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Article: Jackie Robinson: an agent for change. (Student Reproducible).
- Article from:
- Instructor (1990)
- Article date:
- January 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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DEAR STUDENT:
Let's Look back in time. In 1945, blacks and whites were kept apart, or segregated, by "Jim Crow Laws." These laws set up separate schools, hotels, bathrooms, buses--even water fountains--and also denied African Americans the right to vote.
Professional sports were segregated as well. Black baseball, football, and basketball players played in separate leagues. Since Major League Baseball was considered America's national pastime, it was under the greatest amount of pressure to change.
Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, wanted to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball. My father, Jackie Robinson, was chosen ...