Jackie Robinson's Poem Testing New Waters

Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line and became the first African American to play on a major sports team.Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 and went to college at UCLA after high school. He married Rachel Robinson in 1946 and had three children. Robinson died on October 24, 1972 with great accomplishments.Jackie Robinson may be the most important figure in America's history for being the first African American to join the major leagues in baseball, for breaking the color barrier in the sport, and for changing baseball for everyone.

Robinson has been one of the most influential people throughout history, Jackie has had a huge impact on today's world because of the numerous ideas and actions he has done.

As Jackie Robinson once said “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”. There is no doubt that Jackie Robinson has been one of most impactful baseball players to ever play the sport. For reasons such as pushing himself to reach his goals, facing many hardships, and being the first African American to play in the MLB, he has shown perseverance and been a role model to everyone.

October 23, 1945, Jackie Robinson shook hands with Branch Rickey, officially changing baseball and society, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson grew up in a poor household in Pasadena, California. He attended UCLA, making himself a four sport star athlete . Major league baseball had been segregated at the time, with the only black men playing in separate Negro Leagues. Branch Rickey, the owner of the Dodgers, wanted to break the color barrier. To do that, he had to find someone that could withstand racial discrimination and learn to not fight back when dealt with harsh criticism. Jackie Robinson took an amazing risk when he became the first African-American athlete to play in the major leagues. Robinson has been a huge inspiration to athletes, paving the way for blacks, not just in the game of baseball, as well as being an outspoken activist for the rights of American-Americans.

42 is a 2013 film based on a true story and stars Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford. This is another movie that shows an underprivileged black athlete standing up to racism. The film depicts Jackie Robinson overcoming racism to become the first black athlete to play in the Major League of Baseball. Before the 1947 season, no black athlete had ever played at the major league level. There were other organizations and leagues outside the MLB in which black athletes could play, but before Jackie Robinson none had played for a MLB club. Robinson would go on to win the Rookie of the Year award as well as a Most Valuable PLayer award two years later in 1949. Being the first black baseball player in the MLB, Robinson faced many instances in which

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. Robinson’s older brother Matthew Robinson was the person who inspired Jackie to pursue his talents and love for sports. Matthew won a silver medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games just behind Jesse Owens. Jackie did it all, he excelled in all types of sports it came natural to him. He attended Pasadena Junior College then later continued his education at UCLA where he became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: basketball, football, track, and baseball.

Jackie Robinson is remembered as the African american that broke the color barrier for the Major League Baseball. Many words can be used to describe him, such as hero, powerful, stupid, anything of that sort, not all good, but not all bad. Keeping a cool head was key to his success, dealing with many racist names that he was called as he stepped up to the plate. With pitchers aiming at his head, he still became a very accomplished athlete in as many fields imaginable. Jackie didn’t pay attention to what people thought or said about him, just knowing he was going to get on base the next pitch.

The people who were against segregation and promoted civil rights helped to accomplish what we call today, an integrated society. During the Civil Rights Revolution, there were many prominent figures such as Jackie Robinson, the first major league baseball player who influenced the court’s decision to integrate society. Not only did Jackie Robinson play major league baseball, but he also ran track, played basketball and football. He played these college sports at UCLA, USC and Pasadena Junior College, which are predominately white colleges.

First black baseball player, selfless, and courage are three attributes that describe Jackie Robinson. Many people know that Jackie Robinson was a baseball player, but he was so much more. As a well known baseball player, Jackie Robinson showed pro sports that it is all right to have a black person play. He broke the professional baseball color barrier. He is the reason our sports are open to all. He left a lasting legacy as a hero to all, someone who gave up his life to undiscriminate professional sports.

“You give me a uniform, you give me a number on my back, I'll give you the guts.” Throughout the 2013 film “42”, Jackie Robinson indeed proves that he has the guts to counter racism in people from all walks of life. Character is the aspect of a person that decides what kind of person he is; it is who he is at his very core, and it affects his tolerance, courage, and sense of justice. Jackie’s dealing with the racism conveys true character, and it teaches the viewer how to behave when put to the test. Specifically, “42” exemplifies true character education in that it depicts Jackie Robinson persisting despite the racial prejudice of spectators, the media, and fellow athletes.

Baseball to Jackie Robinson was gateway to freedom, he was inspired by his older brother to pursue a career for what he had a talent and a love for athletics and Baseball. Jackie was arrested and court-martialed for refusing to give up his seat and move to the back of a segregated bus, but because of his reputation he received an honorable discharge. His courage and moral objection to segregation were precursors to the impact Robinson would have in major league baseball. Jackie Robinson broke the ‘’color barrier’’ by becoming the first African American to play Major League Baseball and inspired young black men to follow in his path and follow their dreams. Not only did he break the color barrier but he changed the society of America itself.

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” (Jackie Robinson).

Hard Working, Strong,and Committed are three words that people think of in connection to Jackie Robinson. Many people know who broke the color barrier in baseball,was jackie robinson, but he was so much more. As a normal kid, Jackie Robinson showed the world that anyone could make a positive change is you stay hard working, strong and committed. He left a legacy as a world changer.

Oakland, California. 1909. A plane piloted by self-taught engineer Feng Ru crashes into his shack, his workspace hidden deep within the forest, setting it ablaze, not an uncommon occurrence. Brooklyn, 1947. Jackie Robinson, renegade trailblazer who had breached the Major Leagues’ color barrier for the first time in history steps up to home plate. He has made history as the first Negro ballplayer to ever play in the World Series. California, 1965. Maya Angelou is distraught when she hears that Malcolm X was assassinated, falling into a deep depression. Turning points can often be hard, challenging, and very sudden. Throughout history, it can be shown that life can change in many unexpected and difficult ways. This idea is explored in the memoir I Never Had It Made, by Jackie Robinson, the article “Maya Angelou Biography,” and the article “The Father of Chinese Aviation,” by Rebecca Maskell. Jackie Robinson, Maya Angelou, and Feng Ru all experienced obstacles and life-changing events that had a drastic and positive impact on their lives and society.

“When I go to cross that river she is comfort by my side,” is easily connected to the latter portion of “Into the Wild.” Near Chris’ death, he comes across a swollen, impassable Teklanika River. McCandless is understandably upset by the discovery that his only known point of egress was now a very likely icy death. He is known to have written in his journal about this event, “Disaster . . . Rained in. River look impossible. Lonely, scared.” Yet despite this incredibly distressing development in his life, Chris McCandless continued on his odyssey, comforted by his knowledge of the natural world and, in turn, comforted by Mother Nature. Further into the song another eerie parallel is struck. “Once I stood to lose her when I saw what I had done” brings to mind thoughts of Chris McCandless emaciated and alone. In the song Chris McCandless is singing about his relationship to the earth below. At this point in the song he stands to lose her, or Mother Nature. It seems impossible to imagine the terror that ran through Chris’ mind when he realized that he was withering away from the land that he had come to cherish above all things. After this final refrain, the song repeats its chorus several times, and then the song is over. These understandings are furthered by the use of literary elements throughout the