Whack! That's the sound many Americans heard while watching Jackie Robinson make his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 10, 1947 (Griffin). When people think of the first major black athlete in American history, they may think of Jackie Robinson. Jackie was one of many African American people who contributed to the reformation of our culture. Black athletes were treated unfairly in the 1960s; however, they played a major role in the desegregation of the South and helped change the way America is today. Although you might not think it, it took a lot of courage to do what a number of young men did in the 1960s; many of these black athletes overcame adversity and are now American heroes for their actions. The integration of colored and white sports occurred shortly after the resolution of World War II (Walton). “Jackie Robinson's childhood was quite interesting considering what he accomplished during his life. Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. There was no father figure for Jackie growing up, so his mother raised him and his four siblings alone. Growing up, Robinson went to John Muir High School. After high school, he enrolled at Pasadena Junior College where he played several different sports including football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. After her career at Pasadena Junior College, Jackie continued her education at the University of California, Los Angeles. He received four varsity letters there and was the first student to do so. Unfortunately, Robinson never completed his education at UCLA due to his lack of wealth. Jackie continued her young career by moving to Honolulu, Hawaii to pursue her interest in semi-professional soccer. Here, he only played for a while... middle of paper... and take heart, Jackie Robinson got through it. Her treatment throughout this period may not have been the best, but Jackie put that aside and thought about what would be best for her people. This thought helped Jackie throughout the journey. The journey that can never be repeated by any man in humanity. Works Cited Early, Gerald. “Performance and reality: race, sports and the modern world. » Nation. August 10-17, 1998: 11-20. Researcher on SIRS issues. Internet. May 3. 2014. Griffin, Richard. “Jackie Robinson: A Courageous Portrait.” Toronto Star (Toronto, Canada). June 1, 1996: B5+. Researcher on SIRS issues. Internet. May 1. 2014Jackie Robinson. 2014. April 29, 2014. Walton, John C. The Changing Status of the Black Athlete in 20th Century America. 1996. April 21 2014 .