Jackie Robinson represented America in more than athletics in the 1940's. he was an eloquent speaker who vhemently opposed segregation and descrimination. He used his athletic abilities and fame as stepping stones to begin the early civil rights movement. By facing segregation in sports, he broke open a whole new era for athletics. His political agenda and his athletic abilities made Jackie Robinson a perfect representative American for the 1940's.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson did the unthinkable; he signed a contract otplay for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. This was such a big deal, because jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play baseball in the professional leagues. Throughout his athletic career, he was faced with taunts, slurs, and even death threats. But instead of retaliating, he stayed calm and his athletic achievements were astounding.

When Jackie Robinson enlisted in the Army in 1942, he wanted to enroll in OCS, or the officer's training school, yet he was barred because he was black. He protested vehemently to his superior officers and to Joe Louis, who was also stationed a the same fort. Luckily for Robinson, Joe Louis used his influence to change the OCS policy. and Jackie was enrolled in OCS. In 1945, Jackie Robinson was formally discharged from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant. After he began playing for the Dodgers, he used his athletic fame and influenc to speak out against segregation and discrimination. The majority of his protests fell on deaf ears, but he planted some of the early seeds of the civil rights movement.

Jackie Robinson exemplified the qualities that an American in the 140's should have had. He was patriotic by serving his country, and he was strong, both mentally and pysically, because both were needed t survive his baseball career. Jackie was also determined; he promised himself that he would not lose his temper, for he wold have been kicked out of baseball if he had. Because of his athletic success, patiotism, and campaign for civil rights, Jackie Robison was a perfet representative American.

http://library.thinkquest.org/10320/Robinson.htm?tqskip1=1&ttime=0109

http://www.afro.com/history/Robinson/intro.html