In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier that not only changed baseball, but changed the culture and society of America itself. Jackie Robinson was not only a great baseball player, he was a great man who had enormous amounts of courage and pride. He took verbal beatings whenever he traveled with the Dodgers. Sometimes, the Dodgers were not able to stay at their usual hotels because they would not allow black people to stay in them. Jackie took the baseball diamond during a time when prejudice and racial segregation were common in America, and nobody thought much of it. Jackie expanded the fanbase of the Brooklyn Dodgers, since most blacks looked to Robinson for courage, and they saw Jackie as a hero. At first, most people were against having a black player in the Major Leagues. Some players on the Dodgers requested trades, and some refused to take the field with Jackie. One brave player, Pee Wee Reese, embraced Jackie as a friend and a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
It might seen that Jackie Robinson just affected life around the game of baseball, but in reality, he changed the world. When Robinson came into baseball, America was just coming out of World War II. The Soviet Union, also known as USSR, Britain, France, and the United States of America had defeated Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. The Soviets were the leader of the Communist world, and the Europeans colonized most of the world. Those countries could not consider Americans the "leaders of the free world" because they oppressed their own kind. Jackie Robinson couldn't have come along at a better time. He brought people together through baseball, Fans of the Dodgers, both black and white, were raving about the success of the team and it unified the fan base.
Jackie Robinson was as revolutionary as a leader as the world has ever seen. Through sports, he changed the course of history and politics. Another event in history that he had a large part in was the integration in the army, which was put into affect in 1948 by President Truman. Jackie was ordered to sit in the back of a military bus. he refused, and was put on trial, but was later honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. Those leadership skills that Jackie showed on the field translated into his army service, and the armed forces were integrated, mainly due to his leadership and charisma.
It might seen that Jackie Robinson just affected life around the game of baseball, but in reality, he changed the world. When Robinson came into baseball, America was just coming out of World War II. The Soviet Union, also known as USSR, Britain, France, and the United States of America had defeated Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. The Soviets were the leader of the Communist world, and the Europeans colonized most of the world. Those countries could not consider Americans the "leaders of the free world" because they oppressed their own kind. Jackie Robinson couldn't have come along at a better time. He brought people together through baseball, Fans of the Dodgers, both black and white, were raving about the success of the team and it unified the fan base.
Jackie Robinson was as revolutionary as a leader as the world has ever seen. Through sports, he changed the course of history and politics. Another event in history that he had a large part in was the integration in the army, which was put into affect in 1948 by President Truman. Jackie was ordered to sit in the back of a military bus. he refused, and was put on trial, but was later honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. Those leadership skills that Jackie showed on the field translated into his army service, and the armed forces were integrated, mainly due to his leadership and charisma.