Jackie Robinson's Influence On The Civil Rights Movement

Breaking the Barrier Jackie Robinson once said that a life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives, by that definition, he lived an important life. According to those standards, Robinson lived one one of the most important lives of all time. Born in 1919 Jackie Robinson wasn’t expected to be anything more than the average black man but, went on to be a legend in multiple views. Robinson will be forever remembered not only for his ability on the baseball field but also his influence on the Civil Rights Movement.
Robinson’s name and number alike will never be forgotten in the world of baseball. “On the fiftieth anniversary of his debut, his number 42 was permanently retired by all major-league teams, although current

Jackie Robinson inspired many young African-Americans into believing they could be more than what their oppressors believed and be successful in a “white world”. “The courage and grace with which Robinson handled the abuses inspired a generation of African Americans to question the doctrine of “separate but equal” and helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement,” (Goldstein). Robinson changed the mindset of Civil Rights activists, all the sudden African-Americans had an idol competing and fighting through the same issues they were but on a national stage exposing the horrors and nastiness of racial extremism. Not only did he expose the level of racism in America but he led the way in solving it as professional athletes. “Robinson led other ballplayers in urging baseball to use its economic power to desegregate Southern towns, hotels and ballparks,”(Goldstein). In the 1950’s, baseball was a way of life in America, Robinson knew just that and used that power to exploit segregation and helped initiate desegregation in southern towns. Not only opening doors in baseball and the minds of African-Americans, he also sped up the integration of minorities in other sports as