Athletes Changing Society

On December 16, 1899 the color barrier was broke in sports by a man by the name of Marshall Taylor. Although often over looked Taylor was the first African American in sports, and the first Black athlete to win a title. Taylor was an African American cyclist from a small rural town in Indiana. At the age of 12, Taylor received his first bicycle and began performing tricks. By the age of 16, Taylor began competing in races. By 21, Taylor had won the World Championship in cycling and received the nickname "Black Cyclone." Along this journey Taylor received many racial letters and during his events objects were thrown at him, but this never slowed him down. When being taught about the civil rights many people hear the names Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. Often over looked and not given enough credit are the black athletes that either broke the color barrier or the ones that took the challenge and went beyond expectations. Years after Marshall Taylor we were introduced to a man by the name of Roosevelt Robinson, also known as Jackie. Jackie attended UCLA a predominately white school, where he not only played baseball but also football and basketball. After he graduated, Robinson signed to a minor league team the Montreal Royals. After one year, the Dodgers called Robinson up to the majors. Although Robinson was constantly heckled his rookie year, he went on to win the MLB Rookie of the Year trophy in 1947 and then the National League MVP in 1949. What made Robinson such a great person to break the color barrier in “Americas sport” was not his athleticism but rather he feared nobody. He said what he wanted and did what he thought was right. In the book Opening Day Jackie said, “Many people resented my impatience and honesty, but I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect” (126). A man looking for respect rather than acceptance was what the country needed to get past racism. On top of being a great athlete Jackie was a man of great words. Jackie understood that everything he said or did was being looked at not only by the people of his race but every American, in the book Opening Day when Jackie was very successful he was asked about his life impact on the game and he responded, “A life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives.” He understood his performance was more important than just another baseball player, because he was more than that he was a leader of an entire race.

On the link below you can see all of the great African American athletes in a timeline. It took hundreds of years for it to be considered acceptable for Blacks to play professional sports. Many people overlook the importance of black athletes in society and I believe, schools and people should look at the importance of their roles in the civil rights and modern day.

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/african-americans-in-sport--3