When Jackie Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier in 1947, he faced an unrelenting wave of hatred. It was hell in his first year. Robinson faced constant threats of death and humiliation, such as the refusal to permit him to stay in the same hotel with his teammates. No, it wasn’t in the land of “Dixie” – Mobile, or Atlanta – it was the “City of Brotherly Love,” Philadelphia.
Jackie Robinson refused to be served in a Philadelphia hotel on September 27, 1947. Robinson was taunted by the Phillies manager. His players were encouraged to follow his lead. “Go back to the cotton fields.” greeted Robinson. In later years, Robinson said: “[F]or one wild and rage-crazed minute, I thought, ‘To hell with Mr. Rickey’s noble experiment.” Northeastern racism was in full flower in 1947. It was still blooming 10 years later.
In 1957, the Boston Red Sox was the last to incorporate. Robinson had just retired the year before they did it. Bill Russell, fresh from leading the US basketball team in winning an Olympic gold medal in 1956, was still at it. In 1957, he was 2nd overall in the Celtics draft. He also completed his first year playing for Boston. He was able to experience New England racism for the first time. Although he followed the other NBA black players, Bill Russell became the first black NBA superstar. He also changed the way that the NBA was played. But that didn’t stop racism.
Russell, despite his dominance of the game during the 1960s and 70s, was treated as a butler by the people he served. He was used as a tool by Boston politicians and fans. Bill Russell, if he hadn’t won one after the other championships, would likely have been exposed for his racism.
In his 1979 memoir, Russell called the city of Boston a “flea market of racism.”
[Boston] had all the varieties, old and new and in their most virulent form.” The city had corrupt city hall-crony racists, brick-throwing, send ‘em back to Africa racists and in the university areas phony radical-chic racists… other than that, I liked the city.”
Russell was also being recognized at a country bar, while his Boston home was also vandalized. Boston was the hometown of soft-Jim Crow. A friend said that Russell considered Boston the “most racist” place he played in.
Bill Russell marched in protest against open racism, Jim Crow. He was also marching against “soft” racism. Russell was standing close to Martin Luther King Jr, when King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Robinson and Russell shared the same dreams and worked in and outside of the system to achieve change. Robinson and Russell were intelligent, likable, and rightly angry about racism and racists. Both men carried their dignity with honor. The racists made fun of Robinson and Russell, but not themselves. Among Russell’s many honors and 11 NBA titles is the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Russell, a Dodger player and pallbearer of Jackie Robinson’s death was the sole person who wasn’t a Dodger friend. I have to believe that Jackie will be at Russell’s funeral, if only in spirit.
Rest in Peace Mr. Russell
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