Born in Cairo, Georgia, Jackie Robinson was born to a family sharecroppers in the year of 1919. Sharecroppers were tenant farmers who used land of other farmers to grow crops and paid to use it with a portion of the crops that they grew. His mother single-handedly raised Jackie and his 4 siblings. The Prejudice and the Racism that the family encountered being the only black family on the block, only strengthened their bond as an African American family. From a childhood of segregation would come the man and athlete who broke the Major League Baseball (MLB) color barrier that had previously existed for 50 years. Jackie excelled early at all sports and learned to make his own way in life. While attending UCLA, Jackie became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. He was named to the All-American football team. Due to financial difficulties, he was forced to leave college, and eventually enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served 2 years when his term was cut short due to incidents involving racial discrimination.
Jackie played one season in the Negro Baseball League, traveling all over the Midwest with the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey approached Jackie about joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Major Leagues had not had an African-American player since 1889, when baseball became segregated. When Jackie first was given a Brooklyn Dodger uniform, he opened the integration of professional athletics in America. By breaking the color-barrier of the nation's primary sport, Jackie Robinson set out to oppose Racial Segregation of both the North and the South.
In my opinion, Jackie Robinson is amongst the group of the greatest heroes. What he did in facing and breaking the color barrier of Major League Baseball took courage, determination, and bravery. He had items and slurs thrown at him as if they were curveballs and took them as if they were just cars passing by him on a walk. Had he not done what he did, all sports and baseball may not be what they are today. Some of the greatest athletes are African Americans including: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Barry Bonds, Felix Hernandez, and P.K. Subban. Sports today would lack talent and diversity as well as competition and pizzazz. And it is all due to Jackie Robinson.
Jackie played one season in the Negro Baseball League, traveling all over the Midwest with the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey approached Jackie about joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Major Leagues had not had an African-American player since 1889, when baseball became segregated. When Jackie first was given a Brooklyn Dodger uniform, he opened the integration of professional athletics in America. By breaking the color-barrier of the nation's primary sport, Jackie Robinson set out to oppose Racial Segregation of both the North and the South.
In my opinion, Jackie Robinson is amongst the group of the greatest heroes. What he did in facing and breaking the color barrier of Major League Baseball took courage, determination, and bravery. He had items and slurs thrown at him as if they were curveballs and took them as if they were just cars passing by him on a walk. Had he not done what he did, all sports and baseball may not be what they are today. Some of the greatest athletes are African Americans including: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Barry Bonds, Felix Hernandez, and P.K. Subban. Sports today would lack talent and diversity as well as competition and pizzazz. And it is all due to Jackie Robinson.