Courageous people like Jackie Robinson is the reason why America is so great today. During a time of segregation, African-American baseball star Jackie Robinson defied all odds to be the first ever black major leaguer. His courage and perseverance greatly influenced the Civil Rights Movement, and it is safe to say without him America could be a different place today. Throughout the 9 documents provided by the National Archives, the struggle of the Civil Rights movement is shown more clearly. The first four documents showed Robinson's efforts to make the leaders of America more aware of the discrimination African-Americans face daily. In the letter to President Eisenhower, Robinson acknowledges that the government has finally decided to act upon the situation. However, Robinson states, the Government is not doing near enough to enforce an actual change in the hearts of Americans. As stated in the letter, "17 million Negroes cannot do what you suggest and wait for the hearts of men to change. We want to enjoy now the rights that we feel we are entitled to …show more content…
For instance, the purpose of the telegram Robinson sent to President Kennedy on June 15, 1963 was to help shine light on the recent tragedy in Birmingham, AL where "firehoses, billy-clubs, and attack dogs were pitted against unarmed demonstrators." A few years down the road on March 9, 1965, Robinson sent another telegram to President Johnson to tell him to "take immediate action in Alabama" where un armed protestors were beaten once again in Selma, AL. As upsetting as the tragic events in Selma and Birmingham were, they ended up doing more good then bad. As the world watched the tragic events in Selma and Birmingham unfold on the news, many people developed compassion for the suffering African-American People. These events fueled the Civil Rights Movement and for the first time, Jackie Robinson and many other Civil Rights Activist finally started to see
Civil rights leader and social activist Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a world renown correspondence, Letter From Birmingham Jail, in April of 1963, during a time when segregation was at it’s peak in the South. When King was making his mark in American history, the United States was experiencing great social unrest due to the injustice towards their colored citizens, which would lead to social rights rallies and unnecessary violence. In response to King’s peaceful protesting, the white community viewed “[his] nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist,” and subsequently imprisoned the pastor (para 27). King specifically wrote to the white clergymen who had earlier addressed a letter to him as to why he was apprehended, in which they argued that his actions were untimely and unconstitutional. In response, King emphasized that justice is never timely, and the refusal to acknowledge equal rights was inhumane and regressive.
Many people think of Jackie Robinson as a baseball player and that’s all. But to us African Americans he changed the way we thought. He made it seem as if African Americans actually had something to live up to. With all these obstacles standing in his way he still made it. Jackie was an outstanding man.
Jackie Robinson- 20th Century's Most Effective Citizen Have you ever wonder what it's like to go onto a huge field everyday and have people yell at you, saying that you don't belong here and to go home?Well Jackie Robinson has, that's why I think Jackie Robinson is most effective citizen. Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player to play in the major league. Jackie Robinson had a lot of hate in his life. People thought it was not okay for black skin people to play with white skin people. Jackie knew this was wrong.
Letter from Birmingham Jail The Letter from Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is important to understanding American history because it explains that even if blacks followed the laws provided for by the Constitution, they still were not treated as equals to whites. At the time, Dr. King was President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights group.
This letter displayed distinctive ability to influence the public’s opinion by incorporating ideas from the Bible, Constitution, and other texts. During the month of May, televised pictures of police officers misusing police dogs, using fire hoses against young, peaceful demonstrators commenced a national outcry against white segregationists in Birmingham. With the brutality from Birmingham officials, and the refusal of Alabama’s governor, George C. Wallace, to allow the admittance of black students at the University of Alabama invoked President Kennedy to introduce Civil Rights legislation. MLK used many references in his speech on August 28, 1963 to God much like his letter did, with his closing he said “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream… that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”.
The civil rights movement was a very historical time. Jackie Robinson made an impact in America sports that will never be forgotten. Jackie Robinson is important during this time because he inspired a generation of African Americans to question the doctrine and helped pave a way for the civil rights movement, made history in 1947 when he broke baseball’s color barrier to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and is a chronological order argument. First, Jackie helped pave a way for the civil rights movement. Inspired a generation of African Americans to question the doctrine.”
An icon is a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something. This man was not only an Icon in baseball, but a civil rights leader, a father of three, and a role model for all young adults. Jackie Robinson was a small town boy who had big-time dreams. He was from a small city in Georgia and always had outstanding athletic abilities. Not only was Jackie a baseball player, but he also played a major role in breaking the color barrier.
Jackie has been an inspiration to all blacks around the world, for his determination even when times were tough, always standing up for his rights. As said in a past article, “Jackie had a huge part to play in how Americans thought about racial integration.” (Novak) He made Americans realize that African Americans could play with whites in the big leagues and be able to deal with the controversy that comes with it. Some may think otherwise, but Jackie Robinson is a role model for millions of people around the
Jackie Robinson fought to end segregation, and the rights for all people through many different ways. The most recognized and probably the biggest thing he did was transform all sports through being the first African American to play professional baseball. This did not only stop discrimination in baseball but this helped stop discrimination in all sports together. After his impact on baseball he wasn't done there, he join the National Association for the advancement of colored people. He became the chairman for the freedom fund and later raised over a million dollars.
As Jackie Robinson once said “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”. There is no doubt that Jackie Robinson has been one of most impactful baseball players to ever play the sport. For reasons such as pushing himself to reach his goals, facing many hardships, and being the first African American to play in the MLB, he has shown perseverance and been a role model to everyone. The first reason how Jackie Robinson has impacted society is how he worked hard to reach his goals.
One person who achieved greatness in their lives was Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first African American to play in the MLB. This was one of the greatest things that happened in sports people say, except the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in 2016. If Jackie Robinson did not take a hack at this great achievement, who would have.
According to Jesse Jackson, "When [he] took the field, something within us reminded us of our birthright to be free. And somebody without reminded us that it could be attained. There was strength and pride and power when the big rock hit the water, and concentric circles came forth and ripples of new possibility spread throughout the nation” (qtd. in “Jackie Robinson,” Notable). Jackie Robinson, a man among legends, spread hope and inspired the nation for change that had not been considered before him.
Jackie Robinson not only made impacts on the field that were monumental, but he made impacts off the field that were equally as important. Jackie helped presidents get elected, get kids off the streets and into the most prestigious schools there is, and most importantly he broke the black color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson is one of the most influential people to ever live, he did things that people would dream about, he stood up for what he believed. To begin, Jackie’s biggest accomplishment was breaking the black color barrier on baseball, “ Jackie Robinson broke through the color barrier that kept blacks out of the Major League Baseball [MLB].
IN the horrid times of the Jim Crow Law one man made an impact to help stop racial tension, and that man is Jackie Robinson. One boldly stated example to show how Jackie robinson help stop JimCrow is, “The nation was divided at first. Many whites and nearly all blacks applauded the move and said it was long overdue. But a large number of whites, including many major league baseball players, objected to his presence.” This example boldly presented how Jackie was able to try and overrule the jim crow law and help overcome segregation, another example to prove how Jackie Robinson helped end segregation and end the Jim Crow Laws is, “Robinson 's action had repercussions far beyond the sports world.
“Letter from Jail” On April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to the eight clergymen while he was incarcerated. Dr. King wrote this letter to address one of the biggest issues in Birmingham, Alabama and other areas within the United States. The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” discussed the great injustices that were happening during that time towards the black community. Dr. King wanted everyone to have the same equal rights as the white community, he also went into further details about the struggles that African Americans were going through for so many years, which he felt like it could change. Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, expressed his beliefs and his actions about the Human Rights Movement.