The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
Robinson, Jackie
b. 1919 - d. 1972
Born in Cairo, Georgia, Jackie Robinson pushed back the frontiers of racism in sports prior to the success of civil rights legislation. At the University of California-Los Angeles, Robinson was the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. In 1947, he became the first black American to integrate a major league baseball team, debuting with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson was awarded three of major league baseball’s highest honors: Rookie of the Year (1947), Most Valuable Player (1947) and induction into the Hall of Fame (1962). After he left baseball, he chaired the Freedom Fund Drive of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served on the NAACP Board of Directors, using his celebrity to influence race relations in America. He donated proceeds from a dinner in his honor to the voter registration work of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and was on the platform at the March on Washington. A founder of the Freedom National Bank in Harlem, Robinson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously.
Associated Archive Content : 29 results
A Message from JailAfter being arrested and charged with parading without a license, Dr. King wrote a column from jail. The column shared his and Ralph David Abernathy's decision to serve the jail sentence instead of paying a fine of $178. |
Address by Jackie Robinson at SCLC Freedom DinnerGuest speaker Jackie Robinson discusses his personal struggles with adopting the philosophy of nonviolence, race relations and the far-reaching efforts of the SCLC. |
Amsterdam News: The Measure of A Man - Jackie RobinsonDr. King describes his interpretation on the life and efforts of Jackie Roosevelt Robinson to further the cause of Social Justice in America. |
Annual Address by MLK for the Montgomery Improvement AssociationThis document outlines Dr. King's address for the Fourth Anniversary of the Montgomery Improvement Association, held at Bethel Baptist Church in Montgomery. In the address, Dr. King speaks about the history, achievements and current task of the Association. |
Back Our Brothers: First Annual Awards BanquetDr. King, Ralph Abernathy, Wyatt Walker and Fred Shuttlesworth were honored at a special banquet in New York City, following SCLC's successful 1963 Birmingham campaign. |
Committee to Defend Martin Luther King, Jr. Press ReleaseBayard Rustin announces the formation of the Committee to Defend Martin Luther King, Jr. The Committee was formed in response to charges against Dr. King being filed by Alabama. The Committee intends to raise $200,000 in support of Dr. King and the SCLC. |
Community Salute to MLK Nobel Peace Prize WinnerThis program outlines an event to celebrate Dr. King's receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. The event takes place in New York City on December 17, 1964. |
Jackie Robinson Heads SCLC National Drive to Rebuild Burned ChurchesThis press release announces Jackie Robinson's commitment to join an SCLC national fund drive to help rebuild three churches in southwest Georgia that were completely destroyed by arsonists. Robinson visited each of the sites and pledged the first one hundred dollars to the fund. |
Letter from 'Hardworking People' to MLKA white American recommends a different approach to Civil Rights demonstrations. He believes that if celebrities are placed at the fore front of the marches that the black community would then be motivated to work. |
Letter from Barry Gray to Jackie RobinsonBarry Gray, an influential American radio personality, writes Jackie Robinson expressing his disappointment with how he dealt with countering issues. According to Gray, Robinson sent a letter to "distinguished Americans, including his friends" and presumably blackmailed him. Gray discusses his input in the Civil Rights Movement through exposing unequal systems through television and radio. |
Letter from Honi Coles, Jackie Robinson and Arthur Logan to MLKDr. King is informed of an event honoring Frank C. Schiffman, Director of the Apollo Theater, for his support of Negro entertainers and for providing jobs in the Harlem community. The gentlemen also present the SCLC a check for $5,500, which they hope will be used to purchase vehicles for the SCLC Freedom Fleet. |
Letter from Jackie Robinson to MLKJackie Robinson writes Dr. King to accept a position of responsibility with the SCLC. |
Letter from L. K. Jackson to MLKReverend L. K. Jackson commends Dr. King on his ongoing efforts in the Civil Rights Movement. |
Letter from MLK to Halvey SimmonsDr. King writes Halvey Simmons expressing thanks for his interest and concern regarding the burning of several churches in Atlanta, Georgia. He continues by stating the intent to rebuild the churches with funding created by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. |
Letter from MLK to Rev. Curtis J. JacksonDr. King notifies Rev. Jackson that he will not be able to travel to Orlando, but offers that he'll hopefully be able to accept more invitations in the near future. In addition, he requested that Rev. Jackson come and visit the Annual Convention of S.C.L.C. in Birmingham, Alabama. |
Letter from Sy Sadinoff to MLKAfter speaking to Jackie Robinson and asking him how Beacon Looms, Inc. can best help the movement for Negro equality, Sy Sadinoff writes to Dr. King enclosing a $100 donation for the Mount Olive Building Fund. |
MLK Draft on Jackie Robinson and Hall of FameDr. King highlights the achievements of Jackie Robinson in this article about Robinson's induction into baseball's Hall of Fame. Dr. King applauds Robinson for using his celebrity status for the Civil Rights Movement. |
MLK's Column on Jackie Robinson's Induction in Hall of FameIn this column from the New York Amsterdam News, Dr. King echoes his speech at the induction of Jackie Robinson into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Robinson not only broke the color barrier in major league baseball, MLK points out, he succeeded in business. MLK lauds Robinson's truth-telling as he spoke out against discrimination in the north and south, by whites and blacks, and on racial and religious grounds. |
News from Highlander Folk SchoolBeginning on January 15th, the News from Highlander Folk school will open its adult educational program. In support of the program, many renowned leaders across Amercia signed the statement. |
Program from Community Salute to MLK: Nobel Peace Prize WinnerThis program is from the Community Salute to Dr. King that occured in New York City following his being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. |
Rev. King Supports JackieThis is a press release regarding Jackie Robinson's stand on racial inequality. |
SCLC Annual Meeting ProgramThis program outlines an annual meeting for the SCLC. The guest list includes Hall of Fame player Jackie Robinson, Septima Clark and Joseph E. Lowery. |
SCLC Confab Boasts Galaxy of Civil Rights StarsThe SCLC has chosen Birmingham, Alabama as the place for their Sixth Annual Convention. It includes the Annual Freedom Dinner, that will honor the top personalities identified with the Negro struggle. The convention also includes presentations from major authorities on nonviolence. |
SCLC Newsletter: August 1963This is volume one of the SCLC Newsletter, printed for the month and year of August 1963. Several topics are covered including; the March on Washington, Rebuilding Bombed Churches, the WCLC, and Negro voting registration. |
SCLC Newsletter: September 1962This SCLC Newsletter includes several articles written by Dr. King and Wyatt Tee Walker. Some of the article titles include: "The Terrible Cost of The Ballot" and "THE CONGO, U.S.A. Albany, Georgia." |
The Jackie Robinson SagaThis brief biographical sketch highlights Jackie Robinson's life and his accomplishments as a baseball player, Army Lieutenant and business executive. |
The SCLC Hall of Fame Dinner of July 1962This pamphlet is from the Hall of Fame Dinner for Jackie Robinson. It features several ads from organizations supporting the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. |
Wave of Violence Against BlacksThis pamphlet produced by the NAACP, New York Branch, begins with the discussion of a controversial statement made by Senator James Eastland and its adverse affect of increased violence among blacks. Eastland attacked the Supreme Court's desegregation edict by stating, "You are not required to obey any court which passes out such a ruling. In fact, you are obligated to defy it." Newspaper clippings are shown with headlines that illustrate the violence, murder, bombings, and attacks blacks faced. |
We Shall Overcome SketchCharlie Cheese Carson's created this sketch which illustrates many notable civil rights leaders as chess pieces. |