICE?

AND I WAS JUST TOTALLY, TOTALLY EMBARRASSED.

AND MY FATHER SAW THAT.

HE SAW THAT AND HE CALLED ME ON IT.

OFTEN WHEN MY FATHER CAME HOME, HE WAS ANGRY.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO HIM ON THE SUBWAY, SOME SLIGHT, SOMEBODY PUSHED HIM, SOMEBODY MADE A FACE OR EVEN VERBALLY CURSED HIM.

I CAME TO UNDERSTAND HOW HE SAW JACKIE ROBINSON AS A BRETHREN, AS SOMEONE WHO EXPERIENCED WHAT HE EXPERIENCED IN LIFE; AS SOMEONE WHO HAS TO LIVE A LIFE DIFFERENT.

MADE TO FEEL DIFFERENT.

AND THE SAME WITH JACKIE ROBINSON.

WILDER: THAT FIRST GAME THAT I SAW, THERE WASN'T ANY QUESTION IN THIS INSTANCE THAT SOMETHING HAS CHANGED HERE.

IT WAS MORE THAN JUST AN ATHLETIC CONTEST.

IT WAS A SPIRIT, A, A, A BIRTH OF A NEW SPIRIT IN AMERICA.

NARRATOR: BROOKLYN TOOK TWO OUT OF 4 FROM ST. LOUIS TO MAINTAIN THEIR LEAD OVER THE CARDINALS.

WITH 5 GAMES TO GO, THE DODGERS CLINCHED THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT.

THOUSANDS TURNED OUT AT BROOKLYN'S BOROUGH HALL TO CELEBRATE.

THE NEXT DAY WAS JACKIE ROBINSON DAY AT EBBETS FIELD.

ROBINSON'S PLAY HAD DRAWN MORE FANS TO THE SMALL BALLPARK THAN IN ANY SEASON SINCE IT HAD OPENED IN 1913.

JACKIE'S MOTHER MALLIE TRAVELED EAST TO ATTEND THE FESTIVITIES.

BILL "BOJANGLES" ROBINSON, THE GREAT TAP DANCER, PRESENTED JACKIE AND RACHEL WITH GIFTS, INCLUDING CASH, A WATCH, A TELEVISION SET, AND A BRAND-NEW CADILLAC.

HE PRAISED JACKIE, SAYING, "I'M 69 YEARS OLD AND I NEVER THOUGHT "I'D LIVE TO SEE THE DAY WHEN I'D STAND FACE TO FACE WITH TY COBB IN TECHNICOLOR."

"TIME" MAGAZINE PUT JACKIE ON ITS COVER THAT SAME WEEK, AND WHEN THE SEASON ENDED, THE "SPORTING NEWS," WHICH HAD ONCE ARGUED AGAINST INTEGRATION AND PREDICTED JACKIE'S FAILURE, NAMED HIM THE FIRST EVER "ROOKIE OF THE YEAR."

JACKIE FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A .297 BATTING AVERAGE, LED THE DODGERS IN HOME RUNS, DOUBLES, RUNS SCORED, BUNTS FOR BASE HITS, AND TOTAL BASES, AND LED THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IN STEALS WITH 28.

EVEN DIXIE WALKER PRAISED HIM; ROBINSON HAD DONE AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER PLAYER "TO PUT THE DODGERS UP IN THE RACE," WALKER SAID.

"HE IS EVERYTHING BRANCH RICKEY SAID HE WAS."

MAN ON RADIO: ... DIMAGGIO SWINGING, IT'S A WHISTLING LINE DRIVE.... NARRATOR: BUT IN THE WORLD SERIES, THE DODGERS LOST IN 7 GAMES TO THE NEW YORK YANKEES.

MAN ON RADIO: DIMAGGIO MAKES IT WITH A SLIDE AND... NARRATOR: JACKIE ROBINSON WAS NOW THE MOST FAMOUS AND ADMIRED BLACK MAN IN THE COUNTRY.

VOTERS IN A RADIO POLL RANKED HIM SECOND ONLY TO BING CROSBY AS THE MOST POPULAR AMERICAN.

HE FINISHED AHEAD OF FRANK SINATRA, ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, AND GENERAL DWIGHT EISENHOWER.

BUT IN THE YEARS AHEAD, ROBINSON WOULD RISK HIS PLACE IN BASEBALL AND HIS IMMENSE POPULARITY TO SPEAK OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN AGAINST THE INJUSTICE HE SAW NEARLY EVERYWHERE.

BELAFONTE: THERE IS ALWAYS GONNA BE A PRICE TO PAY FOR ANY, ANY REBEL SOUND THAT...AH...

CHALLENGES OPPRESSION.

IF YOU SHOWED ANYTHING THAT SUGGESTED DIGNITY AND THE SENSE THAT YOU BELIEVED IN EQUALITY, YOU WERE IMMEDIATELY UNDESIRABLE.

