Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was the second baseman in baseball. He was the first African American to play in the major league. April 15, 1947, Robinson is played for the first time by The Brooklyn Dodgers. When The Dodgers signed Robinson they heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball. Robinson was a symbol for many black people in America. His character, use of nonviolence, and his skills in baseball, challenged the basis of racial segregation and influenced many black people in America. Not only was he a large influencer of the Civil Rights Movement, but he also was a major contributor. Besides baseball, Robinson was also vice president of a major American corporation; Chock full o'Nuts. In the 1960's, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank. It was a black-owned financial institution based in Harlem. When Robinson died in 1972, he was finally recognized for his accomplishments on and off the field. He received the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidental Medal of Freedom. On the field, Jackie won Rookie of the Year, he was an All-Star for six seasons consecutively and won National League Most Valuable Player in 1949. Jackie Robinson proved to the country that black people could be just as good as white people. Their skin color didn't handicap them. He was one of the biggest icons in the Civil Rights Movement.
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Jackie Robinson was one of several African Americans who rose to fame in the mid 20th century. While many of his fans praised him and he was generally respected in the sports world, he was still treated unfairly in other aspects of life. Like many other African Americans, he was still segregated from white society. Not only was he often mistreated by white athletes on the baseball field, he was also denied privileges that were given to white men in public.
ReplyDeleteJackie Robinson's story as well as his achievements are highly inspirational. He grew up in poverty, joining a gang at a young age, although he left when his friend persuaded him to abandon it. In 1945, Robinson was offered to play pro baseball in the "Negro leagues", where he took a contract for $400/month. Although Robinson was a good player, appearing in the 1945 Negro All-Star Game, he sought more organization and worked his way up to the Major League. After years of hard work and effort, he was called up by the Dodgers in 1947. He is one of the most admired and influential figures in American history because of his fearlessness and courage in breaking the color barrier. Even then, Robinson faced discrimination from his teammates, who claimed they would sit out instead of play alongside him. Through his courage and persistence during his career, he is now a historic figure who is admired by many, all races alike. He was a crucial figure in changing the way blacks were thought of.
ReplyDeleteBefore crossing the color line by playing for the Dodgers, Jackie Robinson was a lieutenant in the army, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. One day he left the base on a military bus, occupying a seat in the front. The driver of the bus ordered Robinson to move to the back, but he refused and was consequently arrested. Robinson was nearly court-martialed for sitting in the front of the bus. This incident is a pertinent example of how blacks were mistreated in 1940s America.
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