Akanksha Sharma

42 Movie Questions
1. Why do you think Branch Rickey doesnt admit his real reasons for bringing Jackie Robinson onto the team until later in the season? Why does Branch initially tell everyone its all about bringing in more money from black fans and winning more ball games? Do you think he believes this is his reason for breaking the color barrier in the major leagues? Branch Rickey didnt initially admit his real reason for bringing Jackie Robinson onto the team, as he knew it would not be accepted by society. Claiming that the only reason he brought Jackie on the team was because he wanted to make more money, will cause less people to hate him. If people outright knew the real reason behind Rickey drafting Robinson into the team, then Robinson would have faced even more hate by some people. By saying that his reason for bringing Robinson on the team was to generate more revenue, Rickey prevented it from being a open racial issue, and played it off as something he had to do to earn more money, as Jackie would bring a large number of people to the games. I don't think that Branch broke the color barrier in the major leagues, just for the sake of money. Numerous times in the movie Branch brings up the idea, of treating others as one would want to be treated themselves, which shows his belief in equality. 2. Branch tells Jackie hes looking for a player with the courage not to fight back if he is persecuted, insulted, abused, and hated by players, officials, and fans. How can having a thick skin be an advantage in life? How might things have turned out differently if Jackie had given in and lost his temper on the field? Having a thick skin, can be very beneficial in life. Someone who has thick skin, is less likely to be affected by someone else's opinions of them, and may not give up as easily when things become difficult. If Jackie, had had given in and lost his temper on the field, then people would have disliked him even more. As the movie progressed, Jackie did receive the support of some people who had not initially supported him, but if he had lost his temper, he may not have gained their support. People would have ignored anything Jackie had done right, and focus all their attention on the fact that he cannot control his temper. Many people were looking for a reason to say that Jackie does not deserve to play in the major league, and those individuals would have used his temper against him. 3. Victory is often about adapting to change. How do the various players of the Brooklyn Dodgers and other members of the league adapt differently to addition of Jackie to the team? What happens to those who dont adapt? Initially, most of the player on the Brooklyn Dodgers were against having Jackie on their team, but once they realized that their opinion wasnt going to make a difference on Brachs decision most of them accepted him. The one player who refused to play with Jackie before even meeting him, was traded to another team. When Jackie first joins the team, most of the other players do not fully accept him, but once they realize that he is a great baseball player, and start to consider him a part of the team, they begin to defend him. When the Pittsburgh coach insults Jackie at one of the games, a player of the Brooklyn Dodgers defend him. Pee Wee, also begins to become closer to Jackie, once he realizes that what Jackie has to face every day is not fair.

4. 42 is a story of personal courage, of people with the guts to stand up against a situation that is both wrong and accepted by the masses. Do situations like this exist today? Do we all face these situations, even if on a smaller stage, in our own lives? Have you ever experienced one? What did you do? Was there something youd do differently, if, like Branch Rickey, you had the chance to go back and right an old wrong? Situation like this do exist all around us today. Everyone faces these situations in their lives, some are more serious than others. A lot of these situations go ignored, and therefore sometimes people dont understand that they exist. I have seen an entire class of students pick on one other person, and ridicule them. It started with a small group of students doing so, but soon most of the class joined in thinking it was ok. I unfortunately did not do anything about it, as at the time I did not want to be involved with the whole situation at all. If I had the chance to go back, I would most definitely do something. I believe that all the people bullying this one student did know that what they were doing was wrong, and therefore I would try to make them, or at least my friends, acknowledge that. If a number of people backed off and refused to take part in bullying someone else, then there is a greater chance of everyone backing off as well. 5. Both Jackie and Branch are gifted people Jackie with talent, and Branch with money and influence. They choose to employ those gifts to change the world, even when they could have followed an easier path. What gifts do you have that could be used to change your school, your community, or the world? I believe I can make others feel comfortable around me, and make them feel inclusive in whatever it is I am doing. If I see a new student in the class I try to talk to them and include them in group activities when they do not have someone to work with. I try to do this with anyone who seems uncomfortable or out of place. Part of the reason for this is that I can relate to those individuals as I have been in similar situations myself various times. 6. Actions speak slowly, but loudly. What do your actions say? Have you ever been disappointed with your own actions in a difficult situation? Different actions can say different things. When I was little, my actions use to show my anger. Whenever I was angry I would throw things at people. Now I do not react in such a way. When I am angry, my actions show that I am trying to control my temper, as I usually stay quiet when I am angry, or I like to be isolated. I have been disappointed by my actions at times. Sometimes, I let my anger get the best of me and say things that I know I should not say but do so anyways. Also, at time in a difficult I situation I have often tried to control my emotions and my reactions, and trying to do so, I have often avoided a much needed confrontation. 7. Jackies first season begins to inspire change in young people who watch him play. How can we inspire the people around us? I think one of the best ways to influence others, is to do something everyone else wants to do, but has not done it yet for whatever reason. Many African Americans wanted to play baseball in the major leagues, but none of them had done so, maybe because they thought they couldnt, or maybe because they werent given the opportunity to do so. When Jackie began playing in the major leagues despite the hate and oppression he faced from those around him, anyone who ever wanted to play for baseball, but

