Thomas Jefferson once said that, "one man with courage makes a majority." After seeing the movie 42 (the story of Jackie Robinson's journey to the Major Leagues in the 1940's) there is no question that Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey embody the spirit of the Jefferson quote. Both of these men are examples of how real leadership can change the world, even if it starts with just one or two people.
The movie depicts the story of how Robinson, one of the most courageous pioneers against racism in our country's history, was the first African-American to enter Major League Baseball. But the movie is also the story of how Branch Rickey signed him with the Dodgers and mentored and encouraged him in the process. Rickey's actions were criticized by virtually everyone in professional sports and the media. Facing intimidation and serious personal threats, they persevered and because of their courage they changed baseball, all of professional sports and the country forever. Robinson became one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and opened the door to athletes of all backgrounds to participate not only in baseball, but every other professional sport.
42 is a movie about how personal courage can change the world. Courage comes in many forms. Last week we were reminded of the incredible courage of common citizens and first responders in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon attacks. Examples of personal courage occur throughout the country every day and often go unrecognized. The essential feature of courageous people is their willingness to go forward often risking their life or their career, without knowing in advance whether success is assured. In the movie, Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson broke the race barrier in professional baseball knowing full well that their actions would jeopardize their careers. This is the kind of courage and leadership which is so desperately desired from our political leaders who are deciding the country's future for generations to come. There seem to be too few occasions when our leaders take positions that may be unpopular in some quarters but still the right thing to do. Our political culture has become consistently risk averse where self-preservation trumps everything else.
Movies, in my judgment, are the great American art form. The power of film to demonstrate acts of great personal courage and character gives the American people incredible stories and role models to emulate. Of course not all films portray the human character and spirit with such depth, but when one comes along like 42 or Lincoln or Gandhi or the dozens of movies demonstrating the courageous acts of the less famous, there are powerful lessons that we as a people are often in need of seeing, hearing and believing. The greater lesson for us is that personal courage is fundamental to our American democracy. Our political leaders could really learn a lesson from this movie; folks are remembered for this kind of pioneering and courageous behavior. Brave acts of leadership, whether in sports, politics, in the neighborhood or anywhere can change someone's life, a community and even the world.
Former Senator Robert Kennedy said that, "few are willing to brave the disapproval of their peers, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change." Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson braved the disapproval, censure and wrath, and in the process created a new majority of tolerance and common sense for America.
Dan Glickman is Vice-President of the Aspen Institute, a former Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture, and former Chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America.