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learn about this ruler from ancient Egypt

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She was the last of the Pharaohs set up in Egypt by Alexander the Great and was a Macedonian Princess by decent.

When Cleopatra died, Egypt became the Roman province of Aegyptus. Keep reading for more facts about the famous Egyptian queen.

Queen Cleopatra Facts & Information

Cleopatra's full name was Cleopatra VII Philopator. She was born on Alexandria, Egypt in the year 69 BC.

She was the last active Pharaoh of the Ancient Egyptian Empire and reigned of the kingdom for 21 years, from 51 BC until her death in 30 BC.

She came from a long line of the Ptolemaic dynasty. This Macedonian Greek family came to power thanks to Alexander the Great who invaded and conquered Egypt in 332 BC.

She was one of only a few Ptolemies to learn Egyptian. Many in her family refused to learn Egyptian and chose to speak in their native Greek language instead. Cleopatra wanted to learn Egyptian to be able to educate her people so that they regarded her as the reincarnation of the ancient Egyptian goddess, Isis.

Cleopatra originally ruled Egypt with her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes.

Later during her reign she also ruled with her brothers, and through tradition she had to marry her brother Ptolemy XIV. Finally, she became the sole ruler and Pharaoh of Egypt.

Cleopatra had a relationship with Roman ruler Julius Caesar. Nine months after they first met, in 47 BC, she gave birth to a son. His name was Ptolemy Caesar and he was known as Caesarion, meaning little Caesar.

Caesarion became co-ruler of Egypt when he was three years old. Cleopatra named him co-ruler on September 2, 44 BC and they ruled together from 44 BC to 30 BC.

She sided with Mark Antony when Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. Antony was a Roman politician who was opposed to Caesars legal heir Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus - also known as Augustus.

Antony and Cleopatra had a relationship together. She had three children with Mark Antony named Cleopatra Selene II and Alexander Helios, who were twins, and another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus.

The queen died by committing suicide with a poisonous snake. She did this because Mark Antony's troops lost the Battle of Actium against the army of Augustus and he killed himself. She held an asp snake to her body and let it kill her with its poisonous venom.

Caesarion ruled Egypt briefly before he was defeated and killed. He was too young and easily overpowered by Octavian, who later declared Egypt a Roman province and became the Emperor Augustus. Caesarion was only 17 years old when he died on August 23, 30BC.

Cleopatra is still popular and well-known in Western culture. There are many works of art that tell the story of Cleopatra. From Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra to George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra, and the movie from 1963 which was simply called Cleopatra.

Cleopatra was known for her incredible beauty. One common and well told story about Queen Cleopatra was that she took baths in donkey milk to preserve her beauty. In fact, myth and legend says that nearly 700 donkeys were used to provide enough milk for her daily bath!

Read about Ancient Egypt Facts

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Queen Cleopatra Facts and Information for Kids | History Kids

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She was the last of the Pharaohs set up in Egypt by Alexander the Great and was a Macedonian Princess by decent. When Cleopatra died, Egypt became the Roman province of Aegyptus. Keep reading for more facts about the famous Egyptian queen. Cleopatra's full name was Cleopatra VII Philopator.

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from National Geographic Kids

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Discover the remarkable life and work of Nelson Mandela - who helped change the lives of millions of South African people - in our Nelson Mandela facts...
Throughout history, lots of people around the world have faced discrimination - where they are treated differently because of their race, skin colour, gender, age and lots of other things, too.

Sadly, it still happens to this day! But there are some amazing people who have worked hard to make a change for the better, and helped us move towards a world where everyone is treated fairly and equally. One such person is Nelson Mandela ...

Nelson Mandela facts

Who was Nelson Mandela?

Full name: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Born: 18 July 1918
Hometown: Mvezo, South Africa
Occupation: President of South Africa and civil rights activist
Died: 5 December 2013
Best known for: Becoming the first black President of South Africa and a civil rights hero
Also known as: Madiba

Nelson Mandela's early life

Nelson Mandela was born on the 18th July 1918 in the village of Mvezo, which is located in an area of South Africa called Transkei. His father's name was Henry, and his mother was called Nosekeni Fanny.

