Many people try to change how they are to fit in . In school kids try to act cool, making up stories about themselves. Even if they don't try to change, other still judge them for fitting in or not trying. This is a problem now and back in times when color people were not accepted as equals. With this in mind, a great example is Jackie Robinson for his struggle to integrate.
To start off Jackie Robinson came from a poor family and raised by his single mother He was the youngest out of five. In school he played several sports: track, baseball, basketball, and football. He went to the University of California where, “ ...he became the university's student to win varsity letters in four sports.” (Biography 1). However because of financial hardship he had to move . He moved to Honolulu where he played football for the Bears. Later on, “ During boot camp in 1944 in Fort Hood, Texas, Robinson was arrested and court-martialed after refusing to give up his seat and move to the back of a segregated bus when ordered to by the
…show more content…
For instance, they recall, “Robinson, when he retired from baseball in 1957, sought to bring the same tactics to bear on increasing African-American employment opportunities.” (Goldstein 1). He wanted for African-Americans to have the same opportunities as whites. He repeatedly throughout his life shows this. For example, Nine days before his death he states, “I’d like to live to see a black manager.” (Goldstein 1). This reveals that even when he was dying he still struggle to fight against segregation. This was important during the time era because he open the gates to other black baseball players. He also open up other people's mind to see how the world should not continue to be segregated. This continues to be a huge impact today because he help start integration to be possible mainly in sports and then continue to spread. Without his help it would have taken even more year to become an integrated
Robinson knew that he would face racist comments while playing, so Rickey needed “a ballplayer with guts enough to not fight back” (Helgeland). In order for Jackie to not retaliate during his baseball career, he needed someone or something to look to for help. “Robinson was Christian and his Christian faith was at the very center of his decision to accept Branch Rickey’s invitation” (Metaxas). Robinson had to endure racial slurs from the crowds and his teammates, however he was able to overcome the adversity and succeed for 10 seasons of Major League
Jackie Robinson was born in January 31,1919. During his childhood, he had experience the feeling of segregation against the Americans and the African-Americans. Jackie Robinson spent his entire school years from elementary to middle and high school then to University of California, Los Angeles in a black community. Where he met his future wife Ms. Rachel Robinson who was studying for a bachelors of Nursing. After graduating from UCLA and graduated from Officer Candidate School in the Army, Jackie and Rachel got married and had a son.
He wasn’t only responsible for possibly the greatest baseball era this world has ever seen, he is responsible for paving a way for new African Americans to join the league. Barry Bonds, a former African American player, said he wouldn’t have had even the slightest bit of courage if it weren’t for Jackie Robinson’s amazing legacy. Jackie even showed his sense of courage to people off the field. Becoming a great roll model to kids around the world,”Little kids loved me so I gave them something to watch.” (Jackie Robinson Interviewed.)
We would later learn that he changed how the game of baseball should be played. We see what Robinson did when Simon says, “It is possible to see, In Robinson’s slow, purposeful walk into the face of taunts, threats, some of the unbowed courage that Americans would later admire in the civil rights marchers who faced down stinging water sprays, sharp rocks, and snapping police dogs” (Simon, 5). With what we know about Jackie, we know that he stuck up for what he believed in and showed it through the way he talked to people and his actions on and off the field.
That summer, Rickey selected Robinson to integrate baseball. In 1946, he played second base for the Dodgers, and they made it to the World Series. (ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. .)
Jackie Robinson, The man who fought to play baseball with the greatest, to be known as one of the greatest, to actually be heard and seen by those who thought what he did was of the impossible. Through the eyes of many he was just another African-American. But to those who could see through the colour, could see a gift. Jackie Robinson, born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia became known as the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the Modern Era and also the first African-American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
An icon is a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something. This man was not only an Icon in baseball, but a civil rights leader, a father of three, and a role model for all young adults. Jackie Robinson was a small town boy who had big-time dreams. He was from a small city in Georgia and always had outstanding athletic abilities. Not only was Jackie a baseball player, but he also played a major role in breaking the color barrier.
Jackie Robinson is known to be one of the most influential people in baseball and in society. He eternally changed the aspect of American history. It was unusual to have a colored person be treated equally as a white person during the time of the 1900s. He was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 and later moved to Pasadena, California to pursue a better life. He came from a poor family of sharecroppers in the South and was the youngest of five.
Jackie has been an inspiration to all blacks around the world, for his determination even when times were tough, always standing up for his rights. As said in a past article, “Jackie had a huge part to play in how Americans thought about racial integration.” (Novak) He made Americans realize that African Americans could play with whites in the big leagues and be able to deal with the controversy that comes with it. Some may think otherwise, but Jackie Robinson is a role model for millions of people around the
He was a big part in the fight for equal rights. Jackie Robinson took so much abuse on the field because of his race that it gave him mental breakdowns. These breakdowns sometimes took days to recover from but he went through all of that so other people would have better opportunities. But this didn’t just go on for one season, Robinson had to deal with that racism for about two years before he was really accepted as a “respected” baseball player. (Kuhn,web) and (Wilson,web).
Robinson's life was devoted in ending segregation by playing the sport he loved most of all. By overcoming all the challenges on the baseball field from his teammates to the fans in the crowd booing him. He became the face of baseball and the person who changed the game for ever. After baseball he wasn't done there he became a great civil rights leader and helped many African Americans overcome challenges. When the bank was not treating the Africans fairly he stepped in by founding the free national bank which helped a ton of people out and made the bank fair for everyone.
This quote explains his first appearance in the MLB as an African American. Jackie Robinson had his mind set on his goal. He did not give up because he was different. Although he encountered many hardships, he continued to try his hardest and eventually joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. This fits in with what I know because people today are still bashed for their race.
Jackie Robinson continued to make an impact on civil rights even after his retirement from baseball. With his life in baseball winding down, Jackie ramped up his off- field involvement in advancing racial justice (Schutz 116). He continued to help and make his mark as one of the most influential people in helping blacks achieve their civil rights. Jackie was very involved in the Little Rock Nine School crisis which was an early effort to begin desegregation of southern high schools (Schutz 117). Dwight D Eisenhower, the President at that time, told Jackie that all blacks needed was patience for de-segregation to occur.
Jackie started a foundation called “The Jackie Robinson Foundation” to help members, “JRF is providing more than $1.4 million in scholarship support to 251 Jackie Robinson scholars”(Business Wire 2). Jackie wanted to give kids great educational opportunities so that they can go out and be successful. Jackie really wanted these kids to have the top of the line educations, “... Jackie Robinson scholars attend some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the United states”(Business Wire 2). Jackie gave these kids such good opportunities because he believed that these kids could make a difference in the world when they would grow up.
Jackie Robinson challenged white America’s societal perception of African American at the time. “Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1947. In later seasons, more African-Americans joined other teams in the Major Leagues, as Robinson continued to excel. His success gained him fans from all over the country.” (Mcbirney 14).