Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Jackie Robinson's 42

By Genola Johnson


Last Friday, my husband and I took our two daughters to see, 42". In most cases, I am not into non-fiction movies. My life is non-fiction. Why pay to see non-fiction?

But, this particular movie caught my attention. Watching the trailer we realized we wanted our children to see the movie as well as we did. We have a 15 year old, who knows everything about anything in life, and an 11 year old, who's into her cat, Carlos.

So when announced we're attending the movies they exclaimed, Oh, we're going to see, Warm Bodies'? , Or , Evil Dead' ?" I wasn't actually sure if those movies were rated for their age.

No. We're going to watch 42'." They both looked at me like I lost my mind. We don't really want to see, THAT' movie. It's boring!" We went anyway.

I have experienced many movies and documentaries showing people in history before, but this type of movie was amazing. I've seen many civil rights movies and documentaries before too, but this one was chilling.

I think the thing that I could take away from it would be tenacity and humbleness. I didn't realize how difficult it was to play a sport you loved, be exceedingly excellent in it, with such adversity. Although, I felt Jackie Robinson was brave, he taught the lesson of being humble and to just wait. I:0:T

Both daughters, sat in the theater with such wonderment. After the movie, on the way home, the 15 year old reveals, Mom, I liked it. I'm glad you made us go." The 11 year old just smiled. She loved it also.

I felt fantastic as a mother after that response. To have the opportunity to be able to provide the chance for my children to see this movie and never forget what it was like in times of the Civil Rights era of our country.

I do not want them to live in that era again. I do want them to know what it was like so they can be an active part of society to make sure it does not happen again.

Now, if I could just interject this one humorous thought throughout the movie, it would be how often Rickey felt the need to quote the bible, and, if I might add, the idea that God is Methodist. Jackie's a Methodist, I'm a Methodist, and God is a Methodist." Although I am a Methodist, which is why I found this to be funny, I DO know God is not Methodist. Did Rickey really believe this?

One last thought, I am not a baseball fanatic. I like action. Loads of action, so if presented a choice, I would prefer football or basketball. However, after this movie, I just may think again about the game of baseball. Look out Atlanta Braves, I may just be going to a game this summer!




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