Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America

Robinson, Sharon. 2004. PROMISES TO KEEP: HOW JACKIE ROBINSON CHANGED AMERICA. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0439425921 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-9]

REVIEW
This photobiography by Jackie Robinson’s daughter makes the personal history of her father also an informative look at how racial attitudes were evolving in twentieth century America. There are many personal family photographs from the Robinson family which end up telling how America came to be two very separate worlds for whites and blacks. Even for nonreaders the charts and boxed texts with information will be very informative. Robinson’s career as a star athlete did not mean he automatically was treated differently than many other African Americans. Incident after incident of how racism was so entrenched throughout the nation will be discussion generating to young readers. This fact should be eye opening to young people who have grown up in a post civil rights era. The book ends with the description of the Robinson Foundation whose mission is to develop the talents and leadership of young adult racial and ethnic minorities. The website for that foundation should have been included in the text.

CONNECTIONS
Using the Robinson book readers can create a time line with two levels. One can note separate events in Robinson’s personal life while the other highlights national events which paralleled the emergence of a 20th century civil rights movement in the United States.

Interview someone who grew up in the era of the civil rights movement (i.e. late 1950s-1960s). Use the background information from the Robinson book or other books about growing up in that era to come up with appropriate questions. Watch sections of the PBS documentary “Eyes on the Price.”

RELATED BOOKS

Books on growing up black during an era of segregation in America:
Levine, Ellen. IF YOU LIVED AT THE TIME OF MARTIN LUTHER KING. ISBN 059042582X
Myers, Walter Dean. NOW IS YOUR TIME: THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. ISBN 0060243708.
Taylor, Mildred D. THE FRIENDSHIP AND THE GOLD CADILLAC. ISBN 0553157655

By Andrea L. Williams