Analysis Of The Movie ' The Jackie Robinson ' And ' A League Of Their Own '

The 1950’s and the 1960’s saw the rise of the rise of Civil Rights and their respected leaders. This tumultuous period also saw the rise of Civil Rights leaders in sports. Much like how the southern United States was segregated, so was baseball. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. More importantly, Jackie Robinson became involved with the Civil Rights Movement and Organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). It was during these times Jackie Robinson wrote to important people in the United States ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. to President Richard Nixon. Through an analysis of Jackie Robinson’s letters and the impact of the integration of baseball, several truths about the Civil Rights Movement are revealed: the escalation of violence between the Civil Rights Movement and the opposition, the growing pressure on legislators about Civil Rights, and that the integration of African Americans in Major League Baseball impacted future Rights for African Americans.

The first movie I watched was A League of Their Own (1992). It is set primarily in 1943 and features a number of well-known actors such as Tom Hanks as manager Jimmy Dugan, Rosie O’Donnell as 3rd base Doris Murphy, and even Madonna as center fielder Mae Mordabito. The film starts with a scene from the present of an older Dottie Hinson, played by Lynn Cartwright, reluctantly getting ready to attend the induction of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Once there she sees a number of her former friends. A flashback to 1943 is where the majority of the movie is set.

Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby were very determined to stick with the game they loved and to make a change. Thanks to their performance both on and off the ball field, “other owners began to seek talented black players, and by 1952, there were 150 black players in organized baseball” (Branch). Their “actions had repercussions far beyond the sports world” (Jim). The integration of baseball was an enormous smack in the face to all of segregation. Many racial barriers quickly tumbled down with the integration of baseball; restaurants, hotels, and stores removed their “white only” signs bringing blacks and whites together. Robinson and Doby could not have won the battle against segregation on their own, the press helped to make their struggle to be known throughout the country.

Robinson was outstanding and bold athlete, breaking the barriers of early racism in Major League Baseball, through adroitness and determination. This quote, “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me.. all I ask is that you respect me as a human being,” was the response given by Robinson, to counter the racial slurs, and threats of the racist watchers and players of MLB. His composed and affirmative reply exhibits his personality perfectly. While he was resentful of the treatment of his race, he chose to display his vexation by not causing another problem, but instead trying to find a peaceful resolution for equality. Jackie’s quote, “There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free,” digs deeper into his view on equality between all. He believes that as Americans we are united as one no matter the way you look. When Robinson says this he addresses all Americans, including the racists that threatened him, the teammates that taunted him, the coaches that looked down on him, because he believes we have good in us and that we all deserve the same rights. In Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier by Bo Smolka she restates Jackie’s quote, “The way I figured it, I was even baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me and I had done much for it.” This quote shows that baseball was his key principal to facing racism. He looks at baseball as more than

On January 31, 1919, a game changer was born. Changing the color barrier in Major League Baseball (MLB) forever. Jackie Robinson inspired many people with all he did within his time. He paved the way for many African American athletes that followed him and he changed the way other thought about segregation in professional athletics. Jackie Robinson was a full-time second baseman on the Brooklyn Dodgers and he became the first African American to play in MLB.

Jackie Robinson was soon to be scouted by a white man, his name was Branch Rickey. He was the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers and he was in the white leagues. Soon later, Jackie Robinson first played for the Montreal Monarchs an all-white team then moved and became a new player to the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was the first black player to compete in the major leagues and first black player to be on the team too. For Jackie being the first African American to play in this major leagues, “Robinson was the target of racial epithets and flying cleats, of hate letters and death threats, of pitchers throwing at his head and legs, and catchers spitting on his shoes.” Jackie Robinson would get racial slurs from the crowd and from other teams. Jackie and his family would receive threats. He though was scared for himself and his family, but he knew that this was not an option to quit. Jackie did not give up, he will fight back with his talents in baseball. Throughout all his games, Jackie Robinson had the guts to play baseball through any adversity. He was able to overcome his fears and the hatred he had to hold back from the segregation and discrimination. The talent he had “Jackie Robinson became the first black player in the major leagues in 1947, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1947, National League MVP in 1949 and a World Series champ in 1955.” Through the course of the years, Jackie Robinson was able to achieve a lot. He knew just by playing his heart out there and giving his all would lead him to goals not a lot of baseball players can get to. Through any circumstance, Jackie was able to show the ones that doubted, made fun of him, and threatened him that he has never given up and he was able to do it and achieve it. From when Branch Rickey picked up Jackie Robinson, Jackie being the first and only black baseball player at this time, it is a huge

