During his first few games as the first black player in Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson proved that he could withstand the wily curveball of Johnny Sain as well as the racial epithets shouted from opposing teams' dugouts. A short clip introduces a lesson plan about Jackie Robinson, his place in American sports history, and his ability to ignore the discrimination that lurked around every corner of the baseball diamond.

Concepts

jackie robinson, baseball history, racism, discrimination, desegregation, segregation, the civil rights movement

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have class members watch the video clip independently before returning to the group for a larger discussion
• Incorporate the lesson into a unit on 20th century civil rights, Black History Month, or a historical study of desegregation

Classroom Considerations

• Video clip requires access to the Internet
• Parts of the clip repeat racist statements directed at Robinson during his career; be sure that your class can discuss these moments in a mature manner

Pros

• Clip is brief but informational
• Connects Jackie Robinson's treatment at the ballpark to modern-day bullying

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.3