Most people know the essential story of the movie: Jackie was the first African American to play major league baseball, and he did it in an era where restrooms and many public spaces were still segregated for "whites" and "colored". I can't imagine the abuse that he endured.
The story that I never considered before was the boldness of the Dodgers president who brought Jackie to the majors in the first place. Branch Rickey was a man ahead of his time. In 1947, when he first selected Robinson, no one else in the league was willing to do what he did. Rickey was wise enough to select a player with both the game credentials and the personal fortitude to handle the hatred that would be thrown his way.
It is one thing to do something bold. It is another to own it and see it through to success. In addition to Rickey's vision, he had the will and clarity to execute it. He hired an attendant to take care of Robinson on the road, found Negro families to host the player when hotels would not accommodate him, allowed Robinson's wife to travel to spring training for moral support, and was willing to trade players who were uncomfortable with Robinson on the team. Rickey left no gray areas with his managers and coaches; they were told directly and frequently to make Robinson a full part of the team.
Years before, Rickey had witnessed other instances of discrimination, and felt that he had not done enough about it. He vowed that when he could, he would act. At the time Rickey signed Robinson, Rickey had been a major league executive for over 30 years. He had built up some chits and had the power that comes after a long period of successes. Rickey could have rested on his laurels as he concluded his career, but instead chose to lay it all down in full support of the cause that he left unaddressed many years before.
Sometimes leaders go to their grave or leave their positions still trying to earn power instead of capitalizing on it. If you find yourself in a senior role, utilize the latitude that comes with that position to do something others in your organization are unable to do. You don't have to be facing retirement to be in a secure position where you have earned power that can be expended towards a meaningful change.
A monument to Branch Rickey carries this inscription: "It is not the honor that you take with you but the heritage you leave behind."
You owe it to yourself and your organization to be like Rickey and take those risks when you are in a position to do so.
-- beth triplett
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