How Did Jackie Robinson Influence Society

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When we talk about the most influential people of America, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of people you can bring to the topic. To be one of the most influential people, you’d have to had made your mark somewhere in history that changed and altered America. The first president of the United States, George Washington, is an effortless person to talk about. The bodybuilder, to terminator, but now “Governator”, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has done multiple different things in his life to help make a claim. Also, the man that changed the thought of size being a factor, Bruce Lee, is a legend in martial arts and a stupendous film actor. All are very inspirational and are highly qualified to be one of the most influential people of America, but Jackie Robinson is the epitome of influential. Jackie Robinson made way for a whole race of phenomenal athletes. Without him, some of the biggest names in sports could have never even had a chance to play.

Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. He was born into a family of sharecroppers, which meant a landowner lent them land in exchange for a share of the crops produced. Jackie’s
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Robinson was a player that Branch Rickey kept his eye on and had great interest in. Rickey interviewed Robinson for possible placement to the Brooklyn Dodgers minor team, the Montreal Royals. Rickey was specifically looking for one characteristic out of Robinson. The ability to withstand the inevitable racial abuse that he was going to receive. Robinson reacted with, “Are you looking for a Negro that is afraid to fight back?” Rickey replied, “I need a Negro player with guts enough not to fight back.” After Robinson agreed that he would turn the other cheek, he agreed to a contract worth $600 a month. He was the first black baseball player in the