Breaking Barriers
Thesis: Robinsons’ courageous acts were not only a major turning point for racial integration in baseball, but it was the start of a revolution for the Civil Rights movement.
I. Intro.
A. He was a pioneer of a task that seemed quite impossible, because racial discrimination was far from subtle during the late 1940s.
B. He was determined to do whatever he could to stop racial segregation.
II. Robinson was the grandson of a slave.
A. He was also the youngest of five children.
B. California was subjected to African-American segregation.
III. After attending high school, Robinson went to UCLA.
A. Robinson excelled in many sports.
B. He enlisted in the Army.
IV. After Robinson was discharged from the military, Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League in 1945.
A. Branch Rickey gave Robinson a chance in the Major Leagues.
B. The Major Leagues had not had an African-American player since 1889.
V. Robinson endured many trials and tribulations during this period of entering the Major Leagues of Baseball.
A. The discrimination continued off the field too for Robinson.
B. Robinson was not allowed to fight with people making racial comments.
VI. Robinson was not the first to face racism, but was the most well-known figure that could tolerate racism.
A. He was the most important figure in the 1940s and of this century.
B. Rickey had the utmost faith in him and he knew that Robinson would agree to the contract he had set for him.
VII. Robinson retired from playing in the Major Leagues in 1956 (“Jackie”).
A. He was not finished with his plan on pursuing the push for racial equality in America.
B. Jackie Robinson's life and legacy will be remembered as one of the most important events in American history.
VIII. By breaking the barrier, Robinson was able to help better the racial equality in America.
A. He opened the door so that many more African-American players could enter the Major...