A number of people work to help America succeed. Why do you suppose each is so intent on doing so? Do you think they were right or wrong to encourage her so strongly?

Mack, Corky, Pastor Pete and Coach Trumbull (among others) work to help America succeed. Why do you suppose each is so intent on pushing her in that direction? Do you think they were right or wrong to encourage her so strongly?

They saw America's success as a chance to win a ballgame as well as a chance to get a good runner into a college. I think they were mostly looking beyond her race.

I think they had very good intentions in encouraging her. Primarily because they knew success in a sport would help her overcome the race factor. And being black was definitely a negative for her to become successful in life, more so in the 1960s than today (to some extent).

I am a firm believer that what other people say or do is a projection of their own reality, beliefs and desires. Mack, Corky, Pastor Pete and Coach Trumbull invested in America for possibly different reasons ( and perhaps similar ones as well). I like to think that each was working out of the genuine desire to help America to succeed. On a more personal level, Corky valued her friendship with America, Mack had a strong love of the sport and of being part of a winning team as did Pastor Pete and Coach Trumbull. Pastor Pete may have been striving for more unity within his congregation and Coach Trumbull may have been trying to advance his career by shaping the future of a star athlete. We can only surmise?

America was possible as great an athlete as Wilma Rudolph! She might help them win the church game. She might become famous. She might be a special friend. Each person had reasons to help her. I like to think most were altruistic and not selfish.

I think each of those individuals liked America and wanted the best for her. Being a gifted runner provided a way for America to succeed and get an education in America at that time.

Many people in the town but especially Mack, Corky, Pastor Pete and Coach Trumbull saw the potential of America as an athlete especially in long distance running and supported her in whatever way they could providing friendship, shoes or whatever they could despite societal obstacles but one obstacle they could not provide was self-confidence which America had to earn for herself.

I found it admirable that a few people tried to help America. Not only were they trying to help their own team win the game, but also giving America an opportunity that she would not have had otherwise. It was unfortunate that she had to face such obstacles, even from her friendship with Corky who did not understand America's and her family's life at all.

I think they saw America as a special person with a great athletic talent. They wanted her to succeed in that endeavor. They were not focused on her race.

America seems like a "too-good-to-be-true -exception-to-her-race" character (unless you subscribe to the stereotype that Blacks are all exceptional athletes- or could be if they just tried hard enough."

She could play all positions in softball - and did - all in one game no less. She - with no training - beat the Olympic record for running - and to top it off was a master seamstress. And she was humble about it all. What's not to like? Now if she had been an ordinary Black child or expressed anger at her circumstances - would everyone have wanted to help her? Not so sure they would.

I think America had many rooting for her to succeed as they recognized the special gift she had. Along with that they had their own inner reasons for wanting her to succeed. Would her success somehow reflect on them etc.

Many characters had their own initial reasons for helping America but in the long run I believe they were trying to help her succeed because they didn’t think she would be given the same opportunities as Mack.

There were various reasons. They wanted her to play in their ball game. They wanted to win. They had never won before, and they wanted to now. Corky and Mack wanted America to succeed because she had talent, and it would get her places. If you were good at something, why wouldn't you want to excel at it? Corky and Mack truly cared about America as an individual. I don't think that was true of everyone.

I think most of them had such good intentions even if they might benefit as well from helping America. I think they all saw a chance for America to go further in life because of her talent and wanted to find the opportunity to help her. Opportunities were still very limited in the 60s. It took others opening doors to go places. Interestingly, the same could be said today!

I loved Lyris’s response because it was America’s skills and demeanor that endeared her to everyone except the overt racists. I was pleasantly surprised by how much support America received and I felt it was all sincere. I especially liked the shoe salesman because when I grew up in the 60’s in Washington DC there was only one shoe store that would service black children. I was always told I had to be twice as good to be accepted by white people. So back to Lyris’s comment :what if she had been just an ordinary black girl?🤔

The people that wanted America to play would help them in individual and collective ways. They all wanted their team to WIN games. They wanted their team to have a reputation that might put them and America on the surrounding map. They saw someone coming from the other side of the tracks taking their team to victory. They felt that this team would help America in personal growth, i.e., self confidence, school schorships, etc. Corky felt that America could be in the Olympics and that it would give her additional exposure.

I think they wanted America to exceed at what she does best, run and hopefully doors would open for her.

I think the people who helped American might have had different motivations. The most important reason being that she had a tremendous talent. Corky definitely wanted to see her succeed because she was in amazed by her and wanted to be like her. I think the Coach was the sincerest in helping her because he saw her potential. He did not have any other reason or need to help. Well maybe some recognition if she went further. Mack may have had two reasons for helping her, 1) He also saw her potential and 2) He wanted to win the softball game. The owner of the shoe store may have also had two reasons. I think he wanted to see her succeed and if she did It would be a feather in his cap and great promotion his business if she was wearing shoes from his establishment. Word of her talent spread throughout the town and most people thought she was a vital asset to the Baptists.

America’s talent and humble personality made it easy for others to help and encourage her. The coach saw her potential which could secure a scholarship and thus achieve a successful future.

Pastor Pete might have started out with the selfish reason of wanting to win the softball game, but I think they all genuinely wanted American to succeed because they could see her talent and hard work.