The United States has endured numerous periods of pronounced social and racial shifts throughout its history, and one could argue even more during the twenty-first century. These shifts in our culture have brought about a series of long term effects and consequences that we still face today. Movements such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Feminist Movement helped pave the way for people in today’s society to advocate for their own causes and those of others through increased activism. The social and racial upheavals found in today’s society span many areas, such as politics, gender equality, religion and sexual identity. In politics, we face the passage of new laws and the effects they have on certain social classes. In gender inequality,
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An important athlete who became a prominent figure to the African Americans was Jackie Robinson. Robinson became the first African American athlete to play major league baseball, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15th, 1947. He broke the color barrier in the sport of baseball and became a symbol of hope and change to African Americans long before Martin Luther King or Malcom X. Robinson “ushered in a long-overdue era of enlightenment that eventually extended beyond baseball’s borders” (Castrovince). Baseball gave Robinson the opportunity and the freedom to become a more visible campaigner of civil rights and the fight against racial discrimination in all of its forms. All though Robinson endured the unjust treatment all African Americans faced during that time, Ricky Barnes, the general manager and president said he “selected Robinson because of his abilities and more importantly, his faith and demeanor” (Vooris). Robinson still had to deal with discrimination while he was playing, but through his actions and perseverance he became one of the driving forces in fighting for the rights, freedoms and economic uplifts of African Americans in the American economy. Robinson “…spoke out loudly for civil rights and challenged President John F. Kenney to stop dithering on black equality” (Levigston). Robinson was instrumental in effecting a change in President Kennedy’s stance on civil rights by constantly pressuring the president and criticizing him. He was also involved with starting numerous business in Harlem and other African American neighborhoods in the New York City area that promoted the concepts of self help and personal responsibility ( ). “Robinson had an impact on the world of baseball, sport and American like no athlete before and since” (Vooris). Robinson’s breakthrough in our culture is still being
An important athlete who became a prominent figure to the African Americans was Jackie Robinson. Robinson became the first African American athlete to play major league baseball, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15th, 1947. He broke the color barrier in the sport of baseball and became a symbol of hope and change to African Americans long before Martin Luther King or Malcom X. Robinson “ushered in a long-overdue era of enlightenment that eventually extended beyond baseball’s borders” (Castrovince). Baseball gave Robinson the opportunity and the freedom to become a more visible campaigner of civil rights and the fight against racial discrimination in all of its forms. All though Robinson endured the unjust treatment all African Americans faced during that time, Ricky Barnes, the general manager and president said he “selected Robinson because of his abilities and more importantly, his faith and demeanor” (Vooris). Robinson still had to deal with discrimination while he was playing, but through his actions and perseverance he became one of the driving forces in fighting for the rights, freedoms and economic uplifts of African Americans in the American economy. Robinson “…spoke out loudly for civil rights and challenged President John F. Kenney to stop dithering on black equality” (Levigston). Robinson was instrumental in effecting a change in President Kennedy’s stance on civil rights by constantly pressuring the president and criticizing him. He was also involved with starting numerous business in Harlem and other African American neighborhoods in the New York City area that promoted the concepts of self help and personal responsibility ( ). “Robinson had an impact on the world of baseball, sport and American like no athlete before and since” (Vooris). Robinson’s breakthrough in our culture is still being