Carlis Wright Robinson: The Wright Side of History

Carlis Wright Robinson: The Wright Side of History

By Matthew Johnson

Since 1876, Major League Baseball has not only thrilled fans, but as the longest-running professional sports league in America, it has often reflected (and at times, been at the forefront) of the trends and conversations that occur in everyday American society. As James Earl Jones remarks in his famous speech in the classic baseball film Field of Dreams, “baseball has marked the time.”

Of course, this means that the history of both America and baseball cannot be truly examined and told without looking at the impact of race. As most baseball fans will know, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 broke baseball’s color barrier, which for close to six decades, had not allowed players of black African descent into Major League Baseball. Just as segregation and racism were embedded into the institutions of the nation, Major League Baseball (and sports in general) were not excluded from this practice of discrimination.

In response to racial segregation in Major League Baseball, African American players and officials formed their own league, titled, The Negro Leagues. It was within these leagues that future Major League legends like Robinson, Hank Aaron, and Larry Doby first honed their craft, and others, like Oscar Charleston, Buck Leonard, and Judy Johnson stayed their entire careers, which eventually ended up with Hall of Fame busts in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

While Robinson was the first modern black player in Major League Baseball, the Dodgers signed another Negro League player very soon after, pitcher, Johnny Wright. Wright, who was on the roster and played with Robinson in 1946 with the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Triple-AAA affiliate, remained at the Minor League level before rejoining the Negro Leagues.

Despite not playing in Major League Baseball, Wright, like countless other African Americans in baseball at that time, by their mere presence and participation in baseball at that time in America, rejected racism and served as pioneers for future generations.

Among that very next generation is Wright’s daughter, Carlis Wright Robinson, who recently shared her father’s story and history in her book, The Wright Side of History: The Life and Career of Johnny Wright, Co-Pioneer in Breaking Baseball’s Color Barrier, as Told by His Daughter (In Due Season Publishing). Carlis recently spoke with The Twin Bill to discuss her work, her father’s legacy, and what she would like for readers to take away when they read her book.

I know throughout your book, you note that growing up, your father didn’t talk much about his time in the Negro Leagues. Even though it wasn’t a common talking point in your household, how do you think your father’s experiences in the Negro Leagues shaped his perspective on racial equality, civil rights, and life in general?
 
Being Black and from the South, you are taught how to react in certain situations. And there wasn’t any racial equality during that era. The father that I knew didn’t get riled up at all. What I believe that he enjoyed the most about playing baseball in other countries, is that it afforded him equal opportunities and equal treatment regardless of the color of his skin.
 
Before reading your book, I was unfamiliar with the career of your father, Johnny Wright. I was struck by the amount of research you were able to pull about your father. Can you talk about the process of undertaking such a research project and could you provide some advice to fans and scholars on where to begin if they are interested in learning more about the Negro Leagues?

I was fortunate to meet researchers from SABR (Society for American Baseball Research). But that came much later. Initially, I started searching online with the Smithsonian, Baseball-reference.com, and Seamheads.com. The problem that I had with those websites was that I found errors and/or they were missing information. Later I joined Facebook at the urging of my sons. I joined groups that were solely dedicated to Negro League Research.
 
A lot of your book is about your personal and familial history and the relationship between your father and your mother and your father and you and your siblings. You also mention how you and your siblings wanted to get his story down to not only inform the general public, but also the next generation of your family. Can you talk about how The Wright Side of History is just as much a Carlis Wright Robinson project as it is a piece of work done by your family, too?
 
If it weren’t for my siblings’ urging, the book may not have happened. And now that they have gone before us, I felt an obligation to follow through. I wasn’t born during my father’s heyday. However, I am driven by the lack of information out there about my dad’s role in history. My sister would find articles in her local library and share them with the rest of us. My older brother would tell me stories from his memory. I personally have been more focused on this journey since 1990 when I found out that my dad had been given a cancer diagnosis and given six months to live.
 
In your research and writing, were there any surprising discoveries or revelations about your father that you came across as you were putting your book together?

Putting together Dad’s career timeline in chronological order was a task. I also enjoyed reading letters from Dad to Mom. Those letters put things into perspective about the times that they lived in and the challenges. But I also learned that my dad once played under the alias Leroy Leftwich.
 
Knowing your father, even if he did not talk about it often, how do you think he felt about his time within the Dodgers’ organization? He was the second black ballplayer signed in their organization, behind only Jackie Robinson. It’s never easy to be a trailblazer, and even though he did not make it to the big leagues like Jackie, he found a lot of success and was an innovator in his own right in the Minor Leagues. How do you think he felt about his brief career with the Dodgers at such a momentous time in baseball and America? Do you think he had any complicated feelings?

I believe that Dad thought he would be called back to the Dodger’s organization at some point. I’m sure that he was proud to have been given the opportunity. And I’m proud of the fact that he continued to play and excel in the Negro Leagues.
 
What does it mean to you and your family seeing how your father, like many other Negro League players, have become more recognized over the years? From articles in outlets like the Society of Baseball Research (SABR) and ESPN’s Undefeated, to seeing him inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, can you describe the feeling of seeing your father’s career be acknowledged by more people and a new generation?

It’s exciting. I was overwhelmed when I received notification while attending a Daytona Tortuga game which honored Dad, that a historical marker had been approved and would be unveiled later that year. The recognitions all occurred within months of each other. My family is grateful. They are now able to share our family history for generations to come.
 
How do you think both your father and your book contribute to the overall understanding and appreciation of the history of the Negro Leagues and baseball in general?

My father played a key role in the integration of baseball, but his story has been overlooked. He has been labeled the forgotten number two. Readers should understand the obstacles, the barnstorming, and the obvious love of the game to endure it all.
 
What message or takeaway do you hope readers will gain from reading your book about your father’s journey in the Negro Leagues?

John Wright is not just the other guy. I’m hoping that my book is the most concise writing to date so that the world can know his story.

Carlis Wright Robinson is the author of The Wright Side of History: The Life and Career of Johnny Wright, Co-Pioneer in Breaking Baseball’s Color Barrier. It’s available here.

Matthew Johnson is the author of the poetry collections, Shadow Folks and Soul Songs (Kelsay Books), Far from New York State (NYQ Press), and the chapbook, Too Short to Box with God (Finishing Line Press). His work appears/is forthcoming in The African American Review, Front Porch Review, London Magazine, Up the Staircase Quarterly, and elsewhere. He has been recognized with Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize nominations, a scholarship from the Hudson Valley Writers Center, a residency from Sundress Publications, and as a finalist in Grand View University’s Diverse Voices Book Award. He’s the managing editor of The Portrait of New England. Originally from Upstate New York and Connecticut, he now lives in North Carolina, rooting for the Yankees and always having his eyes out for the Mets. matthewjohnsonpoetry.com

Michael C. Paul is an illustrator, writer, and historian. He grew up outside of Kansas City, has moved around a bit over the years working as a history professor, illustrator, and occasionally an editorial cartoonist, and now lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter. For more, visit https://mikepaulart.com or @MikePaulArt.