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Editorial
October 24, 1948
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Editorial by Gordon B. Hancock uses biblical and sports metaphors to argue that teams playing against Negroes gain an 'extra man' through righteousness, praising Branch Rickey's integration of big leagues.
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BY DEAN GORDON B. HANCOCK
playing 10 men against their opponents'
nine. Like the Hebrew
children cast into the fiery fur-
nace, Nebuchadnezzar cast in but when his henchmen and
executioners looked into the flam-
ing furnace he saw not three but
four men. The fourth man in the
fiery furnace is the 10th man on
the Brooklyn and Cleveland base-
ball team,
EXTRA MAN ON TEAM
It is even so with football When
teams like Michigan and Penn
State trample strong teams under
their feet, they are playing 12 men
against 11 Whenever these athletic
teams play Negroes they always
have an extra man on their team
and that extra man is Right. There
is a strength that nobody knows
but him who is in the right. It is
no wonder that Sir Gallahad had
the strength of 10 because his
heart was right. The strongest man
is not the one with the firmest and
strongest muscles or the fullest
pocket-book: but the one who be-
lieves that his cause is just
That is why armies fight better
on the defensive. The man who de-
fends his homeland is stronger than
the man who invades another's
homeland When Branch Rickey
opened the big leagues to Negroes
playing 10 men against their opponents'
nine. Like the Hebrew
children cast into the fiery fur-
nace, Nebuchadnezzar cast in but when his henchmen and
executioners looked into the flam-
ing furnace he saw not three but
four men. The fourth man in the
fiery furnace is the 10th man on
the Brooklyn and Cleveland base-
ball team,
EXTRA MAN ON TEAM
It is even so with football When
teams like Michigan and Penn
State trample strong teams under
their feet, they are playing 12 men
against 11 Whenever these athletic
teams play Negroes they always
have an extra man on their team
and that extra man is Right. There
is a strength that nobody knows
but him who is in the right. It is
no wonder that Sir Gallahad had
the strength of 10 because his
heart was right. The strongest man
is not the one with the firmest and
strongest muscles or the fullest
pocket-book: but the one who be-
lieves that his cause is just
That is why armies fight better
on the defensive. The man who de-
fends his homeland is stronger than
the man who invades another's
homeland When Branch Rickey
opened the big leagues to Negroes
What sub-type of article is it?
Social Reform
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Racial Integration
Sports Discrimination
Moral Strength
Branch Rickey
Negro Athletes
Biblical Metaphor
What entities or persons were involved?
Branch Rickey
Negroes
Brooklyn Baseball Team
Cleveland Baseball Team
Michigan
Penn State
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Moral Strength Of Righteousness In Racial Integration In Sports
Stance / Tone
Pro Integration Moral Exhortation
Key Figures
Branch Rickey
Negroes
Brooklyn Baseball Team
Cleveland Baseball Team
Michigan
Penn State
Key Arguments
Teams Playing Against Negroes Have An Extra 'Man' Of Righteousness
Biblical Analogy Of Fourth Man In Fiery Furnace Represents Moral Strength
Sir Galahad's Strength Came From Pure Heart
Defenders Of Just Cause Are Strongest
Branch Rickey Opened Big Leagues To Negroes