As a youngster, little Nelson was actually called Rolihlahla - it wasn't until he was seven that a teacher at school gave him the name ' Nelson ', and it stuck!

And check this out... Nelson was born into royalty! His father, Henry, was chief of a tribe in South Africa called the Tembu, and his great grandfather was the tribe's king! But sadly, Nelson was just twelve years old when his father died.

Nelson studied hard at school and later attended the University of Fort Hare, the South African Native College. He then moved to the city of Johannesburg to study law at the University of the Witwatersrand, before qualifying as a lawyer in 1942, aged 24.

Inequality in South Africa

South Africa is home to many different peoples and cultures - so much so that it's been nicknamed the ' rainbow nation'. But, sadly, at the time that Nelson Mandela was growing up, there was a huge racial divide in the country.

White people ran the country, and they generally led privileged lives with good jobs, nice homes and access to good schools and healthcare. Most black people, however, worked in low-paid jobs, and lived in poor communities with poor facilities. They had far fewer rights, too - they weren't even allowed to vote in elections!

Like many others, Nelson Mandela felt that everyone deserved to be treated the same, regardless of their skin colour. So, in 1944, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) - a political group that strived for equal rights for whites and blacks.

In 1948 the South African government introduced a system called ' apartheid', which furthered the country's racial divide even more. Under new racist laws, black people and white people were forced to lead separate lives. They weren't allowed to live in the same areas, share a table in a restaurant, attend the same schools or even sit together on a train or bus!

What did Nelson Mandela do?

Nelson Mandela became an important figure in the ANC, and he helped set up and lead a section for young people called the ANC Youth League. He later travelled the country to gain support for non-violent protests against the National Party's racist laws, too.

This activism made him very unpopular with the authorities, and Nelson was arrested for treason - the crime of betraying your country's government - several times.

While Nelson was under arrest in the late 1950s, the government banned anti-apartheid groups such as the ANC. But that didn't stop Nelson and his fellow activists - in fact, they felt more had to be done to bring about change.

So, even though they preferred using peaceful protests in their struggle for equality, in 1961 Nelson and other ANC leaders formed a secret military group called Umkhonto we Sizwe, or Spear of the Nation.

Why did Nelson Mandela go to prison?

Nelson knew he would be in big trouble if the authorities found out about the secret army and their plans, and so he kept a very low profile. He lived in hiding - and even dressed in disguise! But in August 1962, he was arrested on his return from a trip to Algeria in Northern Africa, and sentenced to five years in prison. From there, things only got worse for Nelson...

In 1963, the police raided a farm near the city of Johannesburg and found documents belonging to the secret army, as well as weapons. The result? Nelson and seven other men were charged for plotting to overthrow the government and given life sentences. Nelson would spend the next 27 years behind bars ...

Nelson was first sent to a prison on Robben Island, seven miles off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa's capital city. He was moved to Pretoria Local Prison to appear in court, then returned to the Island prison for nearly ten years. In 1982, Nelson was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison, and later in 1988, he moved for a final time to Victor Verster Prison near a town called Paarl.

Throughout his time behind bars, Nelson Mandela didn't give up on what he believed in. He even refused freedom on two occasions, and instead chose to stand by his principles. He used his time to learn new things, including Afrikaans - a language of South Africa spoken mostly by white people - which earned him respect from the guards he spoke to.

When was Nelson Mandela freed from prison?

Over time, Nelson Mandela became a famous prisoner, and there were calls all around the world to ' Free Nelson Mandela! '. For decades, countries around the world had put pressure on South Africa to end apartheid, but now the anti-apartheid movement had more support than ever.

Change for the better finally came in 1989. The president of South Africa, FW de Klerk, met with Nelson Mandela and in 1990 set him free!

