Jackie Robinson: Revolutionizing America's Pastime

When you look at professional baseball, you see players of all race and religion. You might also think about the history of America and think how it wasn’t always that way. Now, all people are created equally, under a new America that doesn’t have segregation. Many people are responsible for this, but who is responsible for baseball? Who brought America’s Pastime to a whole new level? That man is Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson.

Jackie Robinson was the first black baseball player to ever make it to the MLB. Jackie had been doubted by multiple teams, featuring the Red Sox and the White Sox, presumably because his skin color. But one general manager, Branch Rickey, had seen past his skin color and saw the real Jackie Robinson. The team got lots

of criticism and hatred for signed this man, but Jackie prevailed, and became a star.
Jackie Robinson could not stand how people were treating blacks. He thought that segregation was bad and he wanted equally for all. Many people did not agree. Many people got angry at him, and pitchers started hitting Robinson in the head (Remember: this is before helmets). He didn’t let this hatred get in the way, and became a NL MVP, as well as a champion.
After Jackie Robinson retired, he became a civil rights activist. He was a board member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, better known as the NAACP. He was a big part of their “Fight for Freedom”campaign, which is aimed at abolishing slavery and having equality. Jackie hosted an event in Chicago and raised $20,000, which in today's money is about $175,000.
Jackie Robinson sent a letter to President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958, asking for social justice in public school systems.

Jackie Robinson also helped create and fund the African American Students Foundation. It was a program focused on bringing very well educated scholars to America. One of the scholars were Barack Obama Sr. Without Jackie Robinson, Barack Obama may of never been our president.

Jackie Robinson did one last thing before he died. He created the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which was made to create educational and leadership programs for underserved kids and teens. This program is still in progress today, and is a quite big success.

Jackie Robinson did not stay long after the foundation was founded, as he died on October 24, 1972. Nobody has forgotten the huge impact Jackie has had on America though, from helping Martin Luther King Jr, to breaking the color barrier in baseball. Baseball would not let him be forgotten though.

All 30 teams in the MLB retired his number, 42. Now the commissioner has instituted the new Jackie Robinson Day to honor this great man. He decided that on every April 15, every single player or coach wears number 42 to honor his first ever game in the major leagues. They also just opened the new Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City. Baseball will never forget Jackie Robinson, and neither will

America.