Jackie Robinson Research Paper

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“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” Those were the words of former professional baseball player Jackie Robinson and to say that he just lived up to those words would be a mere understatement of the impact his life had on others. If the measure of the importance of one's life is based on the impact it had on others, Jackie Robinson’s life would be in the top one percent of importance. Jackie Robinson was an African American baseball player in a time where African Americans were not yet allowed to play in the Major League Baseball (MLB). Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier and became the first African American to play in the MLB. During this process he faced lots of challenges and racial discrimination, …show more content…

As young children watched Jackie Robinson pursue his dream, it showed them that anything is possible. Jackie didn’t just impact children, but adults and generations to come. So much so that just 81 days after Jackie debuted in the MLB, another African American baseball player joined the MLB named Larry Doby. Jackie breaking baseball’s color barrier had an immediate impact on the sport. The teams now opened their eyes and began signing talent from all races. Jackie had such an impact on the sport that the MLB honors him with his annual day of celebration. Jackie Robinson Day takes place on April 15th of each year and is celebrated league wide. All players wear Jackie Robinson’s iconic jersey number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day. Jackie Robinson’s impact is still felt and celebrated around the world to this day. After his time in baseball, Jackie became a lead figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Jackie was a board member of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is a civil rights organization that fought for equal rights. He also traveled the country leading civil rights campaigns. Jackie also criticized civil rights activist Malcolm X in an attempt to keep the peace in the country. Jackie Robinson not only had a massive impact on America’s pastime, but also on America