In 1991, Nelson became President of the ANC and worked with FW de Klerk to bring an end to apartheid in a harmonious way, and introduce equal rights for everyone. Their work towards making South Africa a more peaceful place won the pair the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Come the 1994 general election, all races in South Africa were allowed to vote. Nelson's hard work finally paid off - the ANC won, and Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first black president.

As President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela improved the living standards and facilities of South Africa's black population, who had suffered for decades under apartheid. He also worked hard to make South Africa a country of equality, where people of all race and colour could live together in peace.

In 1999, Nelson Mandela retired as President and his successor was called Mbeki. But whilst he left politics behind, he continued to be an important figure around the world as a symbol of peace and equality. The same year that he retired, he founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation, an organisation that works to this day to promote the principals of equality, freedom and peace.

When did Nelson Mandela die?

From 2004, he lived a quiet life with his wife Graça. Following a lung infection, Nelson Mandela sadly died in December 2013, aged 95 years old.

How is Nelson Mandela remembered?

Nelson Mandela's spirit and values are still very much alive to this day, and he will forever be remembered. He wrote a book called " Long Walk to Freedom", where people can read about the struggles he faced in his battle against discrimination and fight for equality. In 2009, Nelson's birthday, 18 July, was officially named ' Nelson Mandela Day '. Every year on this day, people around the world honour his legacy by helping their communities and making the world a better place.

Discover more inspirational figures who fought for equality by finding out all about Rosa Parks or reading our Martin Luther King facts.

What did you think of our Nelson Mandela facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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Nelson Mandela facts - National Geographic Kids

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Learn all about South Africa's first black president in our Nelson Mandela facts. His life story is extraordinary...

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video and auiz on BrainPopJr.

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This First Lady was just as influential as her husband (Franklin) and her uncle (Theodore)! Learn how Eleanor Roosevelt went from Depression-era icon to the United Nations.

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Eleanor Roosevelt biography for kids. Top 5 Eleanor Roosevelt facts. Eleanor Roosevelt quotes. Downloadable Printable Eleanor Roosevelt Coloring & Activity Pack

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video and quiz on BrainPopJr.

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BrainPOP Jr. - Animated Educational Site for Kids - Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology

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The exceptional life of Benjamin Banneker - Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua

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read about Greta Thunberg in this article from Time for Kids

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In August 2018, Greta Thunberg skipped school. She sat outside one of Sweden's main government buildings with a sign. It read "School Strike × strike ANDREA CHU-GETTY IMAGES a period of time when a person or group stops doing an activity in order to protest something (noun) School was cancelled when the teachers went on strike. for Climate," in Swedish. Greta was protesting. She was speaking out for the future of the planet. And she was doing it alone.

The next day, one person joined Greta in her strike. "That was a big step, from one to two," Greta told TIME. Then a few more joined her. Then came hundreds of people. Then came thousands. The young activist had sparked a movement (see "Wave of Change").

KAY NIETFELD-PICTURE-ALLIANCE/DPA/AP

Fighting for the Future

Greta first learned about climate change in elementary school. She saw a video that showed extreme weather and flooding. Her teacher explained that these were because of climate change. This made Greta worried.

EVGENIA ARBUGAEVA FOR TIME

Today, Greta is 17 years old. She gives speeches and meets with world leaders. She demands that people take action to protect Planet Earth. She has inspired millions of others to protest for the future of the planet.

In August 2019, Greta set out on a zero-emissions × emission BYOUNGJOO-ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES something given off (as a gas, for instance) (noun) We could always tell Mom's car by the white cloud of emissions from the tailpipe. sail from the U.K. to the United States. Last September, she spoke to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, in New York City.

JOHANNES EISELE-AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Greta asked the leaders to focus on science. Scientists have been warning about climate change for many years. Greta is angry that people in power have not taken action. "How dare you?" she said in her speech.

