The African American community has a love hate relationship with Jackie Robinson you may not know much about. He has been beloved for his speed, style and grace on the baseball diamond and his restraint off of it dealing with racism, bigotry and hate off the diamond. However, he has a darker side many in the community have not been pleased with at all.

While reading “$40 Million Dollar Slaves” by William C. Rhoden, I came across a passage this morning that caught me by surprise. Jackie Robinson actually testified against Paul Robeson in open court denouncing his positions against American hatred, racism and bigotry.

Quote from the Book:

Robinson was criticized by many African Americans for seeming to represent the white interest that helped kill Negro League baseball. The impression was reinforced in 1949 when he testified against paul Robeson, a man who in 1949 told a gathering a the Paris Peace Conference that “it is unthinkable that American Negroes would go to war on behalf of those who have oppressed us for generations… against a country which in one generation has raised our people to full human dignity of mankind.”

The House Un-American Activities Committee subsequently asked a number of prominent African Americans to refut Robeson’s statement. Robinson, the Symbol of Integration, was the prized speaker.

Robinson told the committee that Robeson did not speak for the American Negro. He said that Robeson’s claim that Negroes would not fight against Russia “sounded silly.”

The House Un-American Activities Committee subsequently asked a number of prominent African Americans to refut Robeson’s statement. Robinson, the Symbol of Integration, was the prized speaker. Robinson told the committee that Robeson did not speak for the American Negro. He said that Robeson’s claim that Negroes would not fight against Russia “sounded silly.”

Near the end of his life, however, Robinson admitted that he had been naive in 1949. In his 1972 autobiography, he wrote:

In those days I had much more faith in the ultimate justice of American white man than I have today. I would reject such an invitation if offered now. I have grown wiser and closer to the painful truths about America’s destructiveness and I do have increased respect for Paul Robeson who, over a span of twenty years, sacrificed himself, his career and the wealth and comfort he once enjoyed because, I believe, he was sincerely trying to help his people.

Pages 123-124 in ” Million Dollar Slaves” by William C.

Rhoden

It has always been a custom of the oppressor in this country to gather black people that would speak out against the ones who were ready, willing and able to speak truth into black people. This is something that still goes on today. Where ever you find a black man or woman speaking truth, you can be sure to find a counter balance waiting for their opportunity to trash them.

In 1949, that counter balance was Jackie Robinson.

However, it is wonderful that he realized the error in his ways, but the damage had already been done.

SOUND OFF: What do you think of Robinson speaking out against Robeson and his change of heart later in life?