Jackie Robinson, Melba Beals, And Helen Keller

Jackie Robinson was one of the most historically well known people in the civil rights movement. So as the first man to integrate major league baseball, Jackie Robinson had a game changing impact on the way the game was played. Having the courage to fight for what is right, Jackie broke the imaginary color barrier that has covered major league baseball for years. Through his resiliency and tenaciousness in the face of seemingly unconquerable odds, Jackie Robinson set the course for African Americans to continue the expansion for equality and true freedom while he was becoming one of the greatest Major League baseball players in history.

Jackie Robinson showed perseverance, courage, and determination wherever he went. Even when he was in the army, he moved ranks up quickly. This shows he was determined. When he was trying to achieve his goal of breaking the color barrier, he never gave up. Eventually, he integrated the major league baseball teams. When he first joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, he didn’t care about the prejudice. He just ignored it and carried on. In fact, he even stood up to it. In the text “ Free Minds and Hearts at Work” it states,” Whatever obstacles I found made me fight all the harder. But it would have been impossible for me to fight at

Jackie Robinson’s life changed when he became the first black man to play in the World Series and Major League Baseball during a time of segregation in America. These life-changing events challenged him because he had to face racially tense crowds and endured threats from teammates, opponents, and bigoted fans. In paragraph three, Robinson states, “There were threats against me and my family and even out-and-out attempts at physical harm to me. This quote explains that Jackie Robinson was facing racist people who were threatening him. Despite the racism he faced, Robinson learned to have pride in his accomplishments and appreciate the support courage, and love shown by his supporters. In paragraph eleven, Robinson states,”I don’t think i’ll ever forget the small, shrill voice of a tiny white kid who, in the midst of a racially tense atmosphere during an early game in a Dixie town, cried out “Attaboy Jackie”.” This quote explains how Robinson had pride in himself after a tiny white kid motivated him by encouraging him that he was a really good baseball player. Robinson responded to the life-changing events by not giving up when he was getting hate and racism. In paragraph three, it states, “Within the club, Mr. Rickey had put down rebellion that by letting my teammates know that anyone who didn’t want to be

Jackie Robinson once said “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”. True heroes, living among ordinary people, have paved the roads of today's world. One person who has exactly done this and not received nearly enough credit is Jackie Robinson. When people think of Jackie Robinson they think of the man who stole second base continuously, when in reality he did more, Jackie Robinson opened the gate for African American’s to play major league baseball. Born in 1919 Jackie was brought up in a society that was characterized by racial segregation and inequality, He fought through the era and made himself known all around the world for being the first African American to play major league baseball. Jackie

To the average person, in the average American community, Jackie Robinson was just what the sports pages said he was, no more, no less. He was the first Negro to play baseball in the major leagues. Everybody knew that, but to see the real Jackie Robinson, you must de-emphasize him as a ball player and emphasize him as a civil rights leader. That part drops out, that which people forget. From his early army days, until well after his baseball days, Robinson had fought to achieve equality among whites and blacks. "Jackie acted out the philosophy of nonviolence of Martin Luther King Jr., before the future civil rights leader had thought of applying it to the problem of segregation in America"(Weidhorn 93). Robinson was an avid

The crowd yelled racial slurs at him, threatened him, and threw things at him on the field he got mad and wanted to fight but he didn’t because he didn't want to prove them that African Americans didn't have discipline and he let his game speak for him and made the people he went against mad played the game he loved baseball and made a living for over ten years he played baseball he left baseball in 1956. He set the standard for the entire baseball league. Every African American wanted to be him. On the road he couldn't stay in the same hotel with his teammates. Some teams wouldn't even play against the dodgers because of him. He played with courage when he stayed in the league and he could have quit the league and went back to the Negro league. He also rose to second Lieutenant Blacks were required to move to the back of the bus before they could sit down Robinson was charged of not following the rule but the charges were dismissed at the end of the war. Jackie Robinson was a role model to the entire African Americans ballplayer who people didn’t like much but he dint fight he just played baseball and let his game speak. Jackie

Jackie Robinson is one of the best baseball players of all time. He was a great baseball player, as well as a civil rights activist. Jackie did many things to help the colored community, and to raise awareness of the inequality that was going on at that time. He did that while being one of the best baseball players of all time, and facing that discrimination in his personal life. Jackie was a hardworking individual, with the motivation to go over and beyond his task. Jackie Robinson was civil rights activist, and has an enduring legacy.

