“There was never a man in the game who could put mind and muscle together quicker than Jackie Robinson.
—Branch Rickey
1. What is passive resistance?
2. Why would Branch Rickey encourage Jackie Robinson not to fight back?
3. Why does it sometimes take more courage not to fight back? Did the technique work for Jackie Robinson—why or why not?
4. What finally influenced him to alter his approach in dealing with people who were against him?
5. How would society be different today if Jackie Robinson had not played baseball in the national league of major league baseball?
All five questions will be discussed at TodaysMeet. The moderator needs to print out a transcript and is responsible to keep the group on topic.
For the last question, question #5, you need to post a comment on the blog by the end of class today. Make sure your response meets the following requirements:
•6 to 12 sentences long
•uses no repetition
•thoroughly addresses the question
•proofread out loud in your head
•free of all GUMS
What’s In a Phrase?
Choose one of the following statements made by Jackie Robinson and discuss/write your reaction to it at TodaysMeet.
What do you believe is meant by the statement? Do you agree or disagree with it? Why or why not?
—”There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.”
—”A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
—”How you played in yesterday’s game is all that counts”
Society would be different if Jackie Robinson had not played major league base balled because we may still be segregated. We would not have the friends we have and the schools we have. When I think of what Jackie Robinson did I think of it as the first push that got us going. Like when you first learn to use the swings and you get that fist push. We still have a long way to go but without that first push we would have had an even harder time learning. So I think our lives would have been very different.
How would society be different today if Jackie Robinson had not played baseball in the national league of major league baseball?
I think that everything would be the same, but people would be more racist. But, I have to consider the saying, “If you kill a butterfly in the past, it will change the future.” So lets see, If Jackie never played major league base ball, then the mixed leagues never would have broken the color barrier on base ball. So, that means thousands of people would have taught their kids different opinions on black people. So, racism would have continued. So, that would have made a larger barrier on mixed relation ships. So, people such as me would never have existed. The cycle would then go on and on, possibly forever. So you see if Jackie Robinson never played base ball, then this future would never have existed.
Jackie Robinson set off civil rights. Society, in respect to how blacks and whites treated each other, would be different because someone else would have had to set of civil rights at a different time, and who knows when that would be? It could have been 10 or 20 years later. Without Jackie playing baseball, Rosa Parks may have given her seat away, and maybe Martin Luther King Jr. would have backed down when white people threatened him. Jackie set of a spark, that not only changed baseball, but our country as well. He helped start the civil rights movement, by playing baseball and by not backing down when he was discriminated. Had he not played, someone else would have had to play later in time. Baseball would have been behind on mixing the races on the field, and that would have changed society too. Jackie Robinson played a big role in civil rights, and without him, many things would have been different.
Question # 5. How would society be different today if Jackie Robinson had not played baseball in the national league of major league baseball?
I think that if Jackie Robinson hadn’t baseball in the national league of major baseball our society would be partially different than it is today. I say this because if he hadn’t white people might still be the only people that are allowed to play baseball which is very unfair. The world then was cruel and it is cruel even today. Another person with good intentions like Jackie could have stood up for what they loved to do like what he did but it would probably still be different. Our society could still be racist and rude against black people if Jackie hadn’t done what he did. I am glad that he did what he did because if he hadn’t I am not sure if I would be here right now or if I was, what kind of situation I would be in.
How would society be different today if Jackie Robinson had not played baseball in the national league of major league baseball?
Well If Jackie did not play I think it would have impacted Baseball the most but also the whole country. If he did not play then I believe that every person would still treat blacks like they cant do any thing or get any thing accomplished. Think about New York, blacks would not have the founding by the state for ball parks or any other kind of parks. Every one would think there not good at any sport not just base ball.
My other thoughts that if Jackie did not play then our country would be 20-50 years behind what it is now. Meaning that we would be living in the past when it comes to disrespect for blacks. So then I think that Jackie playing met a lot for the people he stood up for.
How would society be different today if Jackie Robinson had not played baseball in the national league of major league baseball?
I don’t think that society would be very different. I think that someone else would have stood up and did what he did. I don’t mean to be offensive, I think that Jackie Robinson was a great civil rights activist. I think that he was the first and that is what makes him so famous, another black baseball player with a lot of guts could have done the same thing. How much credit did the black baseball players after him get when they had to deal with the same racial abuse? Not much, but if Jackie Robinson hadn't played and one of them was first they would by just as famous a Robinson is.
How would society be different today if Jackie Robinson had not played baseball in the national league of major league baseball? I think that if Jackie Robinson never played baseball then we would have a lot more racists in the world then we already have. I also really think that blacks would not be able to play with whites. I think that if he never played then their would be way to many racists to count.
Timothy Bialous
3/16/10
Carter
Well Before i saw the play i have never heard of Jackie robinson and he was just a person that helped kick out segragation. After the play i understood what he went threw and how bad they didn’t want him on his team. But they got to know him better and he proved his reputation by hitting balls out of the park and they won many games by him and they rewarded him wit kindness and when the lady didn’t take his order the guy brang him a second meal for him after. Then when they won a few more games he went to another restraunt and said the same thing but it was backward she said you could have it for free. He ended up being on of the best spokesman for his rights and he opened up feelings other black men didn’t know they had.
Question number 5
How wold society be different today if J.R. had not played professional baseball?
I think that it would have a big effect on society today. Because he was the first black person to play major league baseball, and any major sport. So i think that african-americans would not have a very good chance to play professional sports in modern day life.
Cam Tiller
3/15/10
Washington
The world would be a different place if Jackie Robinson was not around. It would be different because he was the best person to ever play. Also, he either was after Martin Luther King Jr. made his speech or he had to do something with the Civil War. He also was the best baseball player to ever play. What made that so special? It was special because he was the only black person to play on the Brooklyn Dodgers. He also never gave up even though people discouraged him.
I think that if Jackie Robinson didn’t play baseball would make a difference because if he didn’t Rosa Parks wouldn’t have protested against the bus law for whites. Martin Luther King Jr. was also inspired by Rosa Parks, so if she didn’t protest, there might be a chance that King Jr. wouldn’t have done everything he did. I think that Jakie Robinson was one of the most important reason that the terrible laws against blacks are over.
Shonoa S.
3/15/10
Eisenhower
If Jackie Robinson had never played baseball in the national league of major league baseball our society would probably still have a lot of racial tension going on. He helped people realize that race didn’t matter and that everyone should have the same rights, no matter what there race is. If he had never played, then it would probably still be all white people playing baseball. People wouldn’t think that a black baseball player could be as good as a white player also. He also probably made other people playing different sports realize they should let black people play because they might be just as good, if not better than white people.
The world would be a different place if Jackie Robinson was not around. It would be different because he was the best person to ever play. Also, he either was after Martin Luther King Jr. made his speech or he had to do something with the Civil War. He also was the best baseball player to ever play. What made that so special? It was special because he was the only black person to play on the Brooklyn Dodgers. He also never gave up even though people discouraged him.