Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers in Baseball

In 1947, Jackie Robinson secured a place in American history. A trailblazer, he crossed the color barrier, playing Major League Baseball for the all-white Brooklyn Dodgers. As a Black man in the Jim Crow era, he faced insults and discrimination. His tremendous talent was only surpassed by his resilience and compassion. In addition to being named Rookie of the Year, MVP, and ultimately inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Robinson was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He became an American icon, fighting for change and racial equality.

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, on January 31, 1919. Despite his later successes, Jackie Robinson came from humble beginnings. He was just two generations removed from slavery; his grandfather had been enslaved in the South. Robinson’s father worked as a sharecropper on a plantation, but, unhappy with his job, he abandoned his wife and five children. He never returned, and Robinson retained resentment throughout his life.

When he was a small child, Robinson’s single mother moved the family to Pasadena, California, but their situation was largely unchanged. They often didn’t have more than one or two meals a day and were forced to rely on welfare. Young Robinson got caught up running with a pack of boys who called themselves the Pepper Street Gang until a church minister redirected his life.

Always competitive, Robinson enjoyed basketball, baseball, football, tennis, golf, and track and field. In high school, he lettered in four sports. Among his peers, he earned a reputation for his athleticism. Playing sports with neighbors and his brothers fostered a competitiveness that grew over time.

Family was everything to Robinson. He grew up in a loving and supportive household. He admired his older brother Mack Robinson, who had won silver in the 200-m dash in the 1936 Olympics. Another brother, Frank, was a constant source of support for Jackie when he was growing up. Frank’s tragic death in a car accident when Jackie was only nineteen years old affected him deeply.

Robinson had immense love and respect for his mother, Mallie, an enormous influence on his life. She taught him the importance of hard work and determination. Mallie worked hard at her washing and ironing job and was determined that her children would get a college education. Not only did she set an example for her children, she taught them lessons that would carry over into adulthood.

When Robinson’s white neighbors called the police on the Robinson children or signed petitions to force them to move, Mallie did not back down. She modeled incredible strength and courage in the face of racism. She encouraged Robinson to hold himself with pride and never to yield. Simultaneously, Mallie insisted that Robinson not antagonize anyone and that he always treated others with kindness. She was religious and taught her children to follow the Golden Rule.

Mallie’s determination to teach Robinson the importance of faith, hard work, and kindness molded Jackie into an exceptional man. Robinson admired his mother tremendously. He successfully applied her lessons throughout his life, and the two remained close until she passed away.

Robinson as a College Athlete

High school had provided Robinson with an outlet to showcase his talent. He proved successful in every sport he played. This opened doors for Robinson to become a student-athlete in college. Choosing to attend Pasadena Junior College, Robinson continued to demonstrate remarkable athletic ability as the football quarterback, in baseball, and in track and field. Playing shortstop, he helped Pasadena win the championship and set a new long-jumping record in track and field. Colleges took notice, and he was offered a scholarship to the University of California at Los Angeles, where he enrolled in 1939.

At UCLA, Robinson became the first student-athlete to play four sports: basketball, baseball, football, and track. Ironically, Robinson considered basketball his best sport and baseball his weakest. Despite his successful college sports career, when his eligibility expired, he dropped out of college to work. At the time, he aspired to be an athletic director for youth sports.

The onset of World War II changed the course of Robinson’s life. Robinson was drafted when he was twenty-one years old. After basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, Robinson trained to become an officer in the Officer Candidate School. Due to discrimination, his application to be an officer was initially rejected, despite passing his test and being qualified. With help from world heavyweight boxer Joe Louis, who was also in Fort Riley and had clout, Robinson was finally commissioned as a second lieutenant.

However, racism within the military would rear its head again. As a second lieutenant, Robinson was involved in a situation that resulted in his arrest and court-martialing, propelling his activism in Civil Rights. While stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, Robinson encountered blatant racial discrimination on a bus ride. The driver asked Robinson to move to the back of the bus; he refused. During the trial, nine officers found him not guilty of the preposterous charges of insubordination, disturbing the peace, drunkenness, and conduct unbecoming of an officer. Robinson was acquitted of the charges and honorably discharged in November 1944, having never been deployed overseas.