Wave of Change

ANA FERNANDEZ-SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET/GETTY IMAGES

Greta has inspired millions of people to speak out. There have been climate marches in countries all over the world. People carry signs. They wave flags. They raise their voices in chants. People do this to raise awareness about climate change. What actions can you take to help the environment?

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In August 2018, Greta Thunberg skipped school. She sat outside one of Sweden's main government buildings with a sign. It read "School Strike for Climate," in Swedish. Greta was protesting. She was speaking out for the future of the planet....

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Educational Videos for Students (Cartoons on Bullying, Leadership & More)

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George Washington Carver Story (Famous Inventor) Biography for Children(Cartoon) Black History Month

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read about Greta Thunberg on Google Books

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Zoë Tucker is passionate about picture books. In her day job as a picture-book art director and designer, she has worked with best-selling artists including Waterstones-prize winner Lizzy Stewart, Axel Scheffler, Nick Sharratt, and Helen Stephens. Also a budding author, the first picture book she wrote, Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine (September 2019), was described as "Inspiring, feminist, and informative in equal parts" by Kirkus.

Zoe Persico is an author and illustrator with a love for the wild, the wondrous, and the whimsical. Along with bringing her own bags while shopping, using reusable items, and thrifting, she joined working on this book to help spread the important message of fighting climate change. Born and bred in the Midwest, she currently resides in Florida with her partner and dog.

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This inspiring picture book retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg-the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world's climate crisis-using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children. Greta is a little girl who lives in a beautiful forest threatened by Giants.

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The House that Jane Built, by Tanya Lee Stone on Storyline Online

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The House That Jane Built read by Kiernan Shipka

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This is the story of Jane Addams, the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, who transformed a poor neighborhood in Chicago by opening up her house as a community center.

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watch this video from National geographic

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Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.

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Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858-January 6, 1919) was the 26th president of the United States. He pushed the country toward progressive social and economic reforms.

Theodore Roosevelt stares down from Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota. He is alongside giants: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln. Roosevelt is the only 20th-century president whose face is carved into the mountain. He was sworn in as the 26th president on September 14, 1901. At age 42, he was the youngest man ever to hold the office. Today, changes made during his presidency still impact the U.S. Who was this legendary American?

The Making of a Hero

As a young boy, Roosevelt suffered from asthma. He was considered too weak for school. So he was educated at home. His father, Theodore Sr., insisted that Roosevelt exercise. "Make your own body," he urged his son. Roosevelt took up boxing and wrestling, and built up his .

Throughout his life, Roosevelt was drawn to challenges. At 22, he climbed the Matterhorn. It's a 14,692-foot-high mountain in Europe. As police commissioner in New York City, he took on corrupt police officers. He also actively enforced the law. During the Spanish-American War, he led his men at the Battle of San Juan Hill, in Cuba. He came home to tales of his bravery on the battlefield.

Roosevelt was more than a politician. He was a writer, an explorer, and a naturalist. He was the first U.S. president to make protecting the environment a political issue. He created the U.S. Forest Service. He also set aside 150 national forests, 51 national wildlife refuges, and five national parks.

A Square Deal for All

In 1900, Roosevelt became William McKinley's vice president. A year later, he became president after McKinley was killed. Early in his presidency, Roosevelt, a Republican, decided that it was the government's job to control big business. Unlike past presidents, Roosevelt was very hands-on when it came to regulating monopolies, or big companies. He went after railroad companies and other corporations that were competing unfairly. In 1904, the Supreme Court sided with Roosevelt. It ordered monopolies to be dismantled . "We must demand that big business give the people a square deal," he later wrote.

In his second term, Roosevelt pushed through the Pure Food and Drug Act and a meat-inspection law. At the time, journalists exposed unclean conditions in the food industry. These journalists were called muckrakers. Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle is one example. In the book, Sinclair described many of the terrible practices of the meatpacking industry. Roosevelt read The Jungle. Then he convinced the public and the government to reform the food industry. Both laws still help consumers.

