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Fans booed. Teammates rejected him. Death threats were sent.
These were just some of the forms of racial inequality that professional baseball player Jackie Robinson had to deal with throughout his baseball career and life.
Despite all the hate, he never let it bother him and continued to play baseball.
“His influence motivated me to pursue my passion for Taekwondo deeper,” said junior Saif Hasan.
Before playing professional baseball, Robinson served in the Army in 1942 before being discharged in 1945, according to The Sports Museum. He played for the Kansas City Monarchs in a segregated league for Black people. President of the Brooklyn Dodgers Branch Ricky, searched for a potential rookie when Robinson stood out to him. Robinson and Ricky eventually agreed on a contract that would allow Robinson to become a Dodger in 1947.
Even though Robinson made it to the professional world, there were still challenges that he had to endure. Due to segregation laws, he was forbidden to stay at the same hotel as his teammates. He was frequently kicked off of airplanes when he had to travel to other cities. He also dealt with hostility everywhere he went, according to the Bill of Rights Institute.
Robinson went on to accomplish great achievements in the MLB. He became the first MLB player to win Rookie of the Year, the first African American to win MVP and the first to appear in the Baseball Hall of Fame, according to the Sports Museum. He led the Dodgers to six world championships and one World Series victory, officially breaking the color barrier in the MLB.
Jackie Robinson ended 60 years of segregation in the MLB and inspired millions of African Americans to pursue passions in not only baseball, but their dreams.
