Speech on Jackie Robinson.
Posted 09-08-2008 at 11:17 AM by cruzg24
I did a speech on Jackie Robinson in my speech class which was based upon the topic of someone who inspires you or has been significant in your life.
April 15th, 1947- What Historical significance one may ask of this date? On that day, sports history would be altered forever. A single black man was presented an opportunity: to make it one black man and 399 white. That man was Jackie Robinson. On that day Jackie Robinson stepped onto the diamond at Ebbets Field. He became the first African American to break the color barrier in major league baseball. Jackie Robison's importance comes from his undeniable courage. A ferocious competitor and an angry man, Robinson had to control his volatile temper in the face of brutal racial insults. Branch Rickey was the current owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who helped make it all possible. Rickey made only one demand of Robinson; he asked Robinson to promise that he wouldn't respond to the racial attacks. Rickey quoted a passage from Giovani Papini's Life of Christ; "But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him thy other also."
He wanted a player with the guts not to fight back. Jackie Robinson didn't just do that, but he became a symbol of perseverance and courage. Robinson has a critical influence on everyone who has hope and optimism. He had more power than Congress to help break the chains that bound the descendants of slavery to lives of inequity and despair. Thousands of black men and women traveled great distances to get a glimpse of him, as if to see for themselves that he was real, to share his dignity and glory, to watch this proud, defiant man, the grandson of slaves, stake a claim on their behalf to what Langston Hughes called "the dream deferred." Jackie Robinson once said "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." This is the epitomy of what Jackie was to america during that time period. Jackie Robinson is that symbol and ray of hope, that one can achieve great things in times of peril and doubt.
April 15th, 1947- What Historical significance one may ask of this date? On that day, sports history would be altered forever. A single black man was presented an opportunity: to make it one black man and 399 white. That man was Jackie Robinson. On that day Jackie Robinson stepped onto the diamond at Ebbets Field. He became the first African American to break the color barrier in major league baseball. Jackie Robison's importance comes from his undeniable courage. A ferocious competitor and an angry man, Robinson had to control his volatile temper in the face of brutal racial insults. Branch Rickey was the current owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who helped make it all possible. Rickey made only one demand of Robinson; he asked Robinson to promise that he wouldn't respond to the racial attacks. Rickey quoted a passage from Giovani Papini's Life of Christ; "But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him thy other also."
He wanted a player with the guts not to fight back. Jackie Robinson didn't just do that, but he became a symbol of perseverance and courage. Robinson has a critical influence on everyone who has hope and optimism. He had more power than Congress to help break the chains that bound the descendants of slavery to lives of inequity and despair. Thousands of black men and women traveled great distances to get a glimpse of him, as if to see for themselves that he was real, to share his dignity and glory, to watch this proud, defiant man, the grandson of slaves, stake a claim on their behalf to what Langston Hughes called "the dream deferred." Jackie Robinson once said "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." This is the epitomy of what Jackie was to america during that time period. Jackie Robinson is that symbol and ray of hope, that one can achieve great things in times of peril and doubt.
Total Comments 3
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One of sports biggest icons and heros. He helped change american sports and culture. Great man and great player.
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Cruzg, outstanding read brother.
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Thank you, just trying to make the site better.
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