ABC's of American History: J is for Jackie Robinson -

Lately, thanks to the film 42, my family has been on a Jackie Robinson kick, and for good reasons too. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in major league baseball. With his faith playing a notable part in his life; Robinson overcame prejudice, broke the color barrier, and became one of the most notable athletes in American history.

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I absolutely loved the 2014 Jackie Robinson movie, 42. It was filled with such good lessons such as perseverance and working hard, and showed the positives and negatives of his life. I’d HIGHLY recommend it for 10+. In 1950, the Jackie Robinson Movie was released; with Robinson playing himself. You can watch this film on YouTube!

INTERESTING FACTS

I learned a bunch of interesting things while researching Jackie Robinson!

His birth name was Jack Roosevelt Robinson. He was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia.
Jackie’s older brother placed second in the 200 meter race at the 1936 Berlin (Nazi) Olympics. The first place winner? Four-time Olympic gold winner Jesse Owens!
Jackie was drafted during WWII, and played little baseball while drafted. He was never in combat, though.
Jackie also excelled at football, basketball, and track. He was quite athletic.
In 1938, the White Sox manager Jimmie Dykes said if Jackie was white, he’d sign 19 year old Jackie “right now.”
Jackie appeared on the cover of Time magazine on September 22, 1947.
In 1950, Jackie was notably the first African American to be on the cover of Life magazine.
In 1982, Jackie was the first baseball player to have a postage stamp issued in his honor.
In 1997, he was the first athlete to be on three different Wheaties boxes at the same time.