Harlem Renaissance

Harlem Renaissance Pictures

Jazz Music

Jazz Music Pictures

Jesse Owens Olympics

Jesse Owens Olympics Pictures

Jackie Robinson Early Life HHe was born on January 31, 1919 Cairo, Georgia. WWhen he was young, his family relocated to Pasadena, California, where he was put to work early, and took up a job as newspaper boy and also sold food at Rose Bowl games for extra money. HHe played both basketball and baseball as a child.

Baseball Career WWhen he became an adult, Jackie also became second baseman for the minor-league team, the Montreal Royals. Professional baseball was “separate, but equal”, with a National League for whites and a Negro League for blacks. MMost Negro League stars were not known to most of society, while nearly everyone in America knew the names of the white stars. RRobinson’s first game was played better than most games played by white stars, and he sparked new trends in the way baseball was played. TThe game of professional baseball received night baseball, batting helmets, shin-guards, the hit-and-run play, and the feet first slide, all from the Negro Leagues. AApril 18, On this day was the first major league played by Jackie Robinson.

Changes in Baseball JJackie’s debut sparked many new rules and regulations for the game of baseball. After 1947, all major league teams had to sign players from the Negro Leagues, or they could not compete. IIn fact, with this law, the game received night baseball, batting helmets, shin-guards, the hit-and-run play, and the feet first slide, which all originated in the Negro Leagues of baseball. TTwelve years later, every competitive team had at least one, African American player and the Negro Leagues had almost completely disappeared. At this point, baseball had obviously completely integrated with those of any skin color and truly became equal. BBlack players were finally receiving the same fame as white players had been getting all along.

Jackie Robinson Pictures