American history cannot be studied without focusing on the civil rights movement in the 1900's. Furthermore, we cannot discuss the civil rights movement without covering the integration of African Americans in baseball. When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier it resembled an important piece in the fight for equality among races. The impact that racial integration had on American society was in some senses immeasurable due to the overall change that has followed. One person has helped to change the lives of millions of his fellow citizens. .
The importance of racial integration in baseball lies in the popularity of the sport and the value that the average American citizen had for the pastime. Baseball was viewed as America's sport not only by its popularity but also because of how it was played. Baseballs" team oriented principles and tough competition, can be directly correlated with the ideals of the American society. As Americans, we value the belief that we can improve our current status by working hard and utilizing our surroundings. Before Jackie Robinson, African Americans did not posses these same abilities. They were allowed to move up and down within the black society, but they could not move beyond the limits that the white population had set. The breaking of the color barrier in baseball represented the possibilities that African Americans could some day reach the same level that whites were already able to achieve. Jackie Robinson represented the first step towards equality between races. However, he was not alone in the battle for equal rights. Many other citizens joined Jackie in the fight for equal civil rights. .
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, on January 31, 1919 to Jerry and Mallie Robinson. He grew up in Pasadena, California. In high school and at Pasadena Junior College he showed great athletic skill in track, basketball, football, and baseball.