Jim Crow was king . . . and I heard a game in which Jackie Robinson was playing, and I felt pride in being alive. The baseball held was my fantasy of what life offered.

Summary

This quote reflects the historical context of racial segregation and discrimination during the era of Jim Crow laws. The mention of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, symbolizes progress and breaking barriers. The speaker finds pride and inspiration in witnessing a game where Robinson is playing, seeing it as a representation of hope and a glimpse of a better life where racial equality and opportunities exist, contrasting with the oppression and limitations imposed under Jim Crow. The game of baseball becomes a metaphor for the speaker's dreams and aspirations for a fairer society.

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