Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson (http://tenprairiesticks.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/baseball_tout.jpg)

There have been many people that have changed sports, but none of them like Jackie Robinson. Everyone knows the Babe and remembers when he called his shot, pointing to center field and then hitting his home run over the fence. People imitate him but no one can imitate Jackie Robinson. In the 1960’s, people were very segregated by their skin colors resulting in hard times. Many people did not have the same rights because of their skin color or because of their social class. White people didn’t think people of other races were smart and treated them like they were less than human and more like animals just because of their skin. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball in the modern era, but people were mean to him because of segregation and racism. There was nothing that was going to stop Jackie Robinson at all. Jackie Robinson is a hero because he changed things for mankind under hard circumstances. By shattering the color barrier for athletes everywhere, Jackie Robinson did things to make everyone see that people are equal no matter what their skin color. Through his acts of perseverance in racial discrimination, he reached his goal of playing major league baseball and opened the eyes of people that everyone is capable of great achievement.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier for all minorities after a lifelong fight against segregation. Jackie was a well-raised kid. He grew up in an all white neighborhood with only one parent and four other siblings (Honoring Jackie Robinson). Being the only African Americans on the block, they had to fight strong words of hatred and frightening actions. When Jackie was a kid all he wanted was what he didn’t have. So he worked harder to achieve what he wanted. In 1945, during Jackie’s young adult life, he started playing for the Negro leagues on the Kansas City Monarchs (The dodgers partnership). He went all over the west playing other Negro teams because of segregation. Jackie always wanted to do better than the person next to him just like he did in his childhood. He was trying to showcase his talent, working for his future. Finally he got his chance to show America what he was capable of. The Brooklyn Dodgers drafted Jackie Robinson on April 11, 1947 for $5,000 (Jackie Bio). After the long the fight against segregation, Jackie finally achieved his recognition by the Brooklyn Dodgers. In these tense times, his hard work paid off. Breaking the color barrier was huge. Up until this moment of time African Americans were never viewed as being equal to whites. They were never in a spotlight and were never watched by other races. There was never a figure to look up to until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier for all non-white races. Suddenly, whites looked at him and other blacks with a new prospective. Jackie opened new opportunities and changed the way people viewed African Americans

Jackie Robinson did not stop at breaking the color barrier but he went and did much more, proving that Africans Americans are equally capable. When the Brooklyn Dodgers signed him, they also gave him the time to shine in his career. With that opportunity came difficult environments and new struggles. When Jackie made his debut, people said and did things that words can’t describe. Many of Jackie’s teammates never acknowledged him for the good things he did but only the bad things he did. Walking into the stadium of people who wanted to see him fail discouraged him and made him question his ability. It also gave him the motivation to do better. He would fight more and work harder to show that he was equal. Having the nation looking down on one player was a big deal, but his perseverance paid off and he succeeded in front of his home team. As his career went on, Jackie set records that people hadn’t done before, and many players admired him for that fire within himself. After the long battle he came to an end but he left a special print on baseball for everyone. He had his number retired - they do that when a player makes an impact on a team (or a league in Jackie’s case). The greatest honor was that they made a day for him “Jackie Robinson Day” (Horning Jackie Robinson). This was when all of baseball recognized him for what he had done in baseball and life. His fight made other players realize that they could do they same thing Jackie did. Jackie had a rough time in the beginning but he let his hard work and perseverance pay off in the long run. He dealt with racial discrimination from fans all the way to discrimination from other players - but he didn’t stop. He wanted to show that all people can do the same thing if not better. His perseverance showed that not just getting drafted by a major league team was good enough. He wanted to show that he could do better things. And he succeeded for himself and mankind.

Jackie Robinson was a hero because he changed the outlook on African Americans and their capabilities. The way he lived and went through his life helped other people get a chance to do what they loved. By shattering the color barrier he opened the way for people to be looked at equally. Jackie’s perseverance and hard work kept the door open for other people to be able to have the same opportunity that he once did. Jackie Robinson’s perseverance and courage impacted me to never give up and not just settle for the low but go and get the things that I don’t have and want by working for them. This has made me think about not giving up and keep the fight within me. Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on others lives.” The key thing I learned is that whatever I do, I make an impact on something that will always last. I want my legacy to be motivating.