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JACKIE ROBINSON | a Resource for Families & School Groups JACKIE ROBINSON | A Resource for Families & School Groups “A life is not important Barrier breaker. Freedom rider. Globe changer. except in the impact it You know the name, and his game. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE But did you know that Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson believed that “the right was a civil rights icon? Did you of every American to first-class citizenship know that he stood up against racism is the most important issue of our time.” He has on other lives.” lived his life—as an athlete, activist, patriot, and injustice of all kinds, that he entrepreneur, and family man—according worked to create social and economic to that firm belief. 100 years after Robinson’s birth, social injustice and —JACKIE ROBINSON opportunities for African Americans, inequality remain urgent issues. Highlighting and that he believed that all citizens major events in his life and the values by which he lived, along with those of his wife, should actively participate in our who shared and continued his work after American democracy? his death, this guide is meant to encourage open dialogue about historic and current events by using Robinson’s life and On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke through legacy as a starting point. a major barrier in American society when he became the first African American to play for a It is hoped that students, teachers, and major league baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. parents will explore this guide together, Since baseball was one of the most popular forms and use the questions at the end to discuss of entertainment in 1947, all of society watched what social justice, equal opportunity, and as Robinson’s heroism paved the way for other responsible citizenship mean, and should people of color to achieve new heights. mean, to you. Throughout his life, even before his baseball career, We hope you will visit the Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson stood up for social justice and Museum in New York City and online, where fair treatment for all. He was married in 1946 and, you can experience exhibits, artifacts and though he and his beloved wife Rachel continued interactive activities. No matter your age, to face racism at every turn, his activism and the you will engage in a thrilling first-hand look example they set led to positive change that still into the life and lessons of Jackie Robinson, impacts and inspires us today. an American hero. 1 JACKIE ROBINSON | A RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES & SCHOOL GROUPS SPRING 1936 Star high school athlete FEB 1, 1937 At John Muir Technical High School, Jackie Robinson earns Pasadena a place on the annual Pomona JAN 31, 1919 Tournament All-Star baseball Junior team; wins the Southland Class College Jackie A long-jump title with a 23’, 1” leap; and captures the junior Jackie Robinson Robinson boys’ singles championship in enrolls in Pasadena is born the annual Pacific Coast Negro Junior College, where Tennis Tournament. he continues to be a Jack Roosevelt star athlete. Robinson is born to Jerry and FEB 15, 1939 Mallie Robinson in Cairo, Georgia. Enrolling at UCLA While at UCLA, Jackie Robinson excels and letters in football, basketball, track, and JUN 1, 1920 baseball, still the only JAN, 1938 athlete in UCLA’s Move to JUL 19, 1922 history to have lettered Reverend in four sports. He leaves Pasadena, Rachel Isum Karl Downs school in his senior year California to get a job as Assistant is born Reverend Downs, an Athletic Director at After a journey activist preacher, moves Jackie’s future wife, the National Youth that began on to Pasadena where Administration, and May 21, 1920, Rachel, is born to he meets Robinson Charles and Zelle Isum helps his mother Mallie Robinson and mentors him support the family. and her five children, in Los Angeles, California. during adolescence, including one-year- becoming a key figure old Jackie, arrive in Robinson’s life. in Pasadena. 3 JACKIE ROBINSON | A RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES & SCHOOL GROUPS AUG 2, 1944 OCT 23, 1945 Jackie is The Montreal SEP 1, 1940 arrested, Royals Jackie Branch Rickey, the president and later and general manager of the Robinson acquitted Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, signs Jackie Robinson Arrested by military & Rachel to play with the Royals, the police at Fort Hood, Brooklyn Dodgers’ farm Isum meet Texas, for sitting in the team. Rickey learned about The two are introduced front of an Army bus Robinson’s ability from base- by Ray Bartlett on the next to a fair-skinned ball scouts and from Wendell UCLA campus, when black woman who was Smith, an African-American Jackie is a senior and thought to be white, sports reporter for the Rachel is a freshman. Jackie Robinson Pittsburgh Courier. defended himself against the court martial and was found not