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Summary Of Jackie Robinson: A Color Barrier

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Jackie Robinson: A Color Barrier Breaking Man 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 was born in Cairo, Georgia. During his younger years, the Great Mississippi Flood occurred affecting 700,000+ people in the south. Approaching his pre-teenage years, his family moved to Pasadena, California. Around the same time, …show more content…

He played basketball, football, baseball, and ran track. He excelled in every sport he played, but as we all know he fell in love with baseball. He graduated and continued playing baseball in college as well as the other sports he excelled in. Attending Pasadena Junior College, he played in many Negro leagues. After leaving the junior college he enrolled at UCLA. Being enrolled at UCLA and playing all the sports they had to offer he became the first 4-letter man at the institution. Also, at UCLA he met his wife, Rachel Isum. Around senior year at UCLA, he was recruited to play part-time for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He had many struggles while trying to get on the team even though a coach recruited him. Some players, already on the team, petition for him not to be on the team. Most fans laughed and made fun of a young black man trying to go pro in baseball. Seeing past all of that, Jackie Robinson persevered and made his debut on Dodgers as #42. After graduating from UCLA, he married Rachel and began playing full-time on the Dodgers. He played his first season on the Dodgers a year later. Most fans bad-mouthed him at every game for being on the team. Ignoring all of the negativity, Jackie ended his first season as Rookie of the Year. Also ending the season, Rachel and Jackie Robinson had their first child, Jackie Robinson Jr. Later on, they had another son, David Robinson, and a daughter, Sharon Robinson. Jackie Robinson Jr. …show more content…

He also became an executive businessman and did many public motivational speaking events continuing to break the color barrier even after his MLB life. He worked extensively with the NAACP as well. He and his wife, Rachel, took care of their 3 children. As time passed, Sharon, his daughter, began the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) on behalf of her father. JRF provides educational opportunities for minorities nationwide. Soon after the establishment of JRF, Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972. Many people were devastated by, people, including his daughter, did everything they could to ensure that his legacy would live on. 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

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