Series synopsis
Jackie Robinson is an American documentary television series that premiered on PBS on April 11, 2016. It ended on April 12, 2016. It stars Rachel Robinson, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Willie Mays.
Jack Roosevelt Robinson rose from humble origins to cross baseball’s color line and become one of the most beloved men in America. A fierce integrationist, Robinson used his immense fame to speak out against the discrimination he saw on and off the field, angering fans, the press, and even teammates who had once celebrated him for “turning the other cheek.” After baseball, he was a widely-read newspaper columnist, divisive political activist and tireless advocate for civil rights, who later stru ...
Premise
Jack Roosevelt Robinson rose from humble origins to cross baseball’s color line and become one of the most beloved men in America. A fierce integrationist, Robinson used his immense fame to speak out against the discrimination he saw on and off the field, angering fans, the press, and even teammates who had once celebrated him for “turning the other cheek.” After baseball, he was a widely-read newspaper columnist, divisive political activist and tireless advocate for civil rights, who later struggled to remain relevant as diabetes crippled his body and a new generation of leaders set a more militant course for the civil rights movement.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Rachel Robinson as Self
- Barack Obama as Self
- Michelle Obama as Self
- Willie Mays as Self
- Harry Belafonte as Self
- Red Barber as Self
- David Robinson as Self
- Sharon Robinson as Self
Supporting cast
- Carl Furillo as Self
- Ralph Branca as Self
- Don Newcombe as Self
- Vin Scully as Self
- Gerald Early as Self
- Jonathan Eig as Self
- Carly Simon as Self
- Myron Uhlberg as Self
- Tom Brokaw as Self
- Minnie Minoso as Self
- Howard Bryant as Self
- Alton Waldon as Self
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 2 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2 | April 11, 2016 | April 12, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Part One Robinson rises from humble origins to integrate Major League Baseball, performing brilliantly despite the threats and abuse he faces on and off the field and, in the process, challenges the prejudiced notions of what a black man can achieve. |
April 11, 2016 |
| 2 |
Part Two Robinson uses his fame to speak out against injustice, alienating many who had once lauded him for “turning the other cheek.” After baseball, he seeks ways to fight inequality, but as he faces a crippling illness, he struggles to remain relevant. |
April 12, 2016 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | PBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 11, 2016 |
| Last aired | April 12, 2016 |
| Runtime | 120 minutes |
| Status | ended |