Jackie Robinson by Herb Dunn

Author:Herb Dunn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

“If anybody was going to break it,” Mack replied, “I’m glad that anybody was you. It keeps the record in the family, at least.”

“Where are you heading?” Jackie asked.

“I have to work tonight.”

Jackie looked at Mack. His brother was wearing a pair of ripped old blue jeans and a dirty T-shirt.

When Mack had returned from the 1936 Olympics, he didn’t receive a hero’s welcome. There was no parade through the streets of Pasadena in his honor. No commercial endorsements. No professional track and field tour. No job offers.

Mack took the only job he could find. He was a street sweeper for the city of Pasadena.

Even Jesse Owens, the world-famous hero of the Olympics, wasn’t much better off than Mack. Four gold medals didn’t help him. He tried to turn his fame and incredible athletic ability into a career. He was reduced to putting on footrace exhibitions at state fairs to earn money. Sometimes he even raced against horses. But at least Jesse Owens wasn’t picking up garbage off the streets to earn a living.

Jackie couldn’t hide the disappointment in his face when Mack pulled out his pushcart and broom. His brother was just twenty-four years old. Mack was one of the best athletes in the world, but the best days of his life were over. He had no opportunities. No chance for advancement. As a black man in America during the Depression, he was lucky to have a job at all.

When Mack had returned from the 1936 Olympics, Jackie dreamed of making the Olympic team like his brother and competing in the 1940 Olympics. Not anymore. What was the point to it? So he could come home and become a street sweeper?

“It’s not fair,” Jackie said bitterly.

“I know,” Mack replied with a shrug. “But what are you going to do?”

Mack pulled on his United States Olympic Team jacket and went out to sweep the streets of Pasadena.

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