Arnold Rampersad, in his 1997 Robinson biography, describes how the teenager was rescued from the streets by the Rev.

WSJ: Chris Lamb: Jackie Robinson??Faith in Himself, and in God

Arnold Rampersad. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Arnold Rampersad for his work as a biographer and literary critic.

WHITEHOUSE: The 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Ceremony | The White House

Downs became the channel through which religious faith "finally flowed into Jack's consciousness and was finally accepted there, if on revised terms, as he himself reached manhood, " Mr. Rampersad writes.

WSJ: Chris Lamb: Jackie Robinson??Faith in Himself, and in God