Imagine you are an african-american in the 1950’s and you love the game of baseball. You grow up wanting to play in the big leagues one day and to be a star. At school the kids make fun of you because there is not one african-american in the MLB (Major League Baseball). You tell them that you will be the first, but they just laugh at you. You get offers to colleges but you have to choose one that has a history of being open to african-american athletes because there is a chance that you might not even play. You choose your college and you have a good time there because you and the coach get along and you are a star player. After college, the white guys get the chance to go play in the MLB, but you have to go to a seperate league because you are an african-american. After a couple years there, you get asked to play in the MLB. You get there and you are excited until you get out on the field. Once you are on the field you start getting the hate, “Get off the field n*****!” and “We don’t want you here.” That is something that Jackie Robinson had to go through in order to change the game of baseball as we know it. Jackie Robinson was the gateway to african-american athletes in baseball and all other sports.

Jackie playing in the MLB (Major League Baseball) wasn’t easy but he did it so that other african-americans had the chance to play sports too. In the movie “42” they take you to Brooklyn where Branch Rickey(Brooklyn Dodgers Owner) was looking for an african-american to bring into the big leagues. He stumbled upon Jackie and decided to have someone go get him and bring him into his office. Jackie got there and he sat down. Branch told him “Jackie I want you to play for our team but you cannot fight back.” Jackie then said, “You want a player who doesn’t have to the guts to fight back?” Branch said, “No, of course not. I want a player who has the guts not to fight back.”(9:06)This was a big part in showing the MLB and the world that african-americans could play sports and not start a fight and ruin the games. Some people may argue that the only reason that Branch Rickey brought Jackie in was to sell tickets and for his own benefit. But, Branch Rickey got death threats and got treated terribly just because he was friends with Jackie and because Jackie was in his organization. So the reason was to change the world not to help himself out. Another thing Jackie faced was playing the Philadelphia Phillies and the Phillies manager Ben Chapman was screaming racist slurs to Jackie during the game calling him a “N*****” and making fun of his skin color (1:13:11). This played a big part in showing the world that african-americans could handle the smack and hold the anger inside. This helped there be more african-americans in sports the next season. Also in the movie it says that Jackie led his team to winning six pennants(Credits). This showed the world that african-american could become sports stars too. In conclusion, Jackie Robinson withstanded the racism and was a stepping stone for young african-american athletes.

Jackie Robinson ended up being a huge role model for all of the young african-american athletes in the world. In the book “42 is Not Just a Number” Doreen Rappaport states, “Baseball, basketball, football, tennis, track and field - no matter the game or competition, Jackie Robinson hit it out of the park(Back of book). This evidence shows how Jackie helped all of the young african-american athletes realize that their dreams could come true. Another thing is Jackie Robinson chose the University of California, Los Angeles because they were known for welcoming black athletes in the years before(P.21). Here Jackie made history and let other young black athletes know they could go to college too. Lastly, on July 23, 1962 Jackie became the first african-american ever to get inducted into the hall of fame(P.92). This happening to Jackie gave all the other african-american hope to be an athlete if they wanted.

Jackie Robinson fought through adversity and had some help from a few of his teammates to be a gateway for african-american athletes. In the book, “Jackie and Me” by Dan Gutman he writes,”I can’t believe I gotta work with a n*****.”(P.47) “Hey, I ain’t playing with no n*****.”(P.72) “We have already got rid of several like you, one was found in a river just recently.”(P.84) All of these are things that Jackie fought through in his first year, so that he could pave the way for african-american athletes. Also, Jackie hit a double after Dixie Walker hit one in the world series to show the world that african-american athletes can do the same things that the white athletes can. Lastly, “Before play began in the bottom of the ninth inning in the game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Pee Wee Reese left his position at shortstop and ran over to first base, where Jackie Robinson was being verbally taunted by the opposing team. Reese put his arm around Robinson and chatted with him briefly. Joe speculates that the crowd is unaccustomed to seeing a white man treat a black man like a friend”(P.94). This right here shows how some of Jacks teammates played a part in helping african-american athletes.

In conclusion, Jackie Robinson was a great baseball player but also a great person. He is a huge reason why there are african-american in sports and some jobs today. Jackie Robinson was the gateway to african-americans athletes in the big leagues.

Works Cited

42. Dir. Brian Helgeland. Warner Brothers Studios, 2013. Film.

Gutman, Dan. Jackie and Me. Harpercollins, New York City,

February 2, 2000.

Rappaport, Doreen. 42 is Not Just a Number. Candlewick .

September 5, 2017.