Read this excerpt from I Never Had It Made. He knew I would have terrible problems and wanted me to know the extent of them befo
re I agreed to the plan. I was twenty-six years old, and all my life – back to the age of eight–I had believed in payback, retaliation. The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is his personal dignity. I looked at Mr. Rickey guardedly, and in that second I was looking at him not as a partner in a great experiment, but as the enemy –a white man. I had a question, and it was the age-old one about whether or not you sell your birthright. "Mr. Rickey," I asked, "are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" I never will forget the way he exploded. "Robinson," he said, "I'm looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back." Which statement best summarizes this excerpt? Before accepting Rickey’s offer, Robinson confirms that Rickey respects him as a strong black man. Before becoming partners with Rickey, Robinson discusses what he will be paid for his efforts. When Robinson studies Rickey’s plan, he decides that Rickey is an enemy who cannot be trusted. When Robinson argues with Rickey, Rickey insists that there is no reason to disagree with his plan.
Before accepting Rickey’s offer, Robinson confirms that Rickey respects him as a strong black man.
Explanation:
"I Never Had It Made" is an autobiographical account of Jackie Robinson about the struggles that he faced as a black man among white players especially in the sporting world of baseball. This autobiography presents an inspiring story of how he endured racism and became one of the most celebrated and greatest sportsmen, not only as a black man but also as a sportsman.
In the given excerpt, Robinson recalls how he had approached Rickey about his offer of playing in his Dodgers team. For Robinson, it seemed like the typical way whites deal with blacks and he was determined not to be a victim. But when Rickey assured him that he wanted him with <em>"guts enough not to fight back"</em>, he knew this white man was not like the others. <u>This response confirms that he (Rickey) respects him as a strong black man and is unlike the other white people.
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