Jackie Robinson played baseball at a time when teams were segregated. The Brooklyn Dodgers team manager Rickey, helped Jackie Robinson get into the Major League baseball team. This integrated the baseball for the first time in American history, allowing an African American to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers. ("Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.) When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball, he became a civil rights activist, contributing to the Civil Rights movement.
Before Jackie Robinson desegregated the Major League of Baseball, Black’s were segregated and discriminated against. The first baseball game between two all black teams was held on September 28, 1860 at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey.("ShadowBall-Negro Leagues." ShadowBall-Negro Leagues. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.) When the civil war ended in 1865 black Baseball teams began to form in the Northeast. Major Leagues excluded Black players. Frustrated Black players formed teams all over. The Black Panthers was the first professional black team formed 1885 in Babylon, NY, the team was later renamed Cuban Giants so they could attract more White fans. This led to the organization of the negro league in 1887. Eventually, the league fell because there wasn 't enough money to support the league.There was no ban on white leagues hiring Black players. Blacks continued to play on White teams despite the physical and verbal abuse from players and fans. All Black’s knew Baseball was a white mans game. ("Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.)
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. (Jackie Robinson. Notable Black American Men. Ed. Jessie C. Smith. Farmington Hills: Gale Research, 1999. 1022-025. Print.) His parents were Jerry and Mallie Robinson. ("Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.) They lived on a small farm and worked as sharecroppers. Jerry left when Jackie was one years old. Jackie had four siblings Matthew Robinson, Frank Robinson, Edgar Robinson , Willa Mae Robinson. Later they moved to Pasadena, California because they didn 't have any money. Jackie and his family lived in his half brother McGriff’s apartment until they found a house. They found a house in a bad neighborhood. Jackie went to John Muir High School in Pasadena, California. His brothers, Frankie got Jackie interested in sports. Mack was especially a good role model for placing 2nd in the 1936 summer Olympics. Jackie played sports year round including baseball, football ,tennis, and track. He was the star player of every sport he played. Jackie went to Muir Technical High School. He set records for baseball and rack. Jackie earned a scholarship to UCLA. He was the star athlete on baseball, track, football, and basketball team at UCLA. Jackie had to leave college before he got a degree because of financial problems. He was a athletic director for the National Youth Administration.("Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.)
Jackie Robinson played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement .On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson officially broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Jackie’s attendance was a very positive impact. He not only hit a batting average of .342 and stole 19 bases in his career, but he was also nominated rookie of the year. (Jackie Robinson. Notable Black American Men. Ed. Jessie C. Smith. Farmington Hills: Gale Research, 1999. 1022-025. Print.) His attendance not only affected the team positively but it also influenced The Civil Rights movement. This very famous time in history allowed African-Americans to find jobs that would’ve usually only been offered to whites. In 1948 Jackie Robinson’s triumph inspired Harry Truman to integrate the army. President John F. Kennedy wrote Jackie a letter praising his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. Jackie Robinsons courageous acts lead to a significant change in African Americans Rights and Civil Rights.
Works Cited
Cayton, Andrew R. L., Elisabeth Israels. Perry, and Allan M. Winkler. America: Pathways to the Present. Needham, MA: Prentice Hall, 1995. Print.
The Fifties in America. Ed. John C. Super. Vol. III. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2005. N. pag. Print.
Glasser, Ira. "Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson: Precursors to the Civil Rights Movement." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 June 2013.
"Index." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 June 2013.
"Jackie Robinson - Civil Rights Activist." Jackie Robinson - Civil Rights Activist. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.
"Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.
Jackie Robinson. Notable Black American Men. Ed. Jessie C. Smith. Farmington Hills: Gale Research, 1999. 1022-025. Print.
"Jackie Robinson 's Biography." Jackie Robinson Biography: MLB Baseball Player. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2013.
"Teaching With Documents:Beyond the Playing Field - Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate." Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.
Cited: Cayton, Andrew R. L., Elisabeth Israels. Perry, and Allan M. Winkler. America: Pathways to the Present. Needham, MA: Prentice Hall, 1995. Print. The Fifties in America. Ed. John C. Super. Vol. III. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2005. N. pag. Print. Glasser, Ira. "Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson: Precursors to the Civil Rights Movement." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 June 2013. "Index." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 June 2013. "Jackie Robinson - Civil Rights Activist." Jackie Robinson - Civil Rights Activist. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013. "Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 12 June 2013. Jackie Robinson. Notable Black American Men. Ed. Jessie C. Smith. Farmington Hills: Gale Research, 1999. 1022-025. Print. "Jackie Robinson 's Biography." Jackie Robinson Biography: MLB Baseball Player. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2013. "Teaching With Documents:Beyond the Playing Field - Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate." Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013.
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