People started riots and wrote death threats to Robinson. Robinson did not only face this treatment from fans, but the players and major league organizations treated him just as bad, if not worse. Even Jackie’s own team treated him with disrespect because of his race. In the biography, I Never Had it Made, by Jackie Robinson and Alfred Duckett is states,” My roommates were quartered, refused to accommodate me. the Phillies heckled me a second time, mixing up race baiting with childish remarked and gestures that coincided with the threats that had been made.

Seventy years ago, Jack Roosevelt Robinson became the first black player in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson was an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement. His greatest accomplishment, however, was integrating baseball. He made many Americans excited about it because he was the first African American to ever play in Major League Baseball. Also, he did many things for the Civil Rights Movement. The integration of baseball set off a reaction of different movements to desegregate places like schools, public facilities, and the army.

Jackie Robinson was a vocal civil activist throughout his life, especially during his Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Before Robinson, professional baseball was for white men only. However, the manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers wanted to change this and he saw an opportunity in Jackie Robinson. Robinson was a courageous baseball player and had what it takes to make a major change in society. The number of African American and Latino baseball players steadily grew throughout the years after Jackie’s debut in the Major Leagues; he opened up an opportunity for many men who otherwise may have never had a shot.

“Despite his talent and success as a player, Robinson faced tremendous racial discrimination throughout his career, from baseball fans and some fellow players(History.com)”. Jackie confidently handled racism from fans throwing trash on the field. He was proud to be in the Major Leagues even as the people were leaving the stadium when he went on the field. He showed that African Americans were strong and

For my project, I am doing Jackie Robinson joining professional baseball. The conflict is that he was black, and the MLB didn’t let blacks play in their league. And it wasn’t just the MLB in this situation, our nation was segregated blacks. The compromise was that he kept his composer and could take the hate better than any other player in his situation. Below you will read the main ideas of my NHD project.

Baseball superstar, Jackie Robinson, was the first black man to play on a major league baseball team. Based on Jackie’s experiences, however, he stated that he “Never Had it Made.” This was because he was segregated, isolated, and harrassed by the other teammates. For example, he stated that he was “heckled… with childish remarks and gestures that coincided with the threats that had been made” (Paragraph 1). This quote supports the fact that he was harassed by others. Another example is when he stated that “some of those grown men sat in the dugout and pointed bats at me and made machine-gun like noises” (Paragraph 1). This shows that the roommates were “an incredibly childish display of bad will” (Paragraph 1). Jackie Robinson stated these

Before, Jackie Robinson to join the Brooklyn Dodgers. The general manager Branch Rickey went to watch Robinson play. Rickey feared that Robinson wouldn’t be able to handle the racist comments made by spectators. When Rickey saw Robinson play, he would shout insults, racial slurs, and so on. He wanted to see if Robinson could take it and accept any type of taunts with any incidents. Jackie Robinson was able to endure it and got signed off to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers. However, everyone was so supportive of having an African-American playing in the field. Fans would throw trash and invectives at him when he played. Fans weren’t the only one against on having Robinson on the team. Some his team mates were openly protested about having

Jackie Robinson faced severe racism before his major league baseball career even began. Jackie Robinson went to school at UCLA and became the first ever man to letter in four sports. Not only was he the first man to letter in four sports but, he was also the first African American to do so. After two years at UCLA Jackie Robinson decided that college was not for him. Jackie Robinson said, “I was convinced that no amount of education would help a black man get a job” (11). Instead, Jackie Robinson wanted to be an athletic director. However, he knew that in those days no big time football or basketball program would hire a black man.

One of the biggest honors you can receive via sports would be to get your jersey retired. This means you made such a big impact in that sport that no other player will wear this jersey number again. As of 1997, Jackie Robinson's number, 42, will no longer be worn. Saying that Jackie Robinson was great, would be an understatement. Minus his outstanding baseball ability, Jackie was the first colored baseball player to join a Major League Baseball team. Little does he know he would revolutionize the way all sports will be played, now allowing African Americans play alongside the whites.