Jackie Robinson and the Civil Rights Movement Essay

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†¦show more content†¦The driver, a local civilian, thought that the woman Jackie was talking to was white#8230;The outraged bus driver ordered Jackie to the back of the bus. Jackie knew his rights on an army base#8230;Jackie would not move. On reach ing the last stop, the bus driver quickly brought over several white men and two military policemen#8230;The MPs took Jackie to a captain, who saw in him only an uppity nigger trying to make trouble. He filed a series of charges against Jackie(Weidhorn 28). Robinson did not take this incident passively. He spread word to other black officers, who in turn contacted black newspapers and civil rights groups, who demanded that the charges be dropped. Instead of fighting the Japanese or German enemy, Robinson had to fight the racism and stupidity of his fellow Americans. Robinson was eventually honorably discharged from the Army for medical reasons. Baseball soon became a big part of Robinsons life. Jackie Robinsons entry into the Major Leagues was far from a walk in the park. He climbed over countless obstacles just to play with white men, some of which, he was better then. He not only had to compete with the returning players from the war, but he also contended with racism. Many towns in the South did not want racially mixed teams(Weidhorn 53). As time went on, cities realized that Robinson offered them free publicity. The Dodgers presence also brought extra business to theShow MoreRelatedJackie Robinson And The Civil Rights Movement1432 Words   |  6 Pagesto whites. Jackie Robinson made an important step in gaining rights for African Americans when he broke the color barrier of baseball in 1947. He did this by making civil rights his ambition even before the protests began (Coombs 117). Jackie Robinson’s fame as a baseball player and determination to defeat adversity transformed him into an inspirational figure for those involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born the youngest of Jerry and Mallie Robinson in Cairo, GeorgiaRead MoreJackie Robinson And The Civil Rights Movement1617 Words   |  7 Pagesplayer Jackie Robinson. As a result of discrimination and segregation in America it was very difficult for black people to exercise their rights during this time period. Throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s Jackie Robinson’s baseball career dramatically changed as he was the first African American Major League Baseball player. However after signing to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers integration started to become a reality in some societies today. The efforts of Jackie Robinson enabled the Civil Rights MovementRead MoreCivil Rights Movement : Jackie Robinson1477 Words   |  6 PagesCivil rights was an important American issue through the late 40s through the 60s. During this time period Baseball was â€Å"America’s Pastime, â€Å"and a major social get together for white Americans. However in 1947 both of these event were combined when the Brooklyn Dodgers gave Jackie Robinson a chance to play professional baseball. Jackie Robinson is the target of my biography. Robinson not only was the first African American baseball player, but he also had a hall of fame career, and eventually hadRead MoreJackie Robinson And The Civil Rights Movement1554 Words   |  7 PagesSince 1839, baseball was a white man’s game. That would all change when Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942. This would be a major victory for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. Before Robinson entered the league, African Americans played in the National Negro League and Whites played in the MLB(Major League Baseball). At this time in history blacks were still fighting for equality every single day. They were segregated by going to different schools than whitesRead MoreJackie Robinson And The Civil Rights Movement1414 Words   |  6 PagesIn the pre-dawn of the C ivil Rights Movement, the 1940s were rife with racial tension. Nearly all public institutions were segregated. Libraries, schools, transportation, the armed forces. Sports teams were just as rigorously divided into two sects--the Negro leagues and the major leagues. There was no question about which division a black man would play for. Nobody dared cross the rift between whites and blacks; they were too afraid. Eventually, however, all it took was one man to begin breakingRead MoreJackie Robinson And The American Dilemma882 Words   |  4 PagesIn the biography Jackie Robinson and the American Dilemma by John R. M. Wilson, it tells the story of racial injustice done after world war II and explains how Jackie Robinson was pioneer of better race relations in the United States. The obstacles Jackie Robinson overcame were amazing, he had the responsibility to convert the institutions, customs, and attitudes that had defined race relations in the United States. Seldom has history ever p laced so much of a strain on one person. I am addressingRead MoreProfessional Sports: A Barrier Meant to be Broken Essay1225 Words   |  5 Pagesin professional sports was a turning point in history. It happened in 1947, when Jackie Robinson, an African-American athlete, began playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers under the watchful eye of their owner, Branch Rickey. The man who broke this barrier was a hero in his own right, changing the world of baseball as well as aiding the Civil Rights Movement. But this was not his only heroic accomplishment. Robinson was a star athlete as a child, at the University of California, Los Angeles, and inRead MoreAmerica s Favorite Pastime And Jackie Robinson Essay1661 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica’s Favorite Pastime and Jackie Robinson The game of baseball has been intertwined in our history. It has been there through the wars and the civil rights movements. The game has seen it all. There have been great players who have put their career’s on hold to fight for their country. â€Å"More than 500 major league baseball players during World War II, including stars like Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Joe DiMaggio†. There is one player that didn’t have to put his career on hold to fight for hisRead MoreJackie Robison vs Ali Essay1640 Words   |  7 PagesJack Roosevelt â€Å"Jackie Robinson† Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr â€Å"Muhammad Ali† Muhammad Ali once said, Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesnt matter which color does the hating. Its just plain wrong.† Muhammad Ali stood for the common black man, so did Jackie Robinson. Both of these men were professional athletes, two different sports, baseball and boxing, were changed forever because of these men. They both broke segregation barriers not only in their profession butRead MoreThe Color Legacy in Major Leage Baseball1125 Words   |  5 PagesBefore 1947, Major League Baseball had never had a black player, although there were Negro Leagues. Jackie Robinson broke that. It takes courage and dedication to chase after something you love. Jackie had that for the game of baseball. The Civil Rights Movement was occurring during the time Jackie enter the Major Leagues, so the times were tough for him. Jackie did more than just play baseball; he introduced a whole new way to play the game, with blacks and whites. He did this by breaking the co lor