A Brief Biography Of Jackie Roosevelt Robinson

Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. His middle name was Roosevelt because Teddy Roosevelt had died 25 days before his birth. He had four siblings and was raised by a single mother, while being the youngest in the family. After his father left the family in 1920, they moved to Pasadena, California (Tygiel). He grew up in a poor family, so his mother had to work multiple jobs. He wasn’t able to participate in recreational activities because he was a minority. Robinson joined a gang at one point, however his friend, Carl Anderson made him leave.

Robinson went to Washington Junior High School, then continued onto John Muir High School or Muir Tech. He was inspired by Matthew and his other brothers to participate

Robinson knew that he would face racist comments while playing, so Rickey needed “a ballplayer with guts enough to not fight back” (Helgeland). In order for Jackie to not retaliate during his baseball career, he needed someone or something to look to for help. “Robinson was Christian and his Christian faith was at the very center of his decision to accept Branch Rickey’s invitation” (Metaxas). Robinson had to endure racial slurs from the crowds and his teammates, however he was able to overcome the adversity and succeed for 10 seasons of Major League

There have been many people who have fought against racism and discrimination, ranging from Rosa Parks, a factory worker, to Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister. One person who has been overlooked for his effect against racism is Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player.

Jackie Robinson is known for breaking the color barrier in baseball, however he should be credited for his effect on changing society’s view of African Americans. Robinson had always been a fighter against racism, and baseball only made him a more influential figure. Robinson did not try to start problems, but he tried to bypass the segregation system. For instance, Robinson would swim with his friends in a reservoir, because the pool was for whites only (Hallman). Robinson was intelligent and found ways to enjoy life, even though the society he lived in was not tolerant of his skin color. One of Robinson’s more serious accounts was when he was an Army officer, and was court-martialed for sitting in the white section of the bus. Jackie “knew his rights” and took the case to court “and his court-martial was overturned” (Hallman). Although this incident is not as famous as Rosa Parks, it demonstrates how Robinson was born a fighter for his rights. Robinson always wanted what was right, and even though these were private encounterments with the law, he stood up for himself