The Importance of Jackie Robinson
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What Jackie Robinson did for America can not be praised enough in history. Jackie, a common man impacted America so greatly that it changed the United States forever. Without him we might still be a segregated nation. The colors black and white would still be a factor in some people's future. I will show some of the factors Jackie Robinson impacted so you will know how important he really was in shaping America. Jackie was someone that creates change, and not just small change, I am talking about the change that alters the world. He had a mindset that life is only as important as the impact you make on others, and with that mindset he changed everything. I think by putting Jackie into the website will shed some light on what Jackie did for the 1960's and even after that. He altered our society, motivated the Civil Rights movement, and changed the way politics are handled forever.
This photo essay will show the different ways Jackie changed the 1960's, from the ways society changed because of what he did. The way he began the Civil Rights movement when he stepped onto the major league baseball scene for the first time. Jackie laid the foundation for the saying "if you put your head to it, you can do anything." He held true to that and just stuck to his plan of reaching his goals by playing in the major league, and breaking the color barrier in sports. This also shows what impact he made in the political world in the 1960's and those changes impacted today's politics. A man that influenced so much is someone that could be and is the defying factor in a decade. The 1960's were altered and influenced by Jackie Robinson but he ultimately changed the entire way the world works.
Society
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Before Jackie broke into the scene segregation was at an all time high. Blacks and whites could not stand one another, and Jackie broke this barrier by playing baseball.
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Jackie made it okay for African Americans to be friends with and even play baseball with whites. This carried over to other teams throughout the league a little later on.
Civil Rights Movement
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Jackie Robinson started the entire Civil Rights Movement when he stepped on the baseball field. The world was against him, but if he succeeded then he would break the barrier of black and white.
(Left: Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson)
(Left: Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson)
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Jackie always supported any march that was for the betterment of the society and for the black community. He never condoned violent marches or any violence for that matter.
Politics
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Jackie was very involved with politics after his baseball career ended. Politics were forever changed after Jackie left the game of baseball.
(Right Robinson and President Nixon)
(Right Robinson and President Nixon)
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This is a letter Jackie Robinson wrote to the President about how the laws he implemented to protect the blacks so they weren't harassed by whites. The laws weren't sufficient and Jackie let him know by writing letters like these all the time to the President.
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Left; Mrs. Jackson (Jackie Robinson's wife) met President Obama at a ceremony honoring Jackie Robinson's accomplishments.
This is a short video clip I made just to highlight some of Jackie's trials and tribulations that he went through while playing baseball.
The Movie "42"
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In April 2013, a movie was released in theatre's called 42. It was about Jackie Robinson's fight to break the color barrier. Jackie would have never imagined someone as humble as he was would have a movie made about his heroic effort to change the world.
http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/brian-helgelands-jackie-robinson-film-42-gets-a-slick-first-poster/
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/4/15/4225534/jackie-robinson-richard-nixon-42-movie-civil-rights
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130416/A_LIFE1201/304160310
http://www.solipsis.com/jackierobinson/civil_rights.html
http://michigancitizen.com/jackie-robinsons-wife-meets-obama/
http://www.umw.edu/greatlives/2012/02/03/jackie-robinson/
http://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2011/09/14/vintage-photos-stealing-home/
http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/brian-helgelands-jackie-robinson-film-42-gets-a-slick-first-poster/
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/4/15/4225534/jackie-robinson-richard-nixon-42-movie-civil-rights
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130416/A_LIFE1201/304160310
http://www.solipsis.com/jackierobinson/civil_rights.html
http://michigancitizen.com/jackie-robinsons-wife-meets-obama/
http://www.umw.edu/greatlives/2012/02/03/jackie-robinson/
http://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2011/09/14/vintage-photos-stealing-home/