1) Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947 when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, facing immense racism but helping integrate the sport. 2) In addition to his success as an athlete, Robinson also advocated for civil rights as a political activist, supporting causes like the NAACP and marching with MLK Jr. for integrated schools. 3) Robinson received threats for his activism but continued supporting politicians he believed would advance racial equality, like President Kennedy. His legacy includes establishing a foundation that provides scholarships for minority students.

1. Jackie Robinson & the Civil Rights Movement Ryan L. & Jared B. Horace Greeley High School

2. Did Jackie Robinson Have More of an Effect on Civil Rights as an Athlete or as a Political Activist?

3. Jackie’s Youth Born: January 31, 1919 Cairo Georgia Jerry Robinson (Father) was making $12 a month as a sharecropper Jack Roosevelt Robinson was the fifth child in the Robinson family When he was born his parents had to find a way to make more money 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

4. Jerry Robinson Disappears When Jackie was 16 months old, his father said he was going to Memphis is search for a job Jerry Robinson never returned Mallie (Mother) moved the family to Pasadena Cal. where her brother in law, Uncle Burton, lived. Pepper Street

5. “ 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

6. Pepper Street 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

7. Pasadena Junior College 1937: Entered Pasadena Junior College Won league baseball championship Junior college football championship Set junior college broad jump record 25’ 6.5”

8. UCLA Jackie had trouble in school, but ended up going to UCLA He played football, baseball, track and field, and basketball. 1939: enters UCLA on athletic scholarship First student to earn 4 varsity letters in one year National champion in long jump Highest scorer in the pacific coast conference in basketball All-American football running back until his eligibility expired Performed better in track, basketball, and football than in baseball

9. 1936 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

10. As a Professional Athlete

11. Kansas City Monarchs Negro League Team in the NNL Robinson made $400 a month Jackie played 47 games (1 season): 163 at bats 5 home runs .387 batting average 13 stolen bases

12. The Major Leagues Branch 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 Rickey Jackie 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

13. Robinson is seen with Branch Rickey signing a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team.

14. Breaking the Color Barrier April 1947: Major League debut as Dodgers first baseman wearing #42

15. Being 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 threats Had 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

16. Threats Target Robinson

17. Becoming an Idol Jackie excelled for the Dodgers Never started any fights or said anything about all the abuse he received Blacks saw Jackie as a hero Eventually, even whites began to see Jackie as a heroic figure Became a symbol in American society

18. Respect 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

19. Jackie’s Popularity Rises Life Magazine 1951

20. Gaining Respect from Whites

21. Jackie Gains Respect

22. Jackie Steals Home in World Series

23. Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball ? ( 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

24. The Hall of Fame 1962: Inducted into Hall of Fame Inducted on first ballot 124 votes out of 160 ballots (77.5%)

25. As a Political Activist

26. “ A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” -Jackie Robinson Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson before a press conference in NYC

27. Jackie’s 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

28. Standing 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

29. President Truman July 26, 1948: President Truman desegregates the Army Executive order 9981 4 years after Jackie’s protest

30. For 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.

31. Letter to the White House August 1957: Letter to Presidential Assistant Fred Morrow

32. Letter to President Eisenhower

33. Integrated Schooling 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

34. Nixon 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.

35. Changing Opinion: Robinson and Kennedy Robinson no longer feared that Kennedy didn’t support black people and began believing that Kennedy was a good leader This was after the election of John F. Kennedy Robinson also began to believe that Kennedy was a better candidate than Nixon was Nixon refused to campaign in Harlem while Kennedy did When Henry Cabot Lodge (Nixon running-mate) claimed that there will be a black member in the Nixon cabinet, Nixon responded that Lodge was speaking for himself, not the both of them. Kennedy spoke publicly about his objection to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This helped assure Robinson that Kennedy was not a racist and would be a supporter of black civil rights

36. Letter to President Kennedy 1961 Signified his growing trust in president Kennedy Robinson 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.

37. To 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

38. Letter to President Nixon’s Assistant: 1972 To Roland L. Elliot (Presidential Assistant) Expresses concern about blacks still not obtaining full rights Jackie warns Government to show more support towards blacks Thinks blacks will become more aggressive and this could hurt America

39. Jackie’s Legacy

40. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Created in 1973 by Rachel Robinson Gives minority youth scholarships to attend college Jackie Robinson Scholars Each scholar is also given: $7,200 in financial support Mentors summer internships and permanent jobs 266 Scholars attending 93 colleges across the United States

41. Jackie Robinson Field Home of UCLA baseball 27 seasons since the field was made A private gift from Hoyt Pardee, an old classmate of Jackie Robinson UCLA ’41

42. The Jackie Robinson Award Rookie of the Year Award 1987: became known as The Jackie Robinson Award

43. 60 th Anniversary April 15, 2007 Over 200 players wore #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Every member of the Dodgers wore #42

44. To 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?

45. The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time. -- Jackie Robinson

46. The End