Close Reading Framework—Biography: Hank Aaron: Hammering Home a Message of Equality Synopsis On February 5, 1934, Hank Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama. He followed his lifelong love of baseball from playing as a kid to the Negro Leagues and finally to the Major Leagues where he played for the Milwaukee Braves (who moved to Atlanta during Aaron’s career). His major league career lasted 23 years. He was not just a professional baseball player; he was an extraordinary professional baseball player. He broke many records during his career. One of the most impressive records that he held was for most career home runs. It took more than 20 years for another player to beat his record of 755 home runs. In recognition of his wonderful achievements in baseball and in his personal life, Hank Aaron was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. Background: A BaseBall Hero What made Hank Aaron stand apart from other baseball players was his ability to hit the ball— and hit it well. This is why other players and baseball fans gave him the nickname “Hammerin’ Hank.” During his 23 years playing for the Braves and then back to Milwaukee with the Brewers where he ended his career, Aaron played as an outfielder. Aaron set records in baseball that no one has managed to beat to this day. These records include: runs batted in, extra base hits, and total bases. Before Aaron broke the record for most career home runs in 1974, the record belonged to one of the most legendary baseball players of all time: Babe Ruth. Today this record is held by Barry Bonds, who took the title from Aaron in 2007. (Many people do not accept Bonds’s record as legitimate, though, because he played at a time when many players were using steroids and other drugs to improve their performance.) Early Years: The Birth of a Legend Hank Aaron grew up in a family of eight children in Mobile, Alabama. He grew up during the time of segregation in the United States. African Americans and Caucasians lived in separate sections of Mobile. The section of Mobile that Aaron lived in was called Down the Bay, and the residents of Down the Bay did not have very much money. Aaron discovered his love for baseball when he was 8 years old after his family moved to a new neighborhood called Toulminville. He spent all of his free time playing baseball and joined his high school team. He had the chance to devote even more of his time to baseball when he transferred to a private school that had a better baseball program. It was obvious to Aaron and PDToolkit for Pam Allyn's Core Ready Series; Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. all who watched him play that he had an outstanding talent for baseball. At the age of 18, Aaron decided to join the Negro Leagues. He dropped out of school and became a player for the Indianapolis Clowns. A Major League Career Hank Aaron was the Indianapolis Clowns’ star player. With his help, his team won the 1952 World Series of the Negro Leagues. Aaron was then asked to join the Major Leagues. He started his major league career when he was 20 years old and got better and better year after year. In 1957, he was named the National League most valuable player (MVP). This was also the year that his team, the Braves, won the World Series thanks to a home run Aaron hit late in the game. Obstacles Although Aaron was very successful on the field, not everyone was happy to have him in the Major Leagues. He rose to fame at a time when African Americans had to confront racism every day. Although Aaron had many fans, he also received letters every day from people who told him that he should not be allowed to play in the Major Leagues because he was African- American. Some people even threatened to kill him after he broke Babe Ruth’s record for the most career home runs. Aaron knew he had the right to play the sport he loved, and he courageously called attention to the racism and hateful actions that he witnessed and experienced. He spoke up for equality in the Major Leagues. He wanted to make sure that African-American children who looked up to him had the chance to follow their baseball (and all other) dreams. One of his most famous quotes was: “On the field, blacks have been able to be super giants. But, once our playing days are over, this is the end of it and we go back to the back of the bus again.” Legacy When he decided to retire from being a baseball player, Aaron still found a way to make baseball his career. He became the vice president of the Atlanta Braves and continued to use his voice to make sure people of all races had the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues and participate in all aspects of society. Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, and Major League Baseball named an award after him that is given out every year to the best hitter in each league. Aaron wrote and published stories from his life in a book titled I Had a Hammer. Works Cited PDToolkit for Pam Allyn's Core Ready Series; Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. “Hank Aaron.” The Biography Channel website. 2014 Web. 26 Feb. 2014. Setting the Stage (Introduction) Slowing down with reading instruction is imperative for creating critical thinking skills. When students linger over a text, they can start to identify patterns and pinpoint an author’s underlying message and purpose for writing the text. Stylistically, it is also important for students to realize that writing is a true form of artistry and self-expression. Gather students to set the stage for the close reading exercise. Explain the importance of close reading, and also remind them of recent teaching objectives that they should be on the lookout for specifically. You could say: Today we are going to practice taking our time and slowing down with our reading to make sure that we notice and appreciate every word on the page. Have you ever wondered why an author chose one word over another? Nothing on the page is an accident! Author’s read and reread their work and write each sentence carefully. As readers, our job is to try to figure out what the author was thinking as he or she was writing. We should always take time to pause and ask questions. Why did that character do that? Why does the author choose to use one word instead of another word? As you read today, I want you to think carefully about why the author is writing and what messages he or she is trying to send you through the words on the page. To practice going deep with a text, you’ll notice yourself reading and reading a passage over again, noticing new things each time. You will use the guiding questions on your worksheet to help you think about the text on different levels and to notice the beauty of an author’s writing. Of course, you may also decide that an author’s style is not your personal favorite. That’s OK—as long as you first consider the text from many different angles and think about the underlying messages. Independent Practice Have students read the text independently or in small groups. Ask them to jot down answers to each question in the Core Lens guiding worksheet. Have students discuss their thinking with a partner while you circulate to monitor progress. You may choose to spread this exercise over two days to give students time to percolate ideas and come back to the text with fresh eyes. PDToolkit for Pam Allyn's Core Ready Series; Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Personal Lens 1) Before reading this biography, did you have an interest in baseball? Did you become more 7 Core Ready Lenses interested in baseball after reading this text? Guiding Questions for Close Reading Instruction 2) What do you think makes someone a baseball hero? The Linguistic Lens The Semantic Lens The Analytical Lens 1) What words does the author 1) List three facts about Hank 1) The biography tells us that use to let the reader know that Aaron that are shared in this Hank Aaron’s record for most Hank Aaron was better than an biography. home runs was beaten by average baseball player? another baseball player. Why do 2) Explain the purpose of the some people think that the 2) What words or phrases does headers in this biography by record should still belong to the author use to describe Hank giving a short summary of the Hank Aaron? Aaron’s personality and information found under each character? header. 2) How do you think Hank Aaron felt when he received cruel and threatening letters? The Context Lens The Metaphoric Lens The Critical Lens 1) Hank Aaron became a 1) What did Hank Aaron mean 1) This biography calls Hank professional baseball player when he said, “On the field, Aaron a baseball hero. Do you during a significant time in the blacks have been able to be think Hank Aaron was also a history of the United States. super giants. But, once our hero in his everyday life when he Explain how segregation affected playing days are over, this is the wasn’t playing baseball? Why or Hank Aaron on and off the end of it and we go back to the why not? baseball field.