Jackie Robinson
On January 31, 1919 Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five and his dad left him and his siblings for work down in Texas. Mallie Robinson moved the family to Pasedena, California when Jackie was sixteen months old. They were the only black family in the neighborhood.
UCLA Bruins
Jackie Robinson was accepted on a full scholarship to UCLA for his athletics. While at UCLA he played tennis, golf, track and field, football, basketball, and baseball. He was the first person at UCLA to letter in four sports, track and field, football, basketball and baseball. In his senior year, he met Rachel Isum, a junior majoring in medicine. They were married six years later on February 10, 1946. He never finished his degree at UCLA.
Honolulu
Jackie Robinson got his first sporting contract in 1941 in Hawaii with the Honolulu Bears, a semi-pro football team. After one season with the Bears, he resigned and left Honolulu. Only two days after he left, Pearl Harbor was bombed and Jackie made an unselfish decision. He enlisted in the Army soon afterwards.
The Army
Jackie's involvement with the Civil Rights Movement began during his time in the army. He gave speeches to the men and within a few months he rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was court marshaled in 1944 for not sitting in the back of a segregated bus. In November 1944 his charges were waived and he received an honorable discharge. He never saw action.