'We don't realize the struggles': Jackie Robinson's story to be told at Methodist University

Actor and playwright Mike Wiley, who performed in a one-man play based on Timothy Tyson's novel "Blood Done Sign My Name," is back in Fayetteville with a one-man play on the Jackie Robinson story.

The play, "Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart," which is free and open to the public, is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University and is sponsored by the university and Organizing Against Racism: Cumberland County.

The play's audience will observe the struggles Robinson endured as an African American baseball player navigating a separate and unequal league.

“People forget about all the challenges he had to face as a professional baseball player,” said Lisa Lofthouse, president of Organizing Against Racism. “When we hear the history of someone's life, especially a Black person, we don’t realize the struggles they go through.”

Organizing Against Racism sponsors workshops and events to foster racial understanding and healing.

A mission statement on the group's website reads: “To build more meaningful, equitable relationships with each other': "To deepen our analysis of systemic inequity, particularly regarding racism in the US;" and "To process our experiences of oppression & internalized inferiority, moving towards healing."

'You forget he’s the only man on the stage'

Wiley, a Methodist minister, has spent the past decade inspiring young audiences with educational theater. His performances include sharing the legacies of important American figures such as Emmett Till and Henry "Box" Brown, as well as the one-man play based on Tim Tyson's memoirs and more. Organizing Against Racism first partnered with Wiley last year in his Fayetteville performance of "Blood Done Sign My Name."

“You think, 'How can you play all these different characters?'” Lofthouse said. “He can so easily flip between characters you forget he’s the only man on the stage.”

Lofthouse said Organizing Against Racism is always trying to reach a broader audience and hopes Jackie Robinson's popularity will lead to even more shows from Wiley, Organizing Against Racism and Methodist University in Fayetteville in the future.

“We’re trying to enact change and affect the community,” Lofthouse said. “This will hopefully become an annual thing.”

Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.