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Jackie Robinson. Cameron Thueson. Madison High School.

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Jackie Robinson
Cameron Thueson
Madison High School

Jackie Robinson Introduction Only a few people in American history can say they 've completely changed their respective area of expertise. Jackie Robinson is one of those people. Jackie Robinson not only changed the sport of baseball, but the whole sports world as he braved racism, discrimination and segregation to break the racial and cultural barriers in the sports world.
Childhood
Jackie Robinson’s childhood had a direct impact on his professional career and also prepared him to face the challenges of racism. Shortly after Robinson was born in January 1919, his father, Jerry Robinson, left the family and was an absent figure in Jackie’s life. This left Jackie with …show more content…

This, however, did not stop Robinson, he continued his athletic success and enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles. At U.C.L.A. Robinson became the first person in school history to letter in four sports in the same year. Robinson’s notoriety was beginning to grow, with more publicity came more hatred and Robinson knew he wouldn’t be able to stay at U.C.L.A.. Although Robinson wanted to wait and graduate from U.C.L.A., he was forced to leave the University, due to financial troubles. He pursued a career in professional football, and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii to sign with the semi-professional Honolulu Bears. Unfortunately, Robinson’s career with the Bears was cut short, due to the United States entering World War II.
Life in the Military
Shortly after the United States joined World War II, Robinson was drafted into the US Army in 1942. Jackie was drafted to a segregated cavalry unit in Kansas. While in the military Robinson continued to face extreme racism and injustice. While serving in the military, Robinson applied to Officer Candidate School and was denied. Shortly after being denied, Jackie applied again to get into the school, and again was denied. After several applications and some major pushing from the other colored soldiers, the school finally looked past the fact that Robinson was “black” and he was accepted. Robinson then became a Second Lieutenant in the United States Military.

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