PHOTOQUEST/GETTY IMAGES

A Man, a Plan, a Canal

Roosevelt is thought to have been the United States' first modern president. During his presidency, the U.S. became a world power. In 1904, he announced the Roosevelt Corollary. "[The U.S.] must keep order" in North and South America, he said. He also worked with Congress to strengthen the Navy. He believed these steps would discourage enemies from attacking the U.S.

Roosevelt also negotiated peace deals throughout the world. He believed that the U.S. should be a global force. After Russia and Japan went to war, Roosevelt convinced the two nations to send representatives to peace talks in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. There, he got the countries to agree to end their war. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

But, as Roosevelt saw it, "by far the most important action" he had taken in foreign affairs was building the Panama Canal. The canal was a vital shipping shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In 1903, the U.S. signed a treaty with the new nation of Panama. In 1906, Roosevelt took a trip to see the canal being built. He became the first president to leave the U.S. while in office. It took 10 years and $387 million to dig the canal across 50 miles of jungle. "This is one of the great works of the world," Roosevelt told workers at the construction site. "It is greater than you yourselves at the moment realize."

At that moment, Roosevelt may not have known how influential a president he had become. "I have used every ounce of power there was in the office," he wrote. "I do not believe that any president has ever enjoyed himself as much."

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Theodore Roosevelt stares down from Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota. He is alongside giants: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln. Roosevelt is the only 20th-century president whose face is carved into the mountain. He was sworn in as the 26th president on September 14, 1901.

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from Britannica School

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Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Elementary, Middle, and High School.

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read about Jane Goodall on Science for Kids

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Check out our fun facts for kids that feature interesting trivia, quotes and information related to a range of famous scientists.

Jane Goodall Facts

A well known primatologist, humanitarian and animal rights campaigner, Jane Goodall is famous for her detailed studies of chimpanzees in Tanzania, observing how they interacted in family and social situations.

Read on for interesting facts and information about the scientist Jane Goodall.

Born on the 3rd of April 1934, Jane Goodall is a British primatologist, ethologist and anthropologist.

Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, it supports research while actively running a range of conservation programs to protect chimpanzees and the environment.

Goodall studied chimpanzees in great detail, learning how they lived in groups, problem solved and interacted with their environment. She discovered that chimpanzees had the mental capacity to not only use simple tools but to actually make them as well, something that was previously thought to be uniquely human.

Unlike most researchers, Goodall named the animals that were part of her studies, normally numbers were assigned in order to remove the possibility of the researcher becoming attached to the subjects. Her unique methods stood out and were at times subject to criticism.

Goodall's work is similar to that of Dian Fossey, a famous American zoologist who completed a long study of Gorillas in Rwanda, releasing a book titled 'Gorillas in the Mist' which later went on to become a well known movie.

Goodall is a strong supporter of animal rights and has been part of many animal rights organizations. She was the president of Advocates for Animals from 1998 to 2008.

Goodall has been awarded many honors for her tireless work. These include the Kyoto Prize, the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, the Rainforest Alliance Champion Award, The Primate Society of Great Britain Conservation Award, as well as being named as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2002.

Celebrating Women's History Month in March 2022, Lego released a tribute set featuring Goodall and a group of chimpanzees in an African forest.

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Jane Goodall Facts, Chimpanzees, Institute, Scientist Information

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Check out our fun facts for kids that feature interesting trivia, quotes and information related to a range of famous scientists. Jane Goodall Facts A well known primatologist, humanitarian and animal rights campaigner, Jane Goodall is famous for her detailed studies of chimpanzees in Tanzania, observing how they interacted in family and social situations.

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A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr., by David Adler

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A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr., by David Adler

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Reading Rainbow

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Martin Luther King Jr. Story Read by LeVar Burton Reading Rainbow Story Time

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from Kid President!

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The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Kid President

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video from TED-Ed

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The breathtaking courage of Harriet Tubman - Janell Hobson

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Kids learn about the biography of Harriet Tubman, leader in the Underground Railroad who led many of the enslaved to freedom.

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read about Malala's life in her own words

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read this biography on Google Books!

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Meet Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad! Muhammad's life story is examined from her childhood in New Jersey where she began fencing at age thirteen, to a 2005 Junior Olympic championship and 2014 Senior World Team championship. Learn about Muhammad's Olympic career at Rio de Janeiro games where she won a bronze medal. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Big Buddy Books is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

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Meet Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad! Muhammad's life story is examined from her childhood in New Jersey where she began fencing at age thirteen, to a 2005 Junior Olympic championship and 2014 Senior World Team championship. Learn about Muhammad's Olympic career at Rio de Janeiro games where she won a bronze medal.

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read this biography on Google Books!

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Blast off into space and get to know Mae Jemison-the first African-American woman to ever go to space-with this fascinating, nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a new series of biographies about people "you should meet."

Meet Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut! Did you know before Mae was an astronaut, she went to medical school and joined the Peace Corps? But she never forgot her childhood dream to travel to outer space. So in 1985 she applied to NASA's astronaut training program. On September 12, 1992, Mae flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and made history-just like you can if you follow your dreams!

A special section at the back of the book includes extras on subjects like history and math, plus a fun timeline filled with interesting trivia facts about space! With the You Should Meet series, learning about historical figures has never been so much fun!

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Blast off into space and get to know Mae Jemison-the first African-American woman to ever go to space-with this fascinating, nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a new series of biographies about people "you should meet."Meet Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut!

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facts from StarKids

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Guess what?

Dr. Mae Jemison speaks fluent Russian, Japanese, and Swahili, as well as English.

Mae Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama on October 17, 1956. She was the youngest of three children. The Jemison family moved to Chicago when Mae was only three. It was in Chicago that an uncle introduced her to the world of science. At a very early age, Mae developed interests in anthropology, archaeology, and astronomy that she pursued throughout her childhood. Mae Jemison enrolled at Stanford University at the age of 16 and in 1977 graduated with degrees in both chemical engineering and Afro-American studies. She received a Doctor of Medicine degree from Cornell University in 1981. Dr. Jemison has practiced medicine as a volunteer in a Cambodian refugee camp and as a medical officer with the Peace Corps in West Africa. She was working as a general practitioner in Los Angeles, California when NASA selected her and 14 others for astronaut training. Dr. Jemison completed her training as a mission specialist with NASA in 1988. In September of 1992, as a mission specialist aboard the Shuttle Endeavour, Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman to enter space. In 1993, Dr. Jemison resigned from NASA and founded the Jemison Group, Inc. Among her current projects are several that focus on improving healthcare in Africa and advancing technology in developing countries.

A Question

On what three continents has Dr. Jemison practiced medicine?

The StarChild site is a service of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), Dr. Alan Smale (Director), within the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA/GSFC.

StarChild Authors: The StarChild Team
StarChild Graphics & Music: Acknowledgments
StarChild Project Leader: Dr. Laura A. Whitlock
Curator:J.D. Myers
Responsible NASA Official: Phil Newman

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Guess what? Dr. Mae Jemison speaks fluent Russian, Japanese, and Swahili, as well as English. Mae Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama on October 17, 1956. She was the youngest of three children. The Jemison family moved to Chicago when Mae was only three.

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from Britannica School

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Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Elementary, Middle, and High School.

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Read about Jackie Robinson on History.com

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When Was Jackie Robinson Born?

Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, to a family of sharecroppers. He was the youngest of five children.

After his father abandoned the family in 1920, they moved to Pasadena, California, where his mother, Mallie, worked a series of odd jobs to support herself and her children. Though Pasadena was a fairly affluent suburb of Los Angeles at the time, the Robinsons were poor, and Jackie and his friends in the city's small Black community were often excluded from recreational activities.

