Stevie Wonder Biography

was helping people in need. His background from where he grew up definitely impacted his

As I am ending this essay about one amazing man in African American history, I wonder why baseball ended up being his lifetime career even though he was great at many other sports. Whatever that reason may be, he showed us all that nothing is impossible even when you’re surrounded by negativity and let-downs. 42 is number to remember and forever be respected and honored. “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other’s lives” –Jackie Robinson I think we can say he has truly impacted many lives, even our own

Many people are stuck behind the thought of of not being good enough or not having the courage to push through obstacles to get to where they want to be. One specific individual has proven to show moral courage and can teach others to never give up on what they believe in and push past obstacles to reach their goals. Fighting through all the people who told him he couldn’t, Jackie Robinson has proven to be one of the most influential men during a period of discrimination. Robinson was an amazing major league baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. After his father had left his mother and his four other siblings, his family decided to move to Pasadena, California where they lived as the only black family in a white neighborhood (“Jackie Robinson”). They were often tormented and harassed, which helped to boost his determination and focus. He enrolled at the university of and became a four sport star athlete where his talent in baseball was discovered. Jackie Robinson has proven to be a

Many athletes are just that, athletes. The crowd cheers as they hit a home run or they make the shot. They’re known for their performance on the field and only the field. Instead of realizing the importance of their voice or their actions, they decide to suppress their own voices, choosing to bask in the glory they receive due to their performance during a game. It’s easy to fall into the mindset that all athletes fall under this category of ignorance or better yet indifference. Although a majority of them represent this group, there a handful that dedicates their time and voice to bring about change in society. Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player on a team’s roster. Not only did he change the sport of baseball forever, but impacted millions of African Americans and his impact continues to affect lives today.

After his retirement, Robinson became a successful businessman and active supporter of political causes, devoting many of his efforts to the pursuit of a better life for African Americans (Jackie Robinson, 1994). Jackie Robinson accomplished many things by persisting through challenges. Jackie Robinson has created many records for baseball, used persistence to innovate ways to overcome discrimination against him because he was black, and illuminated the world by inspiring other races to play professionally in sports.

One unique quality that anyone King has affected can tell you, is how committed he was to his cause. Most people, if it came down to life or death, would back out and try to save themselves, but King was willing to die, just so all blacks then and in the future could experience a life with out segregation, without prejudice, and without discrimination.

Whether it was nearly giving his life in the army, giving his time in the Government, or requesting to give to Lake Superior State in the form of a scholarship, he was always busy helping people. Although I have not had the chance to give as much as Hart did, I try to give as much as possible. Each Spring break I go on a small mission trip with my school. For the past three years we have gone to Tampa Florida and worked at Mary Help of Christians. This year, Mary Help of Christians opened up a Cristo Rey school. Cristo Rey is a schooling system that underprivileged high school students attend, they work for businesses earning money and business skills for half of the week, and are in the classroom for the rest of the week. This trip has opened my eyes and showed me how easy volunteering can be. I only spent three weeks of my own time, but because of this, hundreds of underprivileged kids will get to live a better life and get the chance to succeed.

Jackie Robinson is an American giant. A paragon of perseverance, courage and inner strength, he integrated baseball and broke our nation’s color barrier in an age where it was overtly enforced through violence both systematic and physical. Jackie Robinson has been a hero of mine since I was a child and while I wouldn’t dare to compare his struggle to obstacles I’ve faced in my lifetime, I still carry his example with me everyday and I believe it is crucial for those in my generation to do the same.

The strum of the guitar, the bang of the drums, and the roar of the crowd. That is what country music legend Troyal Garth Brooks, or Garth Brooks, as most call him, has worked toward all his life. Garth has had some disappointments on his road to country music stardom, but he has worked through them and has prevailed. His prowess in country music certainly did not come from luck, but from faith and perseverance.

Everyone deserves to be appreciated, encourage, and recognized on the contributions he makes towards his community. The minority Black people have suffered long enough to be deprived of their respect and acknowledgement in society. The ‘All white

How would your life change or become harder if you became a country music superstar with fans all over the world? If Garth Brooks would of made another choice that would not have music he would not be as popular as he is today! Garth did not just think of himself he thought more about his fans, Garth generously loved to give back, because he was a kind hearted person. Garth Brooks struggled in becoming what he is now. Country music superstar Garth Brooks would not be as popular as he is if it was not for his music, His love for Giving Back to kids, and the un-easy road it took to get to where he is now.

Dr. Dubois was awarded the first Spingarn Medal in 1920. This was awarded "to that Negro who achieved the highest in any human endeavor." He was an activist for global affairs, editor of the NAACP Crisis publication, and set up the meeting for the first Pan-African Congress. He was an individual of principle and conviction. The seeds he planted still nourish us today. (http://www.websn.com/Pride/Pride/w.htm)

After Jackie died his wife created the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which provides young students with mentoring programs and scholarships. This program has given 50 million dollars in scholarship money to students across the country. This program was described in the New York Times as, “what might be the best educational effort in the country." Jackie was one of the most influential people on the lives of young people especially young black athletes. Without him this country would not be the same.

Michael Jackson, a man that changed the music world forever. Jackson made his professional singing debut in 1964 with his siblings in a band called the Jackson 5. Jackson made it big with Jackson 5 having many singles reach the top 100 in the United States. But, when Jackson decided to start his own solo career in 1971 we were seeing a side of Michael Jackson that we have never seen before. Most importantly Jackson 1982, mulit-platinum selling album Thriller. Michael Jackson broke music barriers and made a change for racial equality in the music industry.

Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder has been a major figure within the Black Music scene over the last forty years. Stevie Wonder was born Steveland Judkins on May13, 1950, however, he now prefers to be known as Steveland Morris after his mother's married name. He was blind at birth. The cause was the prematurity of the eye.