Difference between revisions of "Statue of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn)"

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[[Category: Anti-Black Racism in Statues]]
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[[Category: Racism in Sculpture]]
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Latest revision as of 08:24, 15 March 2021

Statue of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese in MCU Park

The Statue of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese was installed on November 1, 2005, in Coney Island, MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team. This statue was made by sculptor William Behrends.[1] This monument honors Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese. Robinson, a man who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, and Reese, who was a Captain team at the time supported him. They together made history, as teammates, friends, and men of courage and conviction.[2]

Background

Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) is legendary for his role as the first black professional baseball player in the major leagues. He was born in Cairo, Georgia, in 1919 and raised in Pasadena, California. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles, where he became the first student to earn varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. Robinson played baseball in the Negro Leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1947, Robinson made history as the first African-American to play in a major league baseball game. He paved the way for generations of black athletes to compete in America’s national pastime.

Harold Peter Henry “Pee Wee” Reese (1918-1999) was born in Ekron, Kentucky. He was the star shortstop for Brooklyn, and later the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1940 to 1958. After his baseball career, he served as a radio announcer and television sports analyst and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.[1]

This statue was designed to commemorate the moment that took place in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 13, 1947. This was the first game of Robinson’s second road race during his inaugural season, which allowed him to break the color barrier and become the first African-American major leaguer.[3]

Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese moment in Robinson's Biographical film 42 (up) and the actual moment in the statue (down)

Writer Roger Kahn, one of Reese's close friend, wrote in his book, “The Boys of Summer,” that in 1947, Cincinnati, when the racism got climax. The Dodgers were on the court while the Reds players shouted obscenities at Robinson. Fans were mocking and cursing Robinson, who was initially standing and trying to concentrate on the game in the chaos and anger. Reese thought he had enough and then he walked across the infield to Robinson, placed a hand on Robinson's shoulder in a very public display of friendship, and offered him a few words of encouragement. “It gets my vote as baseball’s finest moment,” said Khan.[4]

Reese and Robinson later became a double-play combination that the pair truly began to become close friends. This moment also appeared in Robinson's biographical film "42". [3]

Black Empowerment

The story of Reese put his arm around Robinson had silenced the crowd, who were blown away by an act of racial empathy by Reese. On the dedication day of the statue, Rachel Robinson, Robinson's widow stated, "It's a historic symbol of a wonderful legacy of friendship, of teamwork, of courage"[3]

The fact that Reese risked his career when he stood by Jackie Robinson against prejudiced and racist fans and fellow players. With this act of defiance, the Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Statue became a powerful and influential model of true humanity.[2]

Vandalism

A Statue of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese outside Brooklyn's minor league baseball stadium in Coney Island was vandalized with a racial slur and a swastika in August 2013. Police said someone wrote in black marker "die n-----" and had a swastika and the word "Hitler." It also said "F--- Jackie Robinson."[5]

The police consider this incident to be a hate crime because the words and symbols were so vile and they defaced a statue of the man who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier and the teammate (Reese) who helped bridge what had been a yawning racial gap.[6][7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Monument. NYC Parks. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Reese and Robinson. From Pitch to Plinth: The Supporting Statues Project. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cronin, Brian. Did Reese really embrace Robinson in '47? ESPN April 13, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. Herbet, Bob. Baseball’s Finest Moment: Pee Wee Reese. The New York Times September 23, 2005.
  5. Gingras, Brynn and Shimon Prokupecz. Jackie Robinson Statue Vandalized With Racial Slur, Swastika. NBC New York August 8, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. Memmott, Mark. 'Total Disgrace': Jackie Robinson Statue Defaced In Brooklyn. NPR August 8, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  7. Jackie Robinson statue vandalized with swastikas, hate speech. Las Vegas Review-Journal August 7, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2021.