Integrating Major League Baseball

Robinson’s professional baseball career started in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs. Later, he would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball. The Brooklyn Dodger’s interest in Robinson extended beyond his baseball skills. Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey wanted a morally incorruptible and hard-working player who could practice self-discipline and restraint in the face of racism and discrimination. Robinson understood that his performance and professionalism were crucial to the success of Rickey’s “great experiment” and that he was a gatekeeper for other Black players. Unquestionably, he was the man for the job.

Robinson’s baseball career was remarkable. It was immediately evident that he was a rare talent truly deserving to be in the Major Leagues. He would spend nine years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, during which time he faced ongoing discrimination. On road trips, he had to sleep in segregated hotels, and he routinely tolerated racist jeering from crowds. The discrimination only hardened his resolve to succeed.

Robinson won the 1947 Rookie of the Year award with a .297 batting average, 125 runs scored, 12 home runs, 31 doubles, and 29 stolen bases. Robinson helped propel the Dodgers to the World Series that year. In 1949, Robinson won the Most Valuable Player award, topping the statistical charts and leading his team to the World Series again. Overall, the Dodgers made six trips to the championship during his tenure and with Robinson’s help, finally won the World Series Championship ring in 1955. In 1962, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

After he retired from baseball, it became Robinson’s mission in life to improve the well-being of Black people in America. He was active in the Civil Rights movement, and like Martin Luther King Jr., he believed in peaceful methods. Robinson used his platform to bring attention to racism and discrimination. He frequently wrote newspaper articles, spoke on radio and TV talk shows, and gave public speeches. He participated in marches, including the famous 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Robinson served on the NAACP National Board and diligently worked with the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the George Washington Carver Memorial Foundation.

Robinson also sought to help the community independently. He believed decent housing was the most essential necessity in the Black community. While he advocated for quality, integrated schools, he felt that having a good home would keep kids from getting involved with street life. He felt the best way to improve the troubled inner cities was to create housing and jobs.

He founded the Jackie Robinson Construction Corporation to build affordable housing while simultaneously creating construction jobs for Black laborers. He co-founded the Freedom National Bank of Harlem to assist Black people in getting home loans. Robinson’s business endeavors coincided with his activism and desire to improve racial equality. His contributions to the Civil Rights Movement were significant.

Jackie and Rachel Robinson: A Model Partnership 

Robinson’s wife was at the heart of his story. Their love and partnership weathered both career and personal highs and lows. Robinson and Rachel Isum, a dynamic team, first met in college. Robinson was immediately attracted to the shy nursing student. However, initially, his confident stance and athletic accolades led her to believe he was arrogant. Nonetheless, as their relationship grew, they found a connection based on respect, friendship, and a profound love for one another.

The two married on February 10, 1946 and went on to have three children: Jackie Jr., Sharon, and David. Robinson later professed that his wife was the most important person in his life. She not only proved to be supportive when they faced challenges, but they also shared a passion for reform. Rachel was active in the Civil Rights Movement as well. When Robinson died, she became president of the construction company and continued his dream of building affordable homes. Rachel also started the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which provides college scholarships in his memory. She never remarried.

Jackie Robinson is an American icon. He was a pioneer who boldly forged his path in Major League Baseball so others could follow. He demonstrated grace and composure when faced with discrimination. He was a civil rights leader who utilized his enormous platform to help others and a successful businessman determined to create brighter futures for others. In everything he did, he exemplified kindness, charity, and integrity.

Jackie Robinson died on October 24, 1972. After his passing, his wife accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal on his behalf. In 1997, Robinson’s MLB jersey number “42” was retired. Every year, though, on April 15, Robinson is honored throughout Major League Baseball. All MLB players and personnel wear the number “42” to commemorate and celebrate the life of Jackie Robinson.

History has recorded Robinson as breaking baseball’s color barrier and leading the fight for equal rights. Jackie Robinson’s story continues to serve as an inspiration to people around the world. His headstone reads, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”—a fitting epitaph for a man who made a tremendous impact (Find A Grave, n.d.) .

Further reading:

Robinson, J., & Duckett, A. (2003). I never had it made: An autobiography of Jackie Robinson. HarperCollins.