by Marcus Allison
Baseball great Jackie Robinson is idolized as a symbol of triumph of integration. Indeed the oft-told truism about Jackie Robinson is of his 'integrating' the American baseball major leagues. It is interesting that among the then all-white Brooklyn Dodgers, Mr. Robinson's presence meant that the entire baseball league was suddenly integrated. That Robinson was bullied, harassed, spat upon, and intentionally injured by those he played against, and yet he still exceeded the standards of baseball players of his day is a testament to his will, determination and integrity. But heralding Robinson as a pioneer in the integration of baseball as we know it is not an entirely accurate story.
Suppose Robinson was a broker for an all-Black brokerage firm and because of segregation this firm was not allowed to compete in the same market as the firms in the Wall Street district. Let's assume that this segregation of the workplace was the result of collusion within the all-White (and otherwise competing) brokerage firms that did not want Black brokerage firms around them. Then one day, one of the CEO's of one of these white brokerage firms sees Mr. Robinson and exclaims to himself, 'Wow, this guy is terrific! I don't care if he's Black, I want to hire him.' And so he does. So Mr. Robinson goes to work for the all-White firm.
Success. All of the other brokerage firms see the benefits of hiring outstanding brokers who happen to be Black and they too hire Black brokers, hoping to have similar success at their firms. The business community thumps itself on its collective chests and proclaims how this one small step for man is a big step for the man of color, and similarly expressed rhetoric. This positive movement spurs interest in the stock market, and prompts those reluctant to invest to do so with confidence because of the increasing diversity in the business industry. The market benefits. What are the benefits you say? Well, think about it, the potential increased patronage because of the interest in the Black brokers. The Wall Street Journal trumpets the dawn of a new age. "Wall Street is integrated," the headlines read.
But what has become of all of the Black brokerage firms excluded from hanging up their shingle on Wall Street, the same firms where these Black brokers were employed? They say, 'Hey, no fair! Let us play with you guys! If you want real integration, you would allow our firms to exist side by side with your firms. It's kind of hypocritical of you guys to proclaim you are integrating, and you do not allow our businesses to exist alongside yours. Instead you are taking from our firms our best talent.'
And that is exactly what happened to Black baseball teams. Black baseball teams were not allowed to join the major leagues. They were kept out as entities while their players were bought off and incorporated into the already existing power structure of the American baseball major league. Without a means to a larger audience, the Black baseball teams had no way of competing with White baseball teams for the Black players. Jackie Robinson might have been the first to bring a little color and pizzazz to the then all-White baseball world, but he also was the first Black baseball player taken away from an already-existing viable institution and transplanted to an all-White institution.
The irony of baseball's integration as we know it, is that outside entities created as a recourse to racial discrimination and economic oppression were, at the clarion call for 'integration' en-masse, disallowed from participating in an open and legitimately free market. When people exclaim the dearth of Black economic, cultural and academic institutions, they fail to realize that there were once such institutions, but economic isolation as a result of discrimination both de facto and de jure, and unfair business practices led to the collective demise of such businesses; sports teams, cultural institutions and of course, schools. Brain drain, and talent drain via 'hostile corporate buyouts' led to the demise of Black baseball teams, and ultimately the end of many Black economic, educational and cultural institutions.
There is a quote attributed to notable civil-rights activist, Andrew Young. He said that true integration would have meant the integration of institutions, not the assimilation of individuals into already determined oppressive institutions. Jackie Robinson became a worker for one of the same White corporate entities that had a history of preventing Black corporate entities - i.e. Black baseball teams -- from participating, and from profiting in what ought to have been a truly free market. The 'integration' of baseball meant the destruction of viable Black institutions: Black baseball teams.
Indeed, baseball is a metaphor for life, and for the 'integration' of society as a whole, whether economically, culturally and of course, racially. 'Integration' has led to the ultimate destruction of developing economies, indigenous cultures, and in the case of this country, communities. If the American baseball league was sincere about integration, they would have incorporated Black baseball teams into the American baseball major league competitions. If the country was sincere about integration, it would have ensured the integration of viable institutions, and not like a corporate raider, bought bits and pieces of the whole.
But if that happened, it would have meant a sharing of the profits; White baseball fans would start going to games held at Black-owned baseball fields, and Black baseball team owners would have become wealthier, developed a larger capital base, and be able to keep their talent, and attract more talent; maybe even White talent! Instead, by keeping Black teams out of the major leagues, the White-owned and operated major baseball league essentially did to Black baseball teams what America does to Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean: starve them economically to impel an adherence to American economic interests. True integration would have meant the integration of Black corporate entities into the mainstream. Concurrently, a truly free market would mean equally reciprocating access to goods and services in the global market.
The celebration of racial integration, as it is defined in popular American historical parlance implies that the country has become stronger because of its 'integration'. But if that integration has aided in the maintenance of the economic and racial status quo, then it is arguable that 'integration' has truly worked. The power of 'integration', best expressed with the proverbial melting pot, best symbolizes the process and the end result. It's too bad the 'integrator' owns the pot, and in baseball, the team.
The House of YAD