Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom Fighter

by Yohuru Williams, Michael G. Long Narrated by Torian Brackett

Overview

"Narrator Torian Brackett brings vocal gravitas to this biography of Jack Robinson, which dwells as much on the athlete's youth and post-baseball civil rights activism as it does on his groundbreaking career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. It's a powerful, stirringly delivered account..." - AudioFile Magazine

An enthralling, eye-opening portrayal of this barrier-breaking American hero as a lifelong, relentlessly proud fighter for Black justice and civil rights.

According to Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackie Robinson was “a sit-inner before the sit-ins, a freedom rider before the Freedom Rides.” According to Hank Aaron, Robinson was a leader of the Black Power movement before there was a Black Power movement. According to his wife, Rachel Robinson, he was always Jack, not Jackie-the diminutive form of his name bestowed on him in college by white sports writers. And throughout his whole life, Jack Robinson was a fighter for justice, an advocate for equality, and an inspiration beyond just baseball.

From prominent Robinson scholars Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Long comes Call Him Jack, an exciting biography that recovers the real person behind the legend, reanimating this famed figure's legacy for new generations, widening our focus from the sportsman to the man as a whole, and deepening our appreciation for his achievements on the playing field in the process.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Editorial Reviews

FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile

Narrator Torian Brackett brings vocal gravitas to this biography of Jack Robinson, which dwells as much on the athlete’s youth and post-baseball civil rights activism as it does on his groundbreaking career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A thoughtful preface explains the inclusion of dated and hateful language; listeners will hear the N-word again and again, giving them the barest hint of Robinson’s own experience. It’s a powerful, stirringly delivered account, but it stumbles to incorporate print design elements such as sidebars providing historical context and newspaper clippings. These are read aloud in a way that interrupts the narrative, making for momentum-breaking, sometimes wordy detours. Kids for whom reading is not a barrier will be better served by the print book. V.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

★ 10/17/2022

In this eye-opening biography, Williams (The Black Panthers, for adults) and Long (Three Lines in a Circle) detail the varied personal history of Jack Roosevelt Robinson (1919–1972), best known for being the first Black MLB player. In a beginning note, the authors contextualize quotations containing racist slurs: “We think it’s important for readers to know—and feel—the words that white people used when trying to hurt Jack and other Black Americans.” The book discusses how, throughout his life, Robinson felt as if he needed to be an “acceptable guest” to succeed in the athletic world. But beyond his sports persona, Robinson considered himself a “relentless and uncompromising Black freedom fighter,” outspoken in his beliefs. Without minimizing Robinson’s historic athletic prowess, the creators provide a potent look into his civil rights achievements by highlighting key moments from his life, including marching for integrated schools and raising money for burned churches in Birmingham. This well-researched volume—which includes b&w photographs throughout, accompanied by brief sidebars explaining key historical events—skillfully highlights one prominent Black figure’s impact on America’s history both on and off the ball field. Additional information concludes. Ages 10–14. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Books of the Year
School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Books of the Year
Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Older Readers of the Year

“A pugnacious civil rights advocate who also happened to be a great athlete . . . Williams and Long chronicle [Robinson's] athletic achievements . . . but look beyond them to portray him as a 'relentless and uncompromising Black freedom fighter' who 'used his racial pride to fuel his lifelong passion for justice' . . . Thorough, expansive, readable [and] essential.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“This eye-opening biography . . . skillfully highlights one prominent Black figure’s impact on America’s history both on and off the ball field.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Engrossing . . . Much more than a sports biography, this powerful and stellar work documents Robinson’s place in history as a civil rights hero. Highly recommended for all middle and high school libraries.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“The depth of research in Call Him Jack is remarkable, and the authors effectively re-establish him as a man who tirelessly fought for justice, especially in his life after baseball.” —The New York Times Book Review

School Library Journal

★ 11/11/2022

Gr 6 Up—This engrossing biography of baseball legend Jack Robinson opens with a quote from him in which he states he would choose "first-class citizenship to all of [my] people" over the Baseball Hall of Fame, which aptly frames the focus of this work. Written in a traditional biography format, the narrative covers his life story, following him through childhood, college, military service, family life, his baseball career, and post-retirement civil rights activism and business ventures until his untimely death at age 53. Williams and Long focus most of the narrative on the racism Robinson faced throughout his life, and his many actions to fight discrimination. In his teen years, he and a friend held a successful sit-in at a diner. He also successfully lobbied the Army to become one of the first Black soldiers accepted into the Officer Candidate School. As the man to break the color barrier in MLB, he faced racism on and off the field, often getting more call-outs from umpires than other players, being called Jackie while he preferred Jack, and being told not to fight back against racial insults hurled at him. Upon his retirement, he dove full force into civil rights activism, working with the NAACP, and leading fundraisers while developing a business career. The short chapters move quickly with one captivating story after another. Back matter includes notable "extra innings facts" about Robinson's life, questions for further discussions, a time line, and extensive notes with sources. VERDICT Much more than a sports biography, this powerful and stellar work documents Robinson's place in history as a civil rights hero. Highly recommended for all middle and high school libraries.—Karen T. Bilton

FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile

Narrator Torian Brackett brings vocal gravitas to this biography of Jack Robinson, which dwells as much on the athlete’s youth and post-baseball civil rights activism as it does on his groundbreaking career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A thoughtful preface explains the inclusion of dated and hateful language; listeners will hear the N-word again and again, giving them the barest hint of Robinson’s own experience. It’s a powerful, stirringly delivered account, but it stumbles to incorporate print design elements such as sidebars providing historical context and newspaper clippings. These are read aloud in a way that interrupts the narrative, making for momentum-breaking, sometimes wordy detours. Kids for whom reading is not a barrier will be better served by the print book. V.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2022-07-13
A portrait of a pugnacious civil rights advocate who also happened to be a great athlete.

Liberally salting their narrative with racist period quotes that include frank and pejorative language, putting on unflinching display the ugliness Robinson faced, Williams and Long chronicle his spectacular athletic achievements from elementary school to the major leagues—but look beyond them to portray him as a “relentless and uncompromising Black freedom fighter” who “used his racial pride to fuel his lifelong passion for justice.” From defending himself from a rock-throwing White neighbor at age 8 to later sharp criticisms of Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali for their anti-war stances and harsh debates with Malcolm X, he comes across here as anything but the patient, controlled figure typically found in biographies for young readers. To judge from the copious endnotes and their own professional and publishing histories, the authors have plainly done their research and make a convincing case that while their subject had his bullheaded moments, he operated from consistent and worthy principles. On-field photos, family snapshots, pictures of marching protesters, and news clippings accompany side-boxed comments on historical context and questions for readers to ponder, the latter supplemented in the backmatter with a page of discussion topics. This thorough, expansive, and readable work is an essential addition to the body of literature about a well-known figure.

Adds provocative nuances to the usual portrayals of a heroic American. (additional facts, timeline, index) (Biography. 12-16)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176068108
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	09/20/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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