Jackie Robinson

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" (Jackie Robinson). This quote from Jackie Robinson shows he cared enough to make a change for the benefit of others. Jackie Robinson, a retired major league baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers, was a hero in many peoples' lives, he changed history with just one simple signature in 1945. A man named Branch Rickey, who was the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is the man who got Robinson to sign a contract to play for the team in 1945. By doing that, Robinson broke the color barrier and gave many people the opportunity to play major league sports. He would have had to be determined, brave, and confident to continue to make the difference he was making. He is a hero to many people. He was determined, confident and a very brave man. 

            Jackie Robinson was a determined man and did what he had to do to make things right. He broke color barriers from major league sports to schooling. He once said, "There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free." When he signed on to be part of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 he would forever change the history of the beloved game of baseball and even many other major league sports. Many people looked up to him as a hero, for making major league sports possible for many other African Americans. Now, he didn't just stop at making sports work for everyone. Robinson said, "This ain't fun. But you watch me, I'll get it done." In 1958, Robinson led a march for school integration. He wanted students to be as equally free as athletes. Jackie Robinson also helped get some restaurants to become integrated after some of his moments of lashing out happened. Sometimes he would be denied access into a hotel or restaurant with his team just because of his race. This was not the right thing. Robinson was determined to make whites' and African Americans equal. It didn't matter to him how he did it, as long as it was made possible. 

            Jackie was confident with the choices he made and they would somehow affect people in a good way. He would always tell himself before a game that he wouldn't lose and he would try to ignore the angry audience members in the stands. "I'm not concerned with you liking or disliking me...All I ask is that you respect me as a human being"(Robinson). Even though many people didn't like him, he was more concentrated on the ones that did. He was confident that this change he made in history would make him respected as a human being. If Robinson figured out how to make a change in the baseball world, who would think that he wouldn't be able to make one somewhere else. He said, "The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time." Robinson made it one of his most important goals to make sure everyone in America had equal rights. If he was denied access into a hotel with his team, he was confident enough to make a point that, that wasn't right and then walk away. Since Jackie Robinson had confidence, he was able to act like a hero and prove a point that segregation wasn't ok. 

            Robinson knew how to take a stand and how to prove a point. He was brave enough to make himself standout. Even though people would 'boo' at him during games he would still get on the field because his fans made him stronger and he was brave. Jackie once said, "Life is not a spectator sport." If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life." Robinson didn't just sit there in the'grandstand' of life and just wait for someone else to stop this wrongness of segregation, he wanted to do something about it himself. He knew something had to change with how America thought and he was brave enough to make a move and join the Brooklyn Dodgers. If Robinson didn't show bravery then I don't even know what it! The American League President Gene Budig said, "He led America by example." He reminded our people of what was right and reminded them of what was wrong. I think it can be safely said today that Jackie Robinson made the United States a better nation." Robinson was brave enough to let people know the wrongs they were doing. He knew that segregating African Americans from major league sports, certain schools, and hotels was wrong. Since Robinson showed this brave attribute, he was able to make historical changes for African Americans. Being brave says a lot about a person, it shows that they have hero quality. Not everyone can say that they would be brave enough to do what Jackie Robinson did. 

            Determination, confidence and bravery are all traits a hero should possess. Jackie Robinson showed us that we shouldn't just sit back and watch things happen. We need to do our part to make the world a better place. Jackie Robinson inspires me to make a difference in the world. I don't want to just be someone just sitting back and relaxing in the'grandstand' of life. Since Robinson was determined to make a difference in the world of sports, confident he would be able to, and brave enough to face even the people that hated him, he is considered a hero in my eyes.