Jackie Robinson & the Civil Rights Movement

1. Jackie Robinson& the Civil RightsMovement 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. Pepper Street Gang • Jackie began to dislike school and became known as a troublemaker • Joined Pepper Street Gang • Group of poor white and minority boys • Challenged wealthy white boys in sports for money • “I joined a gang. We didn’t go around mugging people or having deadly street fights or snatching pocketbooks, but we did get into a lot of mischief and trouble with the police” -- Jackie Robinson • School teacher influences Jackie to be a good kid and leave the gang • “Jack… you know in your own heart that you don’t belong in a gang…”

8. Muir Technical High School • Jackie always enjoyed playing little league in Cali. and was very good • Four sport athletic star • Football • Basketball • Track • Baseball

9. 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”

10. 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

11. After UCLA • 1941: Joined an intergraded semi-pro football league • Honolulu Bears • 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

12. 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

13. As a Professional Athlete

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

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

19. 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

20. Threats Target Robinson

21. Spring 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.

22. 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

23. 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

24. Jackie’s Popularity Rises Life Magazine 1951

25. Gaining Respect from Whites

26. Jackie Gains Respect

27. Jackie Steals Home in World Series

28. Black Arts Jackie Robinson’s popularity and success in Baseball started to become a major influence in black music, art, and the press!

29. 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

30. Career Statistics • Batting Average: .311 • Hits: 1518 • Homeruns: 137 • First Game: April 15, 1947 • Final Game: September 30, 1956 • 1947: National League rookie of the year • 1949: National League MVP • 6 time All-Star

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

32. New 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

33. As a Political Activist

34. “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

35. Jackie’s Idols Malcolm X Martin Luther King Jr. • 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

36. 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

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

38. 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.

39. Civil 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

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

41. Letter to President Eisenhower • 1958: Letter to President Eisenhower • 1954: 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 Arkansas • Jackie 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

42. 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

43. Politics 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

44. Robinson on the Campaign Trail • Nelson Rockefeller’s Presidential (Republican) Campaign • Robinson was a national director for Rockefeller’s campaign • When Rockefeller elected N.Y. governor, Robinson became special assistant for community affairs • Hubert Humphrey’s Presidential (Democratic) Campaign • Robinson helped campaign for Humphrey in presidential primary

45. 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.

46. 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 ofJohn 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

47. 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.

48. Letter to President Johnson : 1967 • Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders opposed the Vietnam war • Jackie 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

49. 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

50. 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