Research Guides: Jackie Robinson: Biography

Jackie Robinson (January 31, 1919 - October 24, 1972)

When Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, he was both hailed as a hero and vilified as a traitor. So much attention was paid to the color of his skin that it took the public a little while to realize the scope of his talents. When they did, it only increased the animosity of those who were determined to keep America's national pastime an all-white bastion. Nevertheless, with his quiet dignity and brilliant athleticism, Robinson tore down the walls of bigotry, forever changing the course of American sports. Continue . . .

Source: Price, Victoria. "Robinson, Jackie (1919–1972)." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, 2nd ed., vol. 4, St. James Press, 2013, pp. 350-352. From Gale Virtual Reference database.

eBook Collection

Beyond Home Plate : Jackie Robinson On Life After Baseball

Reclaiming 42 : Public Memory and the Reframing of Jackie Robinson's Radical Legacy

Before Jackie Robinson : The Transcendent Role of Black Sporting Pioneers

Resources

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Through his leadership, skill and courage, Jackie Robinson broke barriers in sports, media and business, impacting our entire society and helping to set the stage for the modern civil rights movement. For more than 42 years, the Jackie Robinson Foundation has continued Robinson’s commitment to equal opportunity by addressing the achievement gap in higher education, and is poised to expand his rich legacy by building the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City.
Jackie Robinson: Baseball Hall of Fame Stats and collections from baseballhall.org.
Jackie Robinson - Society for American Baseball Research This article was written by Rick Swaine
The Dark Knight Rises: In 42 Jackie Robinson Saves the American Dream The movie42shows memorable events that have faded from our view in recent years. The events are important to the evolution of a multicultural society in America because of the importance of baseball to the common national culture that all the American people have created. Jackie Robinson's significance as a cultural hero is shown by the respect with which we do not explain him away.
The Jackie Robinson I Remember Article by Roger Kahn.
Jackie Robinson: Athlete and American Par Excellence In 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play major league baseball. A renowned competitor, he had established himself as a top-caliber athlete in 1940 while a standout in four sports at the University of California, Los Angeles. He endured vicious racial hatred during his first season in the major league but, remarkably, did not retaliate. Always crusading for equality, even during his army duty in World War II, Robinson has been criticized for certain political decisions, which include supporting Richard Nixon in the presidential race of 1960.

From Films On Demand database:

The Jackie Robinson Story The Jackie Robinson Story stars the baseball legend himself in a biographical drama about the player and man who integrated major league ball. The story begins with Jackie's early years, profiling the successful young athlete who excelled in a variety of collegiate sports. It follows him to his momentous meeting with Branch Rickey of the no-less-legendary Brooklyn Dodgers who brought Robinson in as a professional player to the previously all-white sport.
Jackie Robinson Emerges Robinson garnered media attention playing football at UCLA. By the end of the year he had lettered in four varsity sports. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
"The Jackie Robinson Story" Robinson was voted MVP in 1949. He and Rachel bought a house in a mixed race neighborhood and had a daughter. Rickey was forced off the Dodgers in 1950. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
Serving a Larger Cause After years of keeping his promise to Branch Rickey, Robinson used his fame to promote equality. He continued to fight for civil rights long after leaving baseball. (Credits) Distributed by PBS Distribution.