How Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947 went
African American baseball player, by the name of Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947.
This day in MLB history marked a pivotal moment in the segregation of the MLB and would change the MLB forever. This wasn’t any ordinary task and Jackie Robinson seemed to be the guy for the job. According to “Is Racism Alive and Well in Major League Baseball” it says, “Rickey made Jackie swear that he would not react to the expected criticism and hate. He wanted a player who could win over the hate with his professionalism and talent. Jackie Robinson was his man.”
Jackie Robinson’s bravery would also lead to more opportunities for Black essentially making the MLB what it is today. In the text, “Interest Convergence Principle and the Integration of Major League Baseball” it says, “It could be argued there are positive aspects of MLB’s integration, the most apparent being that the perviously accepted racialized rules of MLB were discontinued, affording Black players the opportunity to play MLB.”
The pressure that Robinson endured during this time was higher than ever before. Many people such as fans, and other teams were against this move by Branch Rickey, the General Manager of the Dodgers.Even Jackie Robinson’s own teammates didn't agree with him integrating the MLB.
In the process of this all Jackie Robinson would endure many racist obscenities and threats towards him and his family for most of his career. Jackie Robinson did not let this affect him as a player though. He would go on to win Rookie of the year his first year. He would also become the first Black player to win the NL MVP award in 1949 and later on be inducted into the MLB hall of fame.
After all, Jackie Robinson made a huge impact on the integration of the MLB. He paved the way for Blacks and is what shapes the MLB. Without Jackie Robinson none of this would be possible. That is why he is honored the way he is around the world and in the MLB today.
For additional information on Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier In the MLB, click this link.https://www.loc.gov/collections/jackie-robinson-baseball/articles-and-essays/baseball-the-color-line-and-jackie-robinson/1940-to-1946/
Bibliography
Zoran, Mike. “Is Racism Alive and Well in Major League Baseball?” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 2 Oct. 2017, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/27373-is-racism-alive-and-well-in-major-league-baseball.
DeLorme, Joshua, and John N. Singer. “The Interest Convergence Principle and the Integration of Major League Baseball.” Journal of Black Studies, vol. 41, no. 2, 2010, pp. 367–84. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25780782. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.
