They Clear The Lane Analysis

The second element of the ruling - the effect it had on African-American supporters and the encouragement if afforded - had a greater impact. Paterson and Willoughby say the 'psychological need for integration6’ had been recognised, what Patterson calls ‘the symbolic value of Brown’7. All three historians agree that African-Americans needed some success to motivate the continued struggle, and this Brown provided. Patterson says activists were ‘extraordinarily heartened by Brown’8. Kevern Verney talks of a ‘renewed hope’9 given to African-Americans. They were similarly helped by Browder v. Gayle in 1956, which ruled the bus segregation in Montgomery unconstitutional, and Boyton v. Virginia in 1960, which extended this ruling to waiting rooms and restaurants. According to Willoughby and Paterson, the ‘clear-cut decision’ came ‘in the knick-of time'10 for the protest movement, which might not have succeeded without the ruling by the court. Even here, however, the court was unable to enforce the actions. One observer recalled a ‘bus station ... still rigorously segregated’11, in 1966. These examples show the Supreme Court as advancing the Civil Rights by passing favourable and motivating rulings, but it certainly fell short when it came to enforcing them. Taking everything into account, the Supreme Court was a force for change, but not without fault, in the later 20th century.

Throughout his professional career, Jackie Robinson, received criticism for being the first “black” player to play the game. Not only did Jackie Robinson manage to live up to the criticism, he also changed the face of America’s greatest past time forever. With his entrance into the MLB he opened the path for great black players like Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Ozzie Smith just to name a few. In crossing the color-barrier in baseball Robinson not only strived as a great player on the field, but also a inspiration to the black community of the field with his humility, and willingness to move forward in a time where blacks were not considered “equal”.

Racism was a larger issue back in the 1930’s than it is today. During the 1930’s many Black Americans were unable to find jobs. With the Great Depression came the “last hired first fired” mindset. Many African Americans felt that this was targeted towards them (Racial 5). This along with Jim Crow laws kept most blacks in a level of poverty, which added to the discrimination (Racial 7). Throughout this time, all the way up into the 1960’s and 1970’s African Americans were under great segregation. During this thirty years, great strides toward social equality were made, but at the cost of numerous racial driven incidents. Many great African American icons were assassinated during this time. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 because he stood up against racial oppression as well as Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated in 1968. Both of these two men were part of the leading force in the desegregation of America (Rosenberg 1). This movement led to great tension between the African American culture and white culture, which led to many very violent cases between the races. A great

After the T.C. William Titans started the season off at 7-0 the entire city started giving them positive feedback. Many restaurants were promoting their success with posters in their windows saying “Titans 7-0 and counting, all players eat free.” Prior to their success people were un-accepting of the whole integration issue. There was one instance where the owner of a restaurant kicked the players out because a group of both black and white players came in together and blacks weren’t allowed. Their success on the field helped them have positive results in their school and in their bi-racial community.

In the Late 1950’s, America was in the beginnings of an important Cultural revolution. The Civil Rights movement as a whole was still very new and the country had just recently been desegregated. As such,

league and changed the game; now there is no racial barrier because of Jackie Robinson. Jackie

In 1947 if you were any race other than white could not play in major league baseball. “Jackie Robinson, took the first steps toward integrating the sport's major league teams when he signed a contract to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947” (Smith para 1). Jackie Robinson was the first African-American player in the major league baseball. If Jackie Robinson didn’t sign to the Dodgers then who knows how segregated baseball or the world in general would be. The Brooklyn Dodgers were the first to sign an African-American on there team. The Brooklyn Dodger coach ask for Jackie Robinson to come out and talk to him.

This showed that segregation was slowly fading. One of the most important systems in society is the education system. So when this changed so did many other things. African Americans were given more opportunities for jobs and careers. This gave them the chance to become just as important or “big” as white people. “Negroes do not wish to be branded as inferiors by being segregated, and they want to walk the earth as human beings with dignity” (The Atlantic). The process of integration has started to bring equality and is closer to making it so that the black man is not looked down upon by the white

Robinson saw that athletic success did not guarantee full freedom in the racially and economically unequal American society. Opposing players often reminded him of his race arguments, rougher hits, and racial slurs. (Gale)

Over thousands of blacks were discriminated in the 1950s because of their skin color. Blacks and whites were prohibited to go to the same school just because of their skin color. However, in the year of 1957 the Little Rock Nine were the first nine black students that integrated to Central High. If this group of people didn’t have the courage to attend Central High our schools would be extremely different today.

Being African-American during the 1940s was a difficult time for the black community as they faced issues of segregation and discrimination. Racial slurs and epithets were considered a norm, as the white community reigned supreme. It wasn't until Brooklyn Dodgers executive,

Sports was the same way every sport had a nonprofeccinal black team and they could only play against other black teams. Branch Rickey didn't think this was right so he started looking for not only a good athlete, but also be able to control himself. Jackie Robinson had been playing baseball in the small teams that were open for him so when he heard that a professional team was looking for a black player he acted upon it. He was put onto the team and when people heard the news they were outraged. People thought that peoples skin determined their rights and when one African American got this right, it gave everyone the right to try for the

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.

Since the abolition of slavery in the USA in 1883 and through the first half of the 20th Century, African Americans had been in a constant struggle to try and gain an equal footing in society. Like many aspects of American life, black sportsmen were segregated, and no African American had played professional baseball since 1884. For this reason, the integration of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers as the first African American to play Major League baseball in the modern era had a grand impact on the entire country. From the moment that Dodgers owner, Branch Rickey decided that Robinson would break the colour lone, the history of sport and the history of African Americans would not be the same again. The importance of his integration and the effect it had on civil rights can be looked at in many different ways. It had great effect on the African American community, instilling pride and belief once again in the American Dream for many who had once thought it impossible. It also had significant importance for civil rights groups, and brought about a figure who would fight his peoples quest for equal rights until the day he died. It was a significant risk taken by both Rickey and Robinson, professionally and personally. But it was a risk that both in the short term for African American sport, and in the long run for African American civil rights, was ultimately well worth taking.

Pete Baker Mr. Litz American Lit December 7, 2016 Jackie Robinson Prior to around the 1950’s, most of America was segregated. Segregation is when two different groups are separated like having different schools, bathrooms, restaurants, and even different neighborhoods. Another thing that was segregated back then was sports. Almost every sport had a white league and a negro league.