Breaking Barriers

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Jackie Robinson did not just play baseball, he changed the way people watch and play the wonderful sport of baseball. Jackie Robinson was an admiration to many as he was very brave and was a great ballplayer. Although Robinson was a great man and player, nothing came easy for Robinson. There was much to like about the admirable African-American ballplayer, although some people hated him. Jackie Robinson’s life starts out as a pretty low childhood and increases and becomes more enjoyable as he grows up through his later years. Jackie Robinson was truly an admirable person who people still look up to today because of what he had done not just for himself, but for other people.
Jackie Robinson had a tough childhood but tried to make the most of what little he had which is very admirable. Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was brought into this world on January 31, 1919. Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia (Mara 4). Robinson was son to mother, Mallie, and father, Jerry Robinson. Jerry worked for a very low wage and could hardly maintain a life for his family (Adler 1). Robinson’s father ran away when he was just four years of age (Frick 3). Robinson was the youngest of five children and his siblings were Matthew, Frank, Willa Mae, and Edgar. Their parents and grandparents were both slaves and sharecroppers (Adler 1). When Jackie was just four years old his family, except his father, moved to Pasadena, California where Mallie’s brother, Burton McGriff lived (Frick 4). The Robinson’s were the only black family on Pepper Street (Frick 6). His family was in search for a better life because they were being paid very little for the work they were doing (“Jackie” 2). The Robinsons dealt with many issues in Pasadena due to the fact that they were the...

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...influence for all people. Robinson went on to host a radio show, star in a movie about his life, spoke out bout the civil right and helped catapult the Civil Rights movement, and was the vice president at Chock Full-O-Nuts (Ford 26). Also, Robinson sought black empowerment (Kindred 94). Unfortunately, Robinson died of a heart attack and was only a young 53 years old (Mara 27). Thanks to Robinson, blacks can play in the MLB (Mara 29). Robinson’s number 42 is retired, which means that it cannot be worn by any other player (Ford 28). After his death, Robinson was given a few awards. He was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, and a congressional gold medal in 2005 (Ford 29). Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives” (Ford 26). Even after his baseball he was and still is a hero and a role model admired by many.

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