Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson is no doubt one among the few most influential figures in the American history. Through his devotion and determination, he broke the major league baseballs color line (Purvis, 1999). Despite the fact that in the 1940s life in America was highly characterized by segregation, Jackie Robison managed to become the first player in Brooklyn Dodgers, a baseball club that was predominantly for the whites (Purvis, 1999). As an expression for his love for the nation, Jackie Robinson quit his prosperous baseball career to join the American army during the Second World War. Still, Jackie Robinson is well known for his successful participation in other athletic sports such as basketball, track, and football. He spent most of his life striving to ensure that segregation ended in the nation thus making him a real icon in the realization of the freedom found in the modern American society (Henry, 1997). This essay is written as a discussion of the life of Jackie Robinson and how he influenced the American community particular the black American community.
Jackie Robinson did many things, which influenced the lives of the African Americans in the American society. First, he was the first African American to play professional baseball in a multiracial setting (Purvis, 1999). According to historical information available about Jackie Robinson, he started his sporting career while he was studying at John Muir High School thanks to valuable encouragement from his teachers and elder brother (Purvis, 1999).
His success in sporting activities continued when he joined Pasadena junior college and later University of California Los Angeles in 1939. As an expression of his influence in the sporting world, Jackie Robinson went in record as the first person let alone an African-American ever to win varsity letters in his four major sports basketball, baseball, track, and football later in 1939 (Aaron, 1999). By this, he proved to the American community that the black American community is marked with skills and talents just like the whites.
By becoming the first African American to play professional baseball in a multiracial setting, Jackie Robinson proved to the American community that ability is not determined by skin color (Henry Dorinson, 1998). True to the word, the 1940s were marked with eminent acts of racial discrimination in the American society. Indeed, sports competitions during this time in history were based on color as their used to be Negro leagues and those for the white (Aaron, 1999). However, despite segregation, Jackie Robinson was determined to take up position as a player in Brooklyn Dodgers, a white dominated team. The ultimate success of Jackie Robinson as the best baseball player of the time is simply due to anti-racial attitude. Despite the eminent racial tension and discrimination he received from his team players as well as fans in the Brooklyn Dodgers club, he remained a pivotal tool in overseeing the success of the club (Simon, 2002). This attitude is to be thanked for the increased involvement of African Americans in multiracial sports as his influence led to the implementation a desegregation policy in sports.
By leaving sports to join in the army during the Second World War, Jackie Robinson was symbolic of the importance of international security for the sustainable social and economic development of the American community (Purvis, 1999). According to statistics on Jackie Robinson success, it is evidently clear that he enjoyed remarkable success in sport activities. However, despite of the fame sports had brought to him, he voluntarily decided to join the military. Still, this move was not his prior knowledge of the mistreatment the African Americans serving in the military faced. In fact, this amounts to nothing less than an expression of patriotism by Jackie Robinson.
Another achievement is that he never wanted to be segregated against simply for being a black. This is best evident when he lost his military job after refusing to succumb to racial discriminative order by a driver dictating him to sit at the back seats of the bus (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). Discrimination against the African Americans many a times went unquestioned. However, Jackie Robinson stood out strongly to defend his reason for not succumbing to the drivers dictate on his sitting position in a military bus (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). Other incidences where Jackie stood for the rights of African Americans as human beings is when, during his college education, Robinson was arrested after disputing the detention of a black by the police. According to some social analysts, such courage by Jackie Robinson is seen as having played a pivotal role in triggering the civil rights movement which saw the recognition of the rights of the black American community (Warmund Dorinson, 1998).
Still, according to available information on the social responsibilities that Jackie Robinson engaged in, it is clear that he always wanted to see an improvement in the social and economic standards of the black
American community (Aaron, 1999). After retiring from baseball in early 1957, Jackie Robinson engaged in many social activities which served to promote the dignity of the black American community (Aaron, 1999). He served as the vice president or personnel at Chock full oNuts between 1957 and 1964, making him the first African American to hold such a position in a major American corporation. In an expression of his desire to ensure economic prosperity for the African Americans, Jackie participated in the chaired the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP) million-dollar Freedom Fund Drive of 1957 (Henry, 1997).
Among the many other initiatives by Jackie for helping the African Americans include his contribution towards the opening of the Freedom National Bank in Harlem which was owned and operated by the African Americans (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). He in 1970 established a construction company in purpose for constructing houses for the economically challenged members of the American community (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). Just to be appreciated here is the fact that during that time, the black community in America was perceived as being of lesser value both socially and economically. This meant poor living conditions thanks to limited government and societal support.
Jackie Robinson was an influential political figure who spent most of his resources in fighting for desegregation policies in America (Aaron, 1999). He acted as a major supporter of Richard Nixon during the 1960 presidential. Even after losing in the election to John F. Kennedy, Jackie praised President Kennedy for his stand on the question of racial segregation. In 1964, he became a major support of Rockefeller as well as serving as a special assistant for the community in New York in 1966 (Aaron, 1999). Just to be stated here is the fact that Jackie Robinson was a strong critic of drug abuse among the American people, a factor that confirms his great wish for having sustainable social coexistence in the American community (Aaron, 1999).
Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the impact of Jackie Robinson in the American community will leave to be appreciated by generations to come. Through him the African American found their noble acceptance in the American society. Thus, Jackie Robinson will remain a hero in the athletic world but a determined patriot of the American nation, may God bless his soul.
Jackie Robinson did many things, which influenced the lives of the African Americans in the American society. First, he was the first African American to play professional baseball in a multiracial setting (Purvis, 1999). According to historical information available about Jackie Robinson, he started his sporting career while he was studying at John Muir High School thanks to valuable encouragement from his teachers and elder brother (Purvis, 1999).
His success in sporting activities continued when he joined Pasadena junior college and later University of California Los Angeles in 1939. As an expression of his influence in the sporting world, Jackie Robinson went in record as the first person let alone an African-American ever to win varsity letters in his four major sports basketball, baseball, track, and football later in 1939 (Aaron, 1999). By this, he proved to the American community that the black American community is marked with skills and talents just like the whites.
By becoming the first African American to play professional baseball in a multiracial setting, Jackie Robinson proved to the American community that ability is not determined by skin color (Henry Dorinson, 1998). True to the word, the 1940s were marked with eminent acts of racial discrimination in the American society. Indeed, sports competitions during this time in history were based on color as their used to be Negro leagues and those for the white (Aaron, 1999). However, despite segregation, Jackie Robinson was determined to take up position as a player in Brooklyn Dodgers, a white dominated team. The ultimate success of Jackie Robinson as the best baseball player of the time is simply due to anti-racial attitude. Despite the eminent racial tension and discrimination he received from his team players as well as fans in the Brooklyn Dodgers club, he remained a pivotal tool in overseeing the success of the club (Simon, 2002). This attitude is to be thanked for the increased involvement of African Americans in multiracial sports as his influence led to the implementation a desegregation policy in sports.
By leaving sports to join in the army during the Second World War, Jackie Robinson was symbolic of the importance of international security for the sustainable social and economic development of the American community (Purvis, 1999). According to statistics on Jackie Robinson success, it is evidently clear that he enjoyed remarkable success in sport activities. However, despite of the fame sports had brought to him, he voluntarily decided to join the military. Still, this move was not his prior knowledge of the mistreatment the African Americans serving in the military faced. In fact, this amounts to nothing less than an expression of patriotism by Jackie Robinson.
Another achievement is that he never wanted to be segregated against simply for being a black. This is best evident when he lost his military job after refusing to succumb to racial discriminative order by a driver dictating him to sit at the back seats of the bus (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). Discrimination against the African Americans many a times went unquestioned. However, Jackie Robinson stood out strongly to defend his reason for not succumbing to the drivers dictate on his sitting position in a military bus (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). Other incidences where Jackie stood for the rights of African Americans as human beings is when, during his college education, Robinson was arrested after disputing the detention of a black by the police. According to some social analysts, such courage by Jackie Robinson is seen as having played a pivotal role in triggering the civil rights movement which saw the recognition of the rights of the black American community (Warmund Dorinson, 1998).
Still, according to available information on the social responsibilities that Jackie Robinson engaged in, it is clear that he always wanted to see an improvement in the social and economic standards of the black
American community (Aaron, 1999). After retiring from baseball in early 1957, Jackie Robinson engaged in many social activities which served to promote the dignity of the black American community (Aaron, 1999). He served as the vice president or personnel at Chock full oNuts between 1957 and 1964, making him the first African American to hold such a position in a major American corporation. In an expression of his desire to ensure economic prosperity for the African Americans, Jackie participated in the chaired the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP) million-dollar Freedom Fund Drive of 1957 (Henry, 1997).
Among the many other initiatives by Jackie for helping the African Americans include his contribution towards the opening of the Freedom National Bank in Harlem which was owned and operated by the African Americans (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). He in 1970 established a construction company in purpose for constructing houses for the economically challenged members of the American community (Warmund Dorinson, 1998). Just to be appreciated here is the fact that during that time, the black community in America was perceived as being of lesser value both socially and economically. This meant poor living conditions thanks to limited government and societal support.
Jackie Robinson was an influential political figure who spent most of his resources in fighting for desegregation policies in America (Aaron, 1999). He acted as a major supporter of Richard Nixon during the 1960 presidential. Even after losing in the election to John F. Kennedy, Jackie praised President Kennedy for his stand on the question of racial segregation. In 1964, he became a major support of Rockefeller as well as serving as a special assistant for the community in New York in 1966 (Aaron, 1999). Just to be stated here is the fact that Jackie Robinson was a strong critic of drug abuse among the American people, a factor that confirms his great wish for having sustainable social coexistence in the American community (Aaron, 1999).
Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the impact of Jackie Robinson in the American community will leave to be appreciated by generations to come. Through him the African American found their noble acceptance in the American society. Thus, Jackie Robinson will remain a hero in the athletic world but a determined patriot of the American nation, may God bless his soul.
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