Letter from Lt. Jack Robinson to Truman K. Gibson
7/16/1944
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While serving in the Army, Jackie Robinson sent this letter (please note that it includes racist language) to Truman Gibson, a member of President Roosevelt's "Black Cabinet," a group of African Americans assembled to serve as policy advisors. Robinson described a racially-charged incident for which he was court-martialed on what he considered false charges.
Robinson had been drafted into the Army during World War II, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1943. In 1944, Robinson was stationed at Camp Hood, Texas (later named Fort Hood), which maintained complete segregation and whose surrounding community had a reputation for discrimination and racism.
The buses that transported soldiers on and off the base were run by civilians. On July 6, 1944, a bus driver told Lieutenant Robinson to move his seat on the bus, to be farther back from a fellow officer's light-skinned wife, mistaken for being White. Robinson refused. Later, at his stop, Robinson and the driver argued, joined by the bus dispatcher, who used racist language toward Robinson. Robinson agreed to go to the police headquarters to straighten out the situation. However, when they arrived, more offensive racial epithets were used toward Robinson and he threatened "to break in two" anyone, whatever their rank or status, who employed that word.
Robinson was subsequently court-martialed for his behavior. He believed the charges were racially motivated and contacted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Robinson and other fellow officers alleged that "the whole business was cooked up...to intimidate Negro officers and enlisted men" and that an independent investigation was needed.
From McCloskey General Hospital, where he was confined to quarters, Robinson wrote this letter to the War Department's civilian aide Truman Gibson. He described the incident on the bus at Fort Hood and asked Gibson if the newspapers should be notified of the trumped-up charges to shine a national spotlight on the trial. Robinson admitted using strong language—but only in selected company and after being provoked. He ended his letter with: "I don't mind trouble but I do believe in fair play and justice."
Gibson annotated Robinson's letter, stating, "This man is the well-known athlete. He will write you. Follow the case carefully." He then answered Robinson, advising that no action on his behalf could be taken by his office before the trial, but he wanted to be apprised of the outcome. Gibson, a onetime NAACP official, also counseled against seeking publicity in the matter because he thought doing so would only fan the flames.
At the court-martial of 25-year-old Robinson, testimony included words like "excellent" to describe his demeanor, reputation, and job performance. Robinson's Army-appointed defense attorney brought out inconsistencies in prosecution witnesses' accounts, and introduced evidence to suggest Robinson had been consistently confronted with a racially hostile environment. The court acquitted the defendant of all charges.
This document also includes the term "negro" to refer to Black people, which was commonly accepted in that era, but is outdated and inappropriate today.
Robinson had been drafted into the Army during World War II, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1943. In 1944, Robinson was stationed at Camp Hood, Texas (later named Fort Hood), which maintained complete segregation and whose surrounding community had a reputation for discrimination and racism.
The buses that transported soldiers on and off the base were run by civilians. On July 6, 1944, a bus driver told Lieutenant Robinson to move his seat on the bus, to be farther back from a fellow officer's light-skinned wife, mistaken for being White. Robinson refused. Later, at his stop, Robinson and the driver argued, joined by the bus dispatcher, who used racist language toward Robinson. Robinson agreed to go to the police headquarters to straighten out the situation. However, when they arrived, more offensive racial epithets were used toward Robinson and he threatened "to break in two" anyone, whatever their rank or status, who employed that word.
Robinson was subsequently court-martialed for his behavior. He believed the charges were racially motivated and contacted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Robinson and other fellow officers alleged that "the whole business was cooked up...to intimidate Negro officers and enlisted men" and that an independent investigation was needed.
From McCloskey General Hospital, where he was confined to quarters, Robinson wrote this letter to the War Department's civilian aide Truman Gibson. He described the incident on the bus at Fort Hood and asked Gibson if the newspapers should be notified of the trumped-up charges to shine a national spotlight on the trial. Robinson admitted using strong language—but only in selected company and after being provoked. He ended his letter with: "I don't mind trouble but I do believe in fair play and justice."
Gibson annotated Robinson's letter, stating, "This man is the well-known athlete. He will write you. Follow the case carefully." He then answered Robinson, advising that no action on his behalf could be taken by his office before the trial, but he wanted to be apprised of the outcome. Gibson, a onetime NAACP official, also counseled against seeking publicity in the matter because he thought doing so would only fan the flames.
At the court-martial of 25-year-old Robinson, testimony included words like "excellent" to describe his demeanor, reputation, and job performance. Robinson's Army-appointed defense attorney brought out inconsistencies in prosecution witnesses' accounts, and introduced evidence to suggest Robinson had been consistently confronted with a racially hostile environment. The court acquitted the defendant of all charges.
This document also includes the term "negro" to refer to Black people, which was commonly accepted in that era, but is outdated and inappropriate today.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Secretary of War.
National Archives Identifier: 159703346
Full Citation: Letter from Lt. Jack Robinson to Truman K. Gibson; 7/16/1944; Court - Martial (Alpha Order); General Correspondence, 1940 - 1948; Records of the Office of the Secretary of War, Record Group 107; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/robinson-gibson, March 28, 2025]Activities that use this document
- Analyzing a Letter from Jackie Robinson: "Fair Play and Justice"
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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