Jackie Robinson

He slowly walks at the back of the pack, through the tunnel with number 42 on his back. They walk out and the crowd roars, but not for him. Born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia, Jackie Robinson came to be one major civil rights activist in MLB Baseball. He was the youngest of five that lived with their mother, Mallie Robinson, in poverty. Throughout his childhood he was very competent in athletics playing four sports. He then got accepted to UCLA where he became the first to win varsity letters in four sports. Sadly though, Jackie was forced to leave because of money. He then decided to enlist in the army after some contemplating. But, that job was cut short Jackie leaving with an honorable discharge. In 1945, Jackie started to play with Negro Baseball League. Then, in 1947 after playing a season in the Negro League, Branch Rickey the President of the Brooklyn Dodgers

He helped create Freedom Bank and got the job as an administrative for Chock Full O’Nuts coffee company. He also served on the board of the NAACP, and became the first African-American to be inducted into the hall of fame. Then in 1972, they retired Jackie's number 42 to remind people of his great work.

I his later years he continued to work for integration in all sports. But sadly he died on October 24, 1972 from heart problems and diabetes complications in Stamford Connecticut. He was survived by 2 of his 3 children and his wife Rachel. The Jackie Robinson Foundation was formed after he died, it provides scholarship and mentoring programs.

Some of Jackie’s favorite quotes were, “ A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” “I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being,” Jackie spoke as one of his favorite quotes. Jackie Robinson will forever be remembered as one of the greatest civil rights activist in