Jules Tygiel, a sports historian and author once said, “Upon Robinson’s husky, inexperienced shoulders rested the fate of desegregation in baseball”(Tygiel 4). Jackie Robinson was not just the first black man to play in the MLB. Jackie Robinson opened up the door for all black baseball players, and athletes of all different sports. America needed a black man to show them that it was okay for blacks and whites to be together, to play baseball together. Jackie did exactly that. Although Jackie loved the professional baseball, professional baseball did not always love him. Jackie and the MLB did not always go well. Many teams didn’t like a negro sharing a field with them, in fact, the St. Louis Cardinals even went on strike for a short time(“Jackie Robinson”). Jackie’s presence made some teams forfeit games. However, the Dodgers did not care, they were just trying to win baseball games. Jackie knew when he came into the league it was going to be a struggle. He knew it was going to be hard, not only to help the Dodgers win games, but to stay level headed and not let off-field distractions affect his game. Jackie was once quoted saying “I think I am the right man for the test. There is no possible chance that I will flunk it or quit before the end for any other reason other than that I am not a good enough ballplayer.”(“Jackie Robinson”) It was going to take a special man to break the color barrier, and Jackie knew

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

One way Jackie Robinson showed commitment and excellence was when he played well despite the death threats, and taunts on and off the field. For example In “Hero” Scott Simon says “It was on the ground on which he was most vulnerable to taunt, threats, and sharpened spikes” (Simon) This quote shows that Jackie Robinson had to face a lot of struggles and bad things that not other normal human beings would face, but still in the heart of this he was able to be a spectacular baseball player. To be a great civil rights advocate you need to be able to succeed through the toughest of times.

As I was reading “Jackie Robinson, Strong Inside and Out,” it said he was a soldier during the time of pearl harbor. And being a soldier gave him self confidence and great discipline which helped him big time in his future. Being a soldier helped him stand his ground and helped him block out some things that were said to him. But of course, he went through so much more hate and discouragement than baseball did. In another article i read, “Biography,” it said he was the first athlete to letter in all four sports the UCLA. Lettering in all four sports helped him in his future by being able to take hate from a young age in

His skill was a tremendous impact on his career. Due to his great success in baseball, he was the first ever African American Inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. Despite his baseball success and becoming a big contributor of the Civil Rights Movement, “Robinson kept his word and his dignity.” (“Jackie Robinson - Mini Bio”) When Robinson was traded to the New York Giants, “...

Indeed, Jackie Robinson was brave. He took the abuse for others such as teammates, fans, opponents. He kept his agreement with Rickey, the coach of the Dodgers, and kept on going. He avoided fights, ignored the threats of death from the crowd, and he ignored the opponents complaints. In the text it states, “ Robinson's first season was difficult. Fans threatened to kill him; players tried to hurt him. The St. Louis Cardinals said they would strike if he took the field. He was brave, keeping his cool throughout these events. Also, Jackie had to be very calm and cool about all of the negative impact put on him. All of the negative comments, abusive acts towards him, the booing had to be a lot to ignore. He had to have a lot of self restraint to keep his anger/feelings inside to keep his deal with Rickey.

Many people have faced disabilities of some type and overcome them. Helen Keller is one of the most famous examples of this. Helen was both deaf and blind. As a young child, her parents thought that her disabilities made her unteachable. Because they pitied her, they allowed her to do as she pleased. They set no boundaries for her in any area of her life until a young teacher, Annie Sullivan, who was visually impaired herself, came to teach Helen. Miss Sullivan taught not only Helen, but also Helen’s family. Under her guidance, the family learned that Helen’s disabilities did not necessarily mean that she could never function as a useful member of society. They learned to set boundaries for Helen and to expect more from her. As a result of the changes in the way Helen was raised after Miss Sullivan arrived, Helen grew up to become a world-famous speaker and author (The Miracle Worker).

Human beings take their senses for granted, especially their ability to see and hear. They are luxuries one has, but does not notice until they no longer have them. People take these senses for granted because they don’t realize what it is like to be blind or deaf. They don’t realize what life is without seeing color or knowing what people look like. They don’t realize what life is without hearing people talk, birds chirping, or the wind howling. Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, adapted to her challenges of not being able to read or write, to becoming an author, political activist, and lecturer. This serves as an example for how a blind and deaf person should try to live. That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t challenging for her to live her daily life and she did not have all the opportunities as a person that has all of their major senses. It isn’t easy to live without the capacity to see and hear, for those people who don’t have the capacity, it is another struggle and another accomplishment to live their lives with these struggles of being blind and deaf.