PBS’ documentary on Jackie Robinson reveals complicated life
April 13, 2016
PBS’ documentary on the life of Jackie Robinson gets most interesting when the gloves and bats are put away for good.
The two-part film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon airs Monday and Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT on most PBS stations. The first part details Robinson’s early life and his baseball career, when he became the first black player in Major League Baseball in 1947. The second part is more complex, showing Robinson navigating a civil rights era that he helped put in motion.