BE A GOOD NIGGER.

RACHEL ROBINSON: HE COULDN'T CONTINUE TO BE SILENT AND TO BE SUBORDINATE.

HE HAD TO BE HIMSELF AND HE HAD TO REPRESENT THE RACE AS WELL AS HIMSELF.

MAN AS JACKIE ROBINSON: AS LONG AS I APPEARED TO IGNORE INSULT AND INJURY, I WAS A MARTYRED HERO.

BUT THE MINUTE I BEGAN TO ARGUE, THE MINUTE I BEGAN TO SOUND OFF--I BECAME A SWELLHEAD, A WISE GUY, AN "UPPITY" NIGGER.

WHEN A WHITE PLAYER DID IT, HE HAD SPIRIT; WHEN A BLACK PLAYER DID IT, HE WAS "UNGRATEFUL."

I WAS A FINE GUY UNTIL I BEGAN TO CHANGE.

JACKIE ROBINSON.

ANNOUNCER: NEXT TIME ON "JACKIE ROBINSON"... OBAMA: HE HAD PURCHASED THE RIGHT TO SPEAK HIS MIND MANY TIMES OVER.

ANNOUNCER: ROBINSON COMES OUTS SWINGING...

HE WAS NOT AN ANGRY BLACK MAN.

HE WAS AN ATHLETE WHO WANTED TO WIN.

ANNOUNCER: AND BUILDS A LASTING LEGACY BEYOND BASEBALL.

WE WILL NOT STAND SILENTLY.

HOWARD BRYANT: HE TOOK ON EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE AFRAID TO FACE AND SUCCEEDED.

ANNOUNCER: DON'T MISS THE CONCLUSION OF "JACKIE ROBINSON."

♪ I'M A BROOKLYN FAN FROM THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER ♪ ♪ EVERY TIME THE DODGERS PLAY ♪ ♪ I HOLLER AND I SHIVER ♪ ♪ I'M CRAZY 'BOUT HODGES, REESE, AND FURILLO ♪ ♪ BUT THE BUM I LIKE BEST IS AN ALL-AROUND GOOD FELLA ♪ ♪ DID YOU SEE JACKIE ROBINSON HIT THAT BALL?

♪ ♪ IT WENT ZOOMIN' 'CROSS THE LEFT FIELD WALL ♪ ♪ YES, YES, YEAH, MAN ♪ ♪ OH, JACKIE HIT THAT BALL ♪ ♪ WHEN HE SWINGS HIS BAT, THE FANS GO WILD ♪ ♪ BECAUSE THE BALL DID GO A THOUSAND MILES ♪ ♪ YEAH, MAN, YES, YES ♪ ♪ OH, JACKIE HIT THAT BALL ♪ ♪ SATCHEL PAIGE IS MELLOW, SO IS CAMPANELLA ♪ ♪ NEWCOMBE AND DOBY, TOO ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S A NATURAL FACT, WHEN JACKIE COMES TO BAT ♪ ♪ THE OTHER TEAM IS THROUGH ♪ ♪ DID YOU SEE JACKIE ROBINSON HIT THAT BALL?

♪ ♪ DID HE HIT IT?

YEAH, MAN, AND THAT AIN'T ALL ♪ ♪ HE STOLE HOME ♪ ♪ YES, YES ♪ ♪ OH, JACKIE HIT THAT BALL ♪ ♪ NOW, BILLY COX IS MELLOW, SO IS A THRILLA ♪ ♪ BRANCA AND PREACHER ROE ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S A NATURAL FACT, WHEN JACKIE COMES TO BAT ♪ ♪ THE OTHER TEAM IS THROUGH ♪ ♪ DID YOU SEE JACKIE ROBINSON HIT THAT BALL?

♪ ♪ YES, HE HIT IT, MAN, AND THAT AIN'T ALL ♪ ♪ HE STOLE HOME, YEAH, MAN ♪ ♪ OH, JACKIE'S REAL GONE ♪ [APPLAUSE] ANNOUNCER: LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIFE OF JACKIE ROBINSON AT PBS.ORG/JACKIEROBINSON AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH HASH-TAG JACKIEROBINSONPBS.

"KEN BURNS: JACKIE ROBINSON" IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD.

THE COMPANION BOOK IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPBS.ORG OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

THIS SERIES IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES.

ON APRIL 15, 1947, JACK ROOSEVELT ROBINSON CROSSED THE WHITE LINE AT EBBETS FIELD, CHANGING A GAME, AND A COUNTRY, FOREVER.

WITH QUIET DIGNITY AND STEADFAST CONVICTION, JACKIE SHOWED THE WORLD WHAT COURAGE, DETERMINATION, AND PRIDE, REGARDLESS OF COLOR, COULD ACCOMPLISH.

BANK OF AMERICA IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE JACKIE'S LEGACY AND FOLLOW IN HIS COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL AMERICANS.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM