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4/29/2013

Today, it is common to see people of all races playing together on professional sports teams. But, on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American in the modern era to play major league baseball when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson's role with the Dodgers marked the end of racial segregation in professional baseball and provided a boost for the growing Civil Rights Movement. The new film “42” chronicles Robinson’s rise through Major League Baseball and depicts the turbulent, racially charged environment he had to play in.

Today, however, it is not commonplace to see all sexual orientations playing together on professional sports teams. Professional basketball player Jason Collins recently announced, "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay." What does this mean to professional sports today?

Watch the film's trailer, read the USA Today article about Jason Collins, and then draw on your personal experiences to blog.

10 Comments

Lt. mcclain

5/16/2013 06:55:53 am

this video showes no matter how many people tryed to put him down he still thrived for what he loved to do and thats showing no one can stand between u and your goals

Derek

5/27/2013 01:16:32 pm

I think this movie is really interesting, because of what Jacki Robinson goes threw because of racism, and still doesnt stop him from what he did best.

Eric

6/3/2013 01:50:23 am

This video was based on struggles that life gives people. it shows when you have a dream or a goal keep going for it until you succeed. if you really want something don't let no one tell you that you can't do it. whether you're a different color, race, tall, short etc. you can always accomplish your goals.

Dillon

6/3/2013 03:10:42 am

They both played a big part in history, and it wouldn't be the same if they hadn't done what they did. If it wasn't Jacki Robinson, I fell like it would have been another guy to come along.
The situation with basketball is the same. A football player just did the same thing. I feel like this will start to happen more often in American sports.

Denzel

7/11/2013 04:27:42 am

this video is great it shows that it doesnt matter what color u are that if u wonna do somthing that you love then do it

Marje

7/15/2013 05:03:38 am

This video was very inspriational, the theme of this it to not let people stop you from doing what you choose to do.

kaitlyn

7/29/2013 12:45:46 pm

This video shows that you shouldn't let people stop you from what you want to do. Both of these men's stories where important because they show that it doesn't matter if you're different you should keep doing what you love.

Raymond

7/31/2013 06:48:26 am

Jacki Robinson and Jason Collins are similar in the fact that they've both been outcasts. Due to either race, or sexual orientation. Jacki Robinson is important because he paved the way for races other than whites to play sports professionally. Jason Collins is important because he's making it evident that people with any sexual orientation can play professional sports.

Brea

8/12/2013 06:45:18 am

I'm not a baseball fan, let alone sports fan, but from watching this trailer it gave me a good insight on Jackie Robinson and how he changed history for African American's in baseball. Seems like a good movie but I'll stick to my action/adventure. Oh and Mrs. Mills, in the first prompt in the last question you forgot the R in during.

Aldo

8/15/2013 06:39:19 am

By watching this trailer i could see that back then there was alot of discrimination . I really dont watch baseball but seeing this i saw that Jackie Robinson changed the whole game of baseball he became a legend in the sport.

Writing Prompts:

Many experts will tell you that discrimination just doesn't hurt the individual/group being discriminated against - the entire community suffers when one group is excluded. Describe a time you had to work/interact with someone who was not like you. How did you overcome your differences? What new things did you learn duing this experience?

What similarities and differences do you see in the situations of Jackie Robinson and Jason Collins? Why are these mens' stories important?

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