Celebrating Black History Month: Jackie Robinson, a change in era

Jackie Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.

Robinson was a African-American that lived in the era where there was segregation and racism throughout the world. Jackie Robinson was always mistreated and was told hateful comments about his skin color and how he wasn’t wanted. The opposing team’s pitcher would intentionally try to hit him to get him scared, and to give signals that he wasn’t wanted. They would make Robinson’s self esteem and confidence plummet because of the way he was mistreated. He was discriminated against because of the color of his skin.

He didn’t let that stop him. Robinson had a huge talent in the sport of baseball and he had an enormous amount of love for the game. He was never allowed to play in leagues with white people because of his skin color. He was really short tempered but he had his manager there to always calm him down. He ignored all the hateful comments he received and pushed through to keep playing the game he loves so much. He opened the eyes of the white people. He helped them realize that everyone should be treated equally and fairly because they are all humans and not just because of the color of their skin.

Robinson changed an era in far more ways than one. He made people realize that humans are humans no matter their color. He even inspired his teammates to stand up for him because they knew he couldn’t. If he were to resort to violence in one of those games, he would be arrested. He made them see that everyone should have an equal opportunity to do what they love and want. Everyone should be treated equally and not discriminated against. He changed this era by having determination and patience. Having these two skills helped him change the world for the better.

Jackie Robinson is honored to this day. It is shown that Major League Baseball honored Jackie Robinson by making his No. 42 the first uniform number to be retired across the sport. That said, players who were wearing No. 42 at the time could choose to continue wearing it until they retired. Nowadays, they can’t wear Number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. He helped shape a new era. An era without segregation and discrimination towards black people. Thanks to him, many blacks were able to play as well and become Hall Of Famers. Jackie Robinson opened many new opportunities for African-Americans all over the world.