Jackie Robinson

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” According to Atticus Finch from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, heroes are willing to fight losing battles to do what they believe is right. Heroes can come in all shapes, sorts, and sizes in society, but all share a few common traits. They all are driven to achieve their goals, able to move on from failures, and have the bravery to speak out against the injustices that they are fighting. A person can be heroic in everyday situations, and most of their actions will not go recognized by the public. But, they continue to help and support those around them. Heroes show time and time again by their selfless actions that they will always help those around them and make the world a better place by speaking out against injustice or for the minority in society. In order to do so, a hero must be brave, patient, and determined to succeed no matter the cost. Heroes must be patient and also be determined enough to stay focused on their goals.

Robinson excelled at high school and college athletics.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jackie_Robinson_UCLA.jpgJackie Robinson, who was born into poverty on a plantation, had the traits mentioned above. He was never scared to try new things, or to fail, and he always was driven to prove his critics wrong. Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, into a family of four older siblings and a single mom. He was raised in the all-white town of Pasadena at a time when segregation was legal and encouraged, but Robinson did not let the color of his skin define who he was. He showed this by excelling in high school and college sports, eventually earning four varsity letters in four different sports. After serving in the military, he was honorably discharged for refusing to go sit in the back of a segregated the bus and finally started doing what he did best: playing baseball. He then went on to break the unwritten color rule by playing in Major League Baseball and made way for the first integration of the sport. A hero must possess bravery, the willingness to do what everyone else is afraid to do, determination, and patience, the ability to keep on trying. Robinson’s incredible determination, patience, and bravery made him be able to accomplish what he was able to achieve and proves that he is indeed a true hero.

Robinson had always been a patriot, before and after baseball.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jackie_Robinson_in_army_uniform.jpgEven when the media publicly shamed Jackie Robinson for breaking the unwritten segregation rule in Major League Baseball, he shows his determination, patience, and bravery by risking his own safety and not letting his personal hardships get in the way of his playing with the other players who were hostile to him based on his skin color. By doing so, he showed the world that a colored man can accomplish just as much his white man. Robinson did not let the hardships of his childhood hold him back from changing the way the world looks at colored people and segregation. From the start of his life, Robinson was always looked down upon by his peers and was never given an equal chance. His personal hardships also added to the fact that he was colored in a white man’s society. Even though Jackie Robinson faced discrimination in his hometown, he still excelled in all sports, beating out the “better” white players. Instead of discrimination fueling his hatred it, in fact, determined him to train the hardest that he could to earn the title as one of the nation’s best sports stars. “After two years he was heavily recruited by many of the West Coast universities. Robinson chose the University of California at Los Angeles, where he would become the first player to letter in four sports--football, basketball, track, and baseball”(St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). His heroism can be seen by how he never lets his own feelings of discrimination stop himself from changing the world’s perspective of a black man’s capabilities.  Most people, if placed in Robinson’s position might be swayed or scared by the threats sent out, but Robinson set an example and never stopped once to think or stop about who he was proving wrong. While serving in the army, Robinson showed his bravery by refusing to let anyone judge him by simply glancing at his skin. “During boot camp at Fort Hood, Texas Robinson was arrested and court-martialed in q944 for refusing to give up his seat and move to the back of a segregated bus”("Jackie Robinson." 2019). Robinson’s motivation to stand up for himself would be a major key for when he finally made it to the league and faced heavy prejudice. By facing these hardships when he was young, Robinson was quick to realize that he would have to stand up for himself or be shamed by society based on his appearance and skin color. By facing and conquering a sport where black players had not been even allowed to join, Robinson’s determination and bravery shows the true hero he is, being a motivated player on the field, and determined civil rights advocate off the field

