Michael Bradshaw
P.3 5/13/11
Color Barrier
Many years before the color barrier was broken the great Jackie Robinson was a working a low paid job and eventually worked his way up wanting to be a baseball player. The mother of Jackie was being threatened because of the skin color, also because of just being Jackie's mother because no one wanted him in the league till Jackie proved them wrong. Most of the time it was just because of the skin color but the players also thought black people could not play baseball period.
Jackie Robinson was a African-American, the man was discriminated by white men or anyone that was not the same race as him. This all began in 1942, it didn’t end till Mr. Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. This wasn’t a color barrier broken in the streets it was on the baseball field. Everyone started recognizing Jackie as if it was anyone else in the league because of what Jackie had done right when Mr. Robinson started playing from day one. Majestically Jackie put on a terrific show everyday there was a baseball game.
Nothing got in Jackie Robinson’s way to steal bases and also hit the ball anywhere the ball can go. Never lasting injuries could even get in Jackie Robinson’s way, you can not throw out one of the fastest men in the league. Till this day the record is held high for most stolen bases in baseball. Held by yours truly, Jackie Robinson. White athletes and white coaches never thought black men could ever play any sport because nobody thought they had it in them.
There are many factual things and also quotes that Jackie Robinson said, also did. One quote that was said was “Playing sports can be a good career because of the fame and the glory you can have from being the best player in the game.” The thing was Jackie was one of the best players in history but not the greatest. One of many hall of famers, entered the league at the age of twenty-eight. What made him so fantastic was the vision and speed, everything Jackie did people new he put everything into it.
No records could ever be set or broken like the way Jackie Robinson did. Many years after Mr. Robinson retired nothing came close to breaking all three records that he set for most hits, bases stolen, and also best on base percentage. Anyone can call it an inspiration, if Jackie wasn’t in the league nobody would learn off the experiences that Jackie had.
Research Page:
http://www.jackierobinson.com/about/facts.html
http://international.loc.gov/ammem/collections/robinson/
http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/history101.html
http://www.america.gov/st/peopleplace-english/2007/January/20080321170112liameruoy0.5196344.html
http://www.worldcat.org/title/jackie-robinson-a-biography/oclc/36528141