guilty of all charges. He was honorably discharged in 1944 A farm team is a minor-league APR 3, 1942 after an ankle injury. team affiliated with a major league baseball club. Many Jackie is drafted professional players begin their careers with a farm team into the Army SPRING 1945 before getting called up to the Drafted into the segregated JUN 1, 1945 affiliated major league team, FEB 10, 1946 United States Army, Jackie Joining the and major league players Robinson befriends prizefighter Rachel Isum often spend time training with Joe Louis. At Fort Riley, they Monarchs a minor league team after Jackie suffering an injury. work together to challenge the Jackie Robinson joins graduates Robinson Army to include African- the Kansas City Monarchs from UCLA American soldiers in O¢cer baseball team, a Negro and Rachel Candidate School (OCS), after Leagues team. Rachel Isum graduates which Robinson is accepted with honors from Isum marry into OCS and commissioned a UCLA with a Bachelor The two are married second lieutenant. The Negro Leagues was a professional of Science degree by Reverend Downs baseball league made up mostly of in Nursing. in Los Angeles. African-American athletes who were forbidden from playing on the segregated major league teams. 5 JACKIE ROBINSON | A RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES & SCHOOL GROUPS APR 15, 1947 NOV 1, 1948 Breaking the YMCA in Harlem color barrier After concluding their barnstorming tour, Jackie Robinson and Roy JUL 12, 1949 After signing a contract five Campanella report for duty as days earlier, Jackie Robinson coaches and counselors in the takes first base on Ebbets Boy’s Work Department of the All-Star Game Field to play for the Brooklyn Harlem YMCA in New York City. Jackie Robinson is the National Dodgers, becoming the first League’s starting second baseman African American in modern in the MLB All-Star game, the first baseball history to play for a At this time, many professional American to feature African-American players. major league baseball team. athletes held jobs during baseball’s off- Other African Americans who played season to support their families. Some players that year were his Dodgers teammates, earned money doing “barnstorming” tours— catcher Roy Campanella and pitcher teams of ballplayers traveling across the U.S., Don Newcombe, and the American and sometimes Central America, playing League’s first African-American exhibition games. player, Larry Doby, who played for the Cleveland Indians. OCT 4, 1946 SEP 26, 1947 Little World NOV 18, 1946 Series Jackie Jr. Rookie of the Year The Montreal Royals win Sporting News awards Jackie the Little World Series is born Robinson the first-ever “Rookie of at the end of Jackie Jack Roosevelt the Year Award,” which is renamed Robinson’s debut year the “Jackie Robinson Rookie of the in professional baseball. Robinson, Jr., Year Award” in 1987. the first child of Rachel and The Little World Series was the Jackie Robinson, By the end of his rookie year as a Brooklyn championship game played Dodger, Jackie Robinson had 12 home between the two best minor is born. runs, a .297 batting average, and led the league baseball teams. league in steals, with 29. He distinguished himself throughout his decade-long career, with an impressive .311 career batting average. 7 JACKIE ROBINSON | A RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES & SCHOOL GROUPS FEB 4, 1952 “Don’t let Broadcast career WNBC and WNBT announce him fool you. that they have signed Jackie Robinson as Director of What he came Community Activities, to deliver commentary on air and to supervise the development of up against, youth programs in collaboration with the Police Athletic League and what we (PAL), the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), the Boy all came up Scouts, the YMCA, and the YMHA. against, was FALL 1949 very, very JUL 18, 1949 Named House Un-American National rough.” Activities Committee League – RACHEL ROBINSON MVP testimony MAY 21, 1951 Jackie Robinson JAN 13, 1950 MAY 14, 1952 Jackie Robinson testifies before the U.S. is named the MLB Death threat House of Representatives’ Un-American National League’s Arriving at a hotel in Cincinnati, Activities Committee on whether Most Valuable Sharon David Jackie Robinson finds two FBI African-American soldiers should Player. fight in the military against communist Robinson agents waiting for him because Robinson countries. Robinson publicly disagrees is born of a letter containing a death is born with Paul Robeson, the renowned threat against him—just one of Sharon Annetta African-American concert artist, actor a vast number of racist actions David, the youngest Robinson, the and star athlete, who is against fighting he faced on a daily basis. With child of Rachel and second child and the communists to defend the United the support of his teammates, Jackie Robinson, only daughter of States government and its policies, Robinson decides to play that is born.
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