Robinson attending a civil rights march in Washington, D.C.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Civil_Rights_March_on_Washington,_D.C._(Former_National_Baseball_League_player,_Jackie_Robinson_with_his_son.)_-_NARA_-_542024.tifAs a player, Robinson was able to show outstanding patience by not responding to the insults and threats that were shouted at him during games, avoiding any possible fights and opened the gateway to integration. By letting his playing ability do the talking, Robinson made sure that he wouldn't become involved in fights that could be tied back to his skin color by the media. His patience is shown by his experience joining the league and as a rookie, “Rickey knew there would be difficult times ahead for the young athlete, and so made Robinson promise to not fight back when confronted with racism. Rickey also personally tested Robinson's reactions to the racial slurs and insults he knew the player would endure. From the beginning of his career with the Dodgers, Robinson's will was tested. Even some of his new teammates objected to having an African-American on their team. People in the crowds sometimes jeered Robinson, and he and his family received threats” ("Jackie Robinson." 2019). Finally, having met the extreme standards set by Rickley, Robinson was only met with more hate and discrimination and he did not say a word to defend himself. After a few more seasons of ill-treatment, Robinson finally started to support black rights publicly and became a hero to all of the suppressed and black population.  Even when Robinson retired, he never stopped supporting civil rights and devoted his time to activities that promoted these rights. “Robinson was a vocal champion for African-American athletes, civil rights and other social and political causes, serving on the board of the NAACP until 1967. In July 1949, he testified about discrimination before the House Un-American Activities Committee”("Jackie Robinson." 2019). Because he never stopped supporting the civil rights movement, he never let the fame and glory define how he was going to act. His devotion and utter-most dedication proved to the world once again of his underlying ideas; to always put 100% into everything that you do, and stay determined. Unlike many celebrities of today, Robinson never had any selfish motivations, managing to break a century-long unwritten rule using pure grit and carve the path for many other colored athletes to follow his footsteps. Faced with hardships, struggles, and segregation, Jackie Robinson was never supposed to make it to the MLB and was, in fact, the target of dangerous pitches and dirty play in the league. But, using his determination, patience, and bravery, Robinson was able to power through many challenges and revolutionize the idea of integrated sports. Jackie Robinson modeled with his actions the ability to be determined, be patient, and also be brave enough to venture out into and face the unknown. His attitude is shown when he once said, "I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being"(Robinson Baseball Hall of Fame Speech). Born into a life of poverty, Robinson used his determination, reliance, and bravery to push himself to accomplish the things that he wanted to get done. From a young age, Robinson was forced to work hard if he wanted to get out of the slum life he was born in. His background or even hard work does not make him heroic. What differentiates Robinson from the other star athletes was his devotion to equal rights before and after the spotlight, and how he continued to stand up and protest for the rights of black citizens in the United States as equals.

Jackie Robinson has inspired thousands through his endless determination to continue standing up for black rights, and his remarkable patience that he must have displayed to finally earn the respect of his partially racist peers. While many would have not even tried to join and play in Major League Baseball with the unwritten color barrier in place, Robinson dived headfirst into the problem to take home an MVP award in his rookie season and pave the path for other colored baseball stars to thrive in Major League Baseball. His ability to keep on going no matter the cost has taught me a personal lesson in life. I have learned to put all my effort into everything that I attempt, and start even though I might be “licked from the start”. Robinson most definitely knew the risks that he was taking but proceeded anyway to become the first black star in Major League Baseball. His bravery definitely modeled what the word “courage” meant to Atticus Finch, and Robinson went on the play in the Major Baseball League knowing all the hate and danger he was putting himself in. Instead, he powered through to prove himself to be a powerful asset to the team he played for. After giving everything he had, Robinson managed to plant the idea in everyone’s head that colored or uncolored, all people should be given the same chance. A true hero at heart, on October 24th, 1972, Robinson left behind a legacy as a father, activist, and player that can almost never be fulfilled.

Works Cited

"Jackie Robinson." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 07 Jan. 2019. Web. Accessed 20 Jan. 2019. <www.biography.com/people/jackie-robinson-9460813>

"Jackie Robinson." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Gale, 2013. Biography In Context,   https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1648000220/SUIC?u= powa9245&sid=SUIC&xid=4ed48790. Accessed 22 Dec. 2018.

Lee, Harper, To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 1960. Print.

"Remembering Jackie." Baseball Hall of Fame. ABNER Online Library Catalog, 15 Apr. 2017. Web. 20 Jan. 2019. <https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/baseball-history/remembering-jackie>.