After “The Long Stretch” by Jacob Lawrence
Umpire, oh umpire, in blue, white and black, what is your cry? Fair or false? Three arms up in flight, two toes on the bag, with no ball in sight, what will be your cry? Fingers like claws, scratching for their goal-- he stretches his leg as far as it will go. You’re barely two dimensions, with your exaggerated features, sitting at the tail-end of a Harlem Renaissance. Both in white uniforms, white caps and red socks, black cleats on each foot, and playing the same game. The only characteristic to tell them apart is the color of flesh that wraps their bones. Umpire, oh umpire, when given power to change a play, will you be honest, or give in to the roaring crowd? Long stretch-- the loud smack of cowhide against full-grain leather. Peanuts and Cracker Jack! Jackie, oh Jackie, I can barely see through the cloud of dust surrounding you. Is that your belt? Or in the cloud, has a demon swooped down to steal your victory? Grabbing you right at your waist, hooked claw pulling at your navel. This could go one of two ways: a seat at the table, or a seat on the bench. Mr. Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers, protector of first base. First to represent his race. Though it was not a rule but a “gentleman’s agreement,” agreed upon by men who were anything but gentle. Mr. Robinson, seventy years have passed. Americans look back and thank you for your bravery. Dodgers, oh Dodgers, first of modern MLB to integrate your line-up, showing America what should be. Though it took twelve years for each corporation to agree, in ’59 the Red Sox were last to deem baseball free. Looking at “The Long Stretch,” now in a museum, a boy named Max ponders the painting. He says of the players: “Even though they’re different, they’re both kind of the same.” This is the reaction given in a world where kids are not taught to hate based on flesh. Lawrence calls the “struggle of the American people” a beautiful thing as he captures the momentous events of African Americans excelling in modern time. This is America’s game, though not always played fair. The success of our people will not stop at baseball. |
Shannon M. Ortiz is a junior majoring in English with a minor in Creative Writing. She is a wife, a mother of two, and a Marine Corps veteran. Her career interests gravitate toward anything that would expand her knowledge in humanities, but her real dream is to write inspiring and silly stories for children and young adults.
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