Baseball is a quintessential part of American culture. For generations, families have come together to watch their favorite players battle it out on the iconic grass diamond. Yes, baseball is entertaining, but it can also be a cultural influence as well. Jackie Robinson was the first black baseball player in the Major League, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers for nearly a decade. He had a significant impact on the Civil Rights Movement by showing that black and white athletes were equal and by fighting racism in the world of baseball. Jackie Robinson was an exceptional baseball player, showing the world that achievement doesn’t come with a skin color. The video “Jackie Robinson - Mini Bio” told that he received Rookie of the Year in 1947, which is telling of Robinson’s raw talent for baseball. Only two years later, he was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player, an
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There was a separate Negro League that black players had to be on. In fact, “Jackie Robinson became the first Major League baseball player to break the color barrier since 1880” (McBirney). Sadly, but not surprisingly, Robinson was victim to horrible treatment by spectators. Not only were racist insults yelled at him, things like “trash, tomatoes, rocks, watermelon slices, and Sambo dolls” (Simon) were thrown from the stands. Fellow players attacked Robinson just because he was black. In one instance, he suffered “a 7-inch gash in his leg from an opponent who spiked him with his cleats” (McBirney). Robinson’s life was even threatened, for he regularly received “an assortment of explicit and persuasive death threats” (Simon) in the mail. But through all of this, Jackie Robinson never fought back. He maintained his dignity and instead chose to focus on the game. Jackie Robinson’s non-response to racism was powerful. His self-sacrifice showed a stubborn strength to the racism that tried to tear him
There was a separate Negro League that black players had to be on. In fact, “Jackie Robinson became the first Major League baseball player to break the color barrier since 1880” (McBirney). Sadly, but not surprisingly, Robinson was victim to horrible treatment by spectators. Not only were racist insults yelled at him, things like “trash, tomatoes, rocks, watermelon slices, and Sambo dolls” (Simon) were thrown from the stands. Fellow players attacked Robinson just because he was black. In one instance, he suffered “a 7-inch gash in his leg from an opponent who spiked him with his cleats” (McBirney). Robinson’s life was even threatened, for he regularly received “an assortment of explicit and persuasive death threats” (Simon) in the mail. But through all of this, Jackie Robinson never fought back. He maintained his dignity and instead chose to focus on the game. Jackie Robinson’s non-response to racism was powerful. His self-sacrifice showed a stubborn strength to the racism that tried to tear him