Civil Rights - Jackie Robinson

In my opinion, Jackie Robinson isn't the absolute greatest civil rights figure, but he definitely deserves a spot among the top three greatest all-time civil rights figures. Although people may not believe that he was a very inspirational figurehead, he went through abuse from not only the fans and other players, but of coaches and his own teammates; he had to put up with all of that stress and pressure for three long years, in order to clinch his spot in major league baseball. Back in the 1950's and 1960's, baseball had become the national pass-time; the ultimate sport that every American could watch and go to and enjoy the day at the park, no matter which park you went to. He was the first ever African American baseball player allowed to play in major league baseball on a white team, and it was all possible because of his exceedingly impressive skills, and the help of a coach that desperately wanted to integrate African Americans into baseball. If not for him, then integration of baseball, among other things, might have taken longer than it did to accomplish. While winning the fight for emancipation in the courts, and all over the country, baseball was making headway as well, advancing right along side the leaders of the civil rights movement, allowing for people to see that all people should have equal rights, and to be treated equally, no matter the skin type or origin. Taking charge in America's favorite sport helped him gain fame, as well as the chance to see people as equals, and they became more tolerant of African Americans, one step at a time, all because of Jackie Robinson.