Jackie Robinson
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Jackie Robinson was an American baseball player and civil rights icon born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. He grew up in Pasadena, California, and became a multi-sport athlete at UCLA, excelling in football, basketball, track, and baseball. During World War II, Robinson served in the U.S. Army but was court-martialed for refusing to sit at the back of a segregated bus, leading to his honorable discharge. He then joined the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues before being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. Robinson made history by breaking baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1947 and the National League MVP in 1949. Off the field, Robinson was a powerful advocate for civil rights, working with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. He became the first African American vice president of a major American company and co-founded the Freedom National Bank. His legacy extends beyond sports, symbolizing resilience and activism in American history. Posthumously, Robinson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal, and his number 42 was retired across MLB.
