I am Jackie Robinson
From Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum · 2020
Summary
Brad is excluded from a game and doesn't know how to respond. Meeting a young Jackie Robinson — who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier with grace and athletic excellence — shows him that the best way to answer unfairness is to play brilliantly and carry yourself with dignity.
Viewer safety
Addresses racial exclusion and discrimination in age-appropriate terms.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball in 1947.
- What does it mean to 'break a barrier'? What barrier did Jackie Robinson break?
- How did Jackie respond to people who tried to make him feel like he didn't belong?
- Why does it matter that people of all backgrounds can participate in sports and other activities?
- What would you do if someone said you couldn't join something because of the way you look?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: barrier, integration, dignity, pioneer, civil rights.
Try it: Write one sentence about what Jackie Robinson proved by playing baseball. Then write one sentence about something you want to prove you can do.