jackie robinson & the civil rights movement, or, how would your life be different had it not...
TRANSCRIPT
Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson& the Civil Rights& the Civil RightsMovement, or, Movement, or,
How Would YOUR life be How Would YOUR life be different had it not been for different had it not been for
Jackie Robinson? Jackie Robinson?
Drew Kaufman Hill Campus of Arts and Science
Did Jackie Robinson Have More of an Did Jackie Robinson Have More of an Effect on Civil Rights as an Athlete Effect on Civil Rights as an Athlete
or as a Political Activist?or as a Political Activist?
Before Rosa Parks, Jackie refused to Before Rosa Parks, Jackie refused to go to the back of the busgo to the back of the bus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLnP3fWh1tE&noredirect=1v=KLnP3fWh1tE&noredirect=1
JackieJackie’’s Youths Youth
Born: January 31, 1919 Cairo Georgia
Jerry Robinson (Father) was making $12 a month as a sharecropper
Jerry Robinson asked his boss, Jim Sasser, for more money
Sasser allowed Jerry to work as a half-cropper.
•Half-cropping- receiving half the crops to sell in market
•Jackie’s father simply walked away from the family when Jackie was 6 months old, never to be heard from again
“Even before I went to high school and college I resolve not to take insults without retaliating. Growing up in Pasadena, I encountered many situations which I considered unjust. I remember going to the YMCA and being told that Negroes were allowed to use the facilities of the Y only on a certain day of the week…”
- Jackie Robinson
Pepper Street in the 20Pepper Street in the 20thth Cetury Cetury
There were restrictive rules that banned black people from Pepper Street.Mallie got a light skinned black man to act like he was buying their house at 121 Pepper Street.
White residents petitioned and threatened to burn the house down.
Though the threats were there for all blacks, the Robinson’s remained in Pasadena
Jackie was determined to do well in High Jackie was determined to do well in High SchoolSchool
Jackie was a four sport athletic star
FootballBasketballTrackBaseball
Jackie was able to combine Jackie was able to combine athletics and academics to get athletics and academics to get
into UCLAinto UCLA1939: enters UCLA on athletic scholarshipFirst student to earn 4 varsity letters in one year
National champion in long jumpHighest scorer in the pacific coast
conference in basketball All-American football running back
until his eligibility expiredPerformed better in track, basketball, and football than in baseball
After UCLAAfter UCLA
1941: Joined an intergraded semi-pro football league
He played a game at Pearl Harbor and left 2 days before the Japanese attacked
1942: Drafted to the Army
Stationed at fort Riley in Kansas
The Army was still segregated
1936 Olympic Games in Berlin1936 Olympic Games in Berlin
Older brother, Mack, went to the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin as part of the US track team
200-meter dash•Silver Medal
Hitler congratulated all the medalists, but when the black US athletes got up on the podium, Hitler left the stadium.
This made a strong statement Jackie was so proud of his brother
“Jackie dreamed that someday he too might use his athletic ability to accomplish something so wonderful and powerful.”
-Herb Dunn
As a Professional As a Professional AthleteAthlete
The Negro Leagues The Negro Leagues
Established on February 13, 1920 Kansas City, Missouri YMCA
President: Andrew Foster “Father of black baseball”
By 1923 there were two leagues NNL had teams in the South and Midwest ECL had teams on the East coast
1924: First Negro World Series 1945: Robinson released from the Army and joined the Negro Baseball league
Kansas City MonarchsKansas City Monarchs
Negro League Team in the NNLRobinson made $400 a monthJackie played 47 games (1 season):
163 at bats 5 home runs .387 batting
average 13 stolen bases
The Major LeaguesThe Major LeaguesBranch Rickey: President of the Brooklyn Dodgers
Wanted to bring the “ideal” black player into the MLB
August 28,1945: Jackie Robinson was interviewed by Branch RickeyJackie showed that he had the character along with his baseball talent
Rickey wanted a player who was strong enough not to fight back
October 23,1945: Signs with Montreal Royals, a Dodgers farm team
“I cannot face my God much longer knowing that his black creatures are held separate and distinct from his white creatures in the game that has given me all that I can call my own”
-Branch Rickey
Robinson is seen with Branch Rickey signing a contract with
the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team.
Breaking the Color BarrierBreaking the Color Barrier
April 1947: Major League debut as Dodgers first baseman wearing #42
Being Bigger Than LifeBeing Bigger Than Life
Received racial threats from white fans and players
Fans threw trash on him Opposing pitchers hit him purposely while
players spiked him with their cleats Teammates petitioned to get Jackie off the
Dodgers Players expected him to carry their bags and
shine their shoes
Robinson family received many death threatsHad to obey segregation laws
Rode in back of team bus Had to enter restaurants through black entrances
while rest of team went through the front
Threats Target RobinsonThreats Target Robinson
Spring Training with the DodgersSpring Training with the Dodgers
Spring 1947: Jackie goes to Cuba with the rest of the Brooklyn Dodgers
Several Dodger players signed a petition refusing to play
•This petition was quickly put down by Branch Rickey who threatened to fire all protesting players.
•Some players were let go from the Dodgers because of the petition
Becoming an Idol using Becoming an Idol using BASEBALL to change AmericaBASEBALL to change America
Jackie excelled for the Dodgers Never started any fights or said anything about all the abuse he receivedBlacks saw Jackie as a hero
Eventually, even whites began to see Jackie as a heroic figure
Became a symbol in American societyAllowed whites to see black players as equal
Respect from his TeammatesRespect from his Teammates
I started the season as a lonely man, often feeling like a black Don Quixote tilting at a lot of white windmills. I ended it feeling like a member of a solid team. -- Jackie Robinson
JackieJackie’’s Popularity Risess Popularity Rises
Life Magazine 1951
Gaining Respect from WhitesGaining Respect from Whites
Jackie Gains RespectJackie Gains Respect
Jackie Steals Home in World SeriesJackie Steals Home in World Series
Black ArtsBlack Arts
Jackie Robinson’s popularity and
success in Baseball started to
become a major influence in black
music, art, and the press!
Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That BallDid You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball ? ?((Words and music by Woodrow Buddy Johnson, June 1949)Words and music by Woodrow Buddy Johnson, June 1949)
Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?It went zoom in cross the left field wall.Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.And when he swung his bat,the crowd went wild,because he knocked that ball a solid mile.Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.Satchel Page [i.e., Paige] is mellow,So is Campanella,Newcombe and Doby, too.But it's a natural fact,when Jackie comes to bat,the other team is through.Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?Did he hit it boy, and that ain't all.He stole home.Yes, yes, Jackie's real gone
The Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame
1962: Inducted into Hall of FameInducted on first ballot
124 votes out of 160 ballots (77.5%)
New Hopes for Black PeopleNew Hopes for Black People
Jackie Robinsons success in the major leagues:
Proved that blacks could succeed in America
Democracy became more meaningful to blacks
Increased respect for blacks
As a Political As a Political ActivistActivist
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” -Jackie Robinson
“I could not be doing my work had you not done what you did.” -Dr. Martin Luther King
JackieJackie’’s Idolss Idols
Though Jackie had similar views and looked up to these two civil rights leaders, he did not agree with their actions. Jackie went about fighting civil rights differently
Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X
Standing up for Black RightsStanding up for Black Rights
July 1944: While in the army, Jackie refuses an order to ride in the back of the bus
Fort Hood, Texas•Robinson was court marshaled
NAACP, black press, and black population were furious
Robinson was found innocent, and was released from the army
President TrumanPresident TrumanJuly 26, 1948: President Truman desegregates the Army
Executive order 9981
4 years after Jackie’s protest
For the Good of the PeopleFor the Good of the People
Jackie Robinson Construction Company Built low income housing for the poor
and underprivileged
“Afternoon of Jazz” Annual Concerts in which first year
earnings went to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
•Supported Civil Rights work and voter registration in the South
Freedom National Bank Founded as well as worked as chairman
•It was a minority-owned bank in Harlem, N.Y.
Civil Rights in BaseballCivil Rights in Baseball
1972: Jackie Criticizes baseball for having no black manager
Two years later baseball has its first black manager
•1974: Frank Robinson with the Cleveland Indians
Letter to the White HouseLetter to the White House
August 1957: Letter to Presidential Assistant Fred Morrow
Letter to President EisenhowerLetter to President Eisenhower
1958: Letter to President Eisenhower1954: Supreme Court said that all states must integrate schools (Brown v. Board of Education)Eisenhower ordered federal troops to protect black students in Little Rock ArkansasJackie was elated with Eisenhower’s actions
But thought they were too late
Robinson’s letter said that he was thankful for their support and reminded them that all black citizens deserve full federal support for all civil rights under the constitution
Integrated Integrated SchoolingSchooling
Youth march for integrated schools
Included popular figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Bunche, A Phillip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Jackie
Marched down Constitutional avenue to the Lincoln memorial
Asked all people to sign a petition and asked for speedy integration of schools
PoliticsPolitics
I guess you'd call me an independent, since
I've never identified myself with one party or
another in politics. . . I always decide my
vote by taking as careful a look as I can at
the actual candidates and issues
themselves, no matter what the party label. -Jackie
Robinson
Nixon v. KennedyNixon v. Kennedy
1960 election: Robinson supported Nixon
over Kennedy In private meetings with Robinson:
•Nixon seemed friendly, charming, a
good leader, and a big supporter of
African American Civil rights
•Kennedy did not seem as supportive
and had trouble looking Robinson in the
eyes. Jackie wondered if this had to do
with a prejudice against him and other
blacks.
Letter to Letter to President President KennedyKennedy
1961Signified his growing trust in president KennedyRobinson stated that he is happy in the way Kennedy's administration is going thus far However Jackie wanted Kennedy and his administration to help at a quicker pace.
Letter to President Johnson : 1967Letter to President Johnson : 1967
Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders opposed the Vietnam warJackie wrote letter to let President Johnson know that he had the support of many black Americans regarding the war
Wanted Johnson to remember and support black Americans
To President Lyndon B. JohnsonTo President Lyndon B. Johnson
Robinson, as well as many other Americans, were angry about protestors that were being clubbed in Selma Alabama.
This resulted in several deaths and a lot of injuries
Robinsons letter urged him to stop this immediately
Letter to President NixonLetter to President Nixon’’s Assistant: s Assistant: 19721972
To Roland L. Elliot(Presidential Assistant)Expresses concern about blacks still not obtaining full rightsJackie warns Government to show more support towards blacks
Thinks blacks will become more aggressive and this could hurt America
JackieJackie’’s Legacys Legacy
The Jackie Robinson FoundationThe Jackie Robinson Foundation
Created in 1973 by Rachel RobinsonGives minority youth scholarships to attend college
Jackie Robinson Scholars
Each scholar is also given: $7,200 in financial supportMentorssummer internships and permanent jobs
266 Scholars attending 93 colleges across the United States
The Jackie Robinson AwardThe Jackie Robinson Award
Rookie of the Year Award1987: became known as The Jackie Robinson Award
6060thth Anniversary Anniversary
April 15, 2007Over 200 players wore #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson
Every member of the Dodgers wore #42
The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.
-- Jackie Robinson
To Be ConsideredTo Be Considered
Although Jackie Robinson was
more active and affective as a
political activist, would he
have been as successful if he
was not a superior athlete?
How?
The EndThe End