had been refused the right to do so for an invalid reason such as race, could now relate to him. It showed people that they can do what they have always wanted to, and that is one of the most powerful ways to inspire someone else, to show them that they can do what they want to, through example. 8. Are Jackies teammates, who at first do nothing when Jackie is ridiculed on the field, as guilty as the people who yell racial slurs? When we pretend not to see bad behavior or injustice are we, in effect, saying its okay? Do people assume that doing nothing means I agree? Jackies teammates who did nothing at first to prevent Jackie from being ridiculed on the field, are definitely guilty of not doing the right thing, but not as guilty the people actually making the comments. They should have stood up for Jackie earlier on, as it may have stopped people from making racist and personal comments towards Jackie earlier, and shown people that what they are saying does not only affect Jackie, but affects them as well. When we pretend to not see bad behaviour, I dont think that in a way we are saying its ok even though that is what some may think we are saying. Sometimes, a lot of confidence, and courage is needed to stand up to someone for another person, and someone who may not have those characteristics, may fail to do so. That does not mean that they agree with what is happening. 9. Was it hard for you to watch the scene in which the Phillies manager, Ben Chapman, yells racial slurs at Jackie Robinson on the field? How did you feel when Jackies teammate came out of the dugout to stand up against the Phillies managers racism? How can being Under fire sometimes propel us to heroism we didnt know we were capable of? It was definitely hard for me to watch the Phillies coach, yell racial slurs to Jackie. He was being so bluntly racist, and I could easily see Jackies helplessness, as I knew that he couldnt do anything, and partly did not want him to do anything, as it would not have lead to positive consequences. When Jackies teammate defended him, it made him a more likeable character to me. It not only led to the Phillies coach stop saying the things he was saying, but it also showed that Jackie has greater acceptance within his team. Being under fire can cause someone to believe that they are the only ones who can do something about the situation. In that moment, no one waits for someone else to take a stand and do the right thing, and they feel like they have the responsibility to do so. Therefore, they perform acts of heroism, they may not have otherwise. 10. Do you think Jackie would have made it through the season if he hadnt had the support of his wife, Branch Rickey, and eventually teammates like Pee Wee Reese? How can finding the right people to support us increase our ability to stand up for what we believe in? I think it would have been extremely difficult for Jackie to make it through the season without the support of his wife, and his teammates. Finding the right people to support us, can remind us that what we are standing up for is right. If everyone is constantly against what you believe in, there may come a time when you begin to question whether or not it is worth it, or may start to doubt your own beliefs. Having people around to support you, like Jackie did, proves that there are others who believe in the same things, or believe that what you are doing is right. With support, you are less likely to give up on what you are fighting for. 11. After showing support for Jackie on the field, Pee Wee Reese receives a threatening letter, but when he takes the letter to Branch Rickeys office, he soon learns that Jackie has received hundreds of mail threats. Can we ever really understand what another person may be enduring without walking in those

shoes? How did you feel when Reese stood beside Jackie on the field as a demonstration of support? Why did he choose to do this? (incidentally, in an interview, Reese once said this: Something in my gut reacted at the moment. Something about what? The unfairness of it? The injustice of it? I dont know.)

I think it is impossible to truly understand what another person may be enduring without walking in their shoes. Everyone has ideas about what they might do in certain situations and how they would react different than someone else, yet when those people do end up going through the same thing, what they actually is often different than what they thought they would do. It made me happy to see Reese show his support for Jackie at the field, yet the reaction they both received from the audience bothered me, as they were clearly against it. I think Reese choose to do this, as a way to show people, that he is doing nothing wrong by getting along with his black teammate. He also wanted Jackie to know that he has his full support, despite what others might say. 12. Whats the biggest lesson you took away from the movie? Which individual did you find the most heroic? Which individual did you most closely identify with? The biggest lesson I took away from the movie was that giving people a reaction is not the best way of taking a stand. Jackie did not give people a reaction when they spoke against him, and that proved to be more effective in having him be more accepted as a baseball player by people, then if he would have reacted and said or did something back. I found Jackie Robinson to be the most heroic character in the movie. He took the opportunity we was given and made the best of it. He put all his focus into baseball, and refused to be brought down with all the negative response he was receiving from the public. It would have been easy for him to lose his temper and lash out at people, yet he controlled his temper so that he could play baseball. He opened the door for many other African American baseball players, who had not been given the opportunity to play in the major leagues, based on their race. I most closely identified with the sportswriter, Wendell. I could not necessarily relate to a lot of the other characters in the movie, as I do not play or follow baseball. Writing is something I enjoy , therefore I could relate to Wendells character the most. I also somewhat match with him personality wise more than I do with other characters , as he seemed to be more of an introvert. He is also one of my favorite characters from the movies, as he also overcame the racial barrier Jackie did, and did so without having many people realize that he was struggle in career as well because of the color of his skin.