Why Is Jackie Robinson A Hero

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An American hero is not just a person that goes out and fights for our country. It is someone who makes a change and stands up for something that is not right. Many decades ago, we had many “American Hero’s” that fought and risked their lives day and night to change America. One of these American heroes’ is Jackie Robinson. Most of you all know that he fought for the equality of rights on the baseball field, but he did more than just that. Jackie Robinson, born Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children and was raised by his single-handedly mother Mallie Robinson in poverty. He went to John Muir High School and Pasadena Junior College, were he excelled in football, basketball, track, and baseball. Jackie Robinson won the regions Most Valuable Player in baseball in 1938. Jackie was inspired by his older brother Matthew Robinson to push for his goals, talents and love for sports. Jackie finished his education at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was the first student in the university to receive varsity letters in four sports. In 1941, Robinson had to leave UCLA because of financial problems just around graduation time. He ended up moving to Honolulu, Hawaii and played football for the Honolulu bears, but that didn’t last long because the United States entered World War II. Robinson served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army from 1942 to 1944, but was honorably discharged because; he refused to sit in the back of a segregated bus during boot camp in 1944. Robinson began playing baseball professionally after being discharged from the army. He started playing in the Negro Leagues, because at this time the sport was segregated and African Ame... ... middle of paper ... ...stounding career batting average of .311, he retired shortly after the trade to the Giants on January 5, 1957. After his retirement he continued working as an activist for social change, and worked in a business. He helped established the African-American-owned and-controlled Freedom Bank, and also worked as an executive for the Chock Full O’Nuts coffee company and restaurant chain. He worked on the board of the NAACP, and in 1967 was the first African –American to be drafted into the Hall of Fame. His number “42” was retired in 1972. On October 24, 1972 in Stamford Connecticut, Jackie Robinson died of heart problems and diabetes complications. After he passed away, his wife made the “Jackie Robinson Foundation” to help young people in need by giving them scholarships and mentoring programs, also to honor all the hard work and dedication he did in his lifetime.

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