Black History 365 | #26 Jackie Robinson

We know about Jackie Robinson. The man the The Dodgers signed, signaling the so-called end of racial segregation in professional baseball. Did you know…Robinson’s older brother Mack was a silver medalist at the Olympics? Despite struggling with a heart condition, Mack Robinson later clinched a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and finished second to Jesse Owens in the 200-meter race at the 1936 games in Berlin. Jesse also was an impressive all-around athlete, and during college at UCLA, he became the first student to letter in four different sports in a single season. He shined in basketball as a guard and forward; in football as a quarterback, running back and safety; and in track and field as a long jumper. He broke his brother’s long jump record and may have had his sights set on his own Olympic glory before the 1940 games were canceled because of World War II. He also went crazy as a tennis player, and got a few amateur titles during his summer breaks from school. Badmon. Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Robinson was drafted into the Army and assigned to a cavalry unit at Fort Riley, Kansas. While in basic training, he struck up a friendship with another recruit it was Joe effing Louis…Another legendary badmon.