That began to change when Jackie enrolled at John Muir High School in 1935. His older brother Mack, a silver medalist in track and field at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, inspired him to pursue his interest in athletics, and the younger Robinson ultimately earned varsity letters in baseball, basketball, football and track while at Muir.

After graduating high school, Jackie attended Pasadena Junior College for two years, where he continued to have success in all four sports. Following the death of another older brother, Frank, in a motorcycle accident, Jackie decided to honor his memory by enrolling at UCLA in 1939.

There, he became the first Bruin to earn varsity letters in four sports - the same four in which he starred in high school - and he won the NCAA long jump championship in 1940. Jackie also met his future wife, Rachel, while at UCLA.

Did you know? In 1997, 50 years after Robinson integrated baseball, his number, 42, was permanently retired by every team in Major League Baseball.

Jackie Robinson in the U.S. Army

Jackie ultimately left college in the spring of his senior year, just a few credits short of his graduation. He accepted a job as an athletic administrator, but his dreams remained focused on the field of play.

He spent two years playing semi-professional football for integrated teams in leagues in Hawaii and California before being drafted into the U.S. Army in the spring of 1942, during World War II, although he never saw combat.

He was accepted into Officer Candidate School and was assigned to segregated Army units, first in Kansas and then in Texas. During this time, however, he remained close to Rachel, with whom he became engaged in 1943.

In 1944, Jackie was nearly court-martialed after he boarded a bus at Fort Hood in Texas and refused the driver's order to sit in the back, as segregationist practices in the United States dictated at the time.

He was acquitted on all the charges and court-martialed, but it has been said that his experiences during the proceedings likely shaped his response to the racist taunts he received, a few years later, from fans and fellow players at the start of his professional baseball career.

Jackie was honorably discharged from the Army in November 1944, and he took a job coaching basketball at a college in Austin, Texas.

Jackie Robinson's Professional Sports Career

In early 1945, Jackie Robinson was signed by the Negro League team the Kansas City Monarchs, where he starred for one season, hitting .387.

At the time, Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey was scouting the Negro Leagues, looking for players who not only had the talent but the demeanor to withstand the pressures associated with integrating Major League Baseball. Robinson was one of several players Rickey interviewed in August 1945 for assignment to the Dodgers' farm team in Montreal, the Royals.

It is said that during the interview, Rickey demanded that Robinson not respond when on the receiving end of racial abuse. Robinson reportedly said, "Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" To which Rickey replied that he was looking for a person "with guts enough not to fight back."

Once Robinson agreed to "turn the other cheek," a Biblical phrase used by the religious baseball executive, he was assigned to the Royals for the 1946 season, where he was embraced by Montreal fans and batted an impressive .349. His performance both on and off the field earned him a call-up to Brooklyn the following season.

Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers

His debut with the Dodgers in 1947 was greeted with a lot of attention-not all of it positive. Although Robinson quickly proved he belonged as a player, the color of his skin was an issue for opposing teams and fans.

Hearing racist taunts from fans and players prior to a game, Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese is said to have put his arm around Robinson on the field to indicate that he was accepted by those wearing a Brooklyn uniform. Still, Robinson endured racist obscenities, hate mail and death threats for much of his career.

It was his play in the field that ultimately silenced his critics. In 1947, his first year with the Dodgers, he earned the inaugural "Rookie of the Year" award. Despite having been signed by the Dodgers at the relatively old age of 28, Robinson would go on to hit .311 over a 10-year career. He became the first Black player to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949, when he led the league in hitting with a .342 average, most stolen bases (37) and achieving a career-high 124 RBI. Robinson was an All-Star every year from 1949-1954. He led Brooklyn to a World Series championship over the rival New York Yankees in 1955.

Robinson retired after that season, and thus didn't follow the Dodgers when the club moved to Los Angeles following the 1957 campaign.

Jackie Robinson Quotes

"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me ... all I ask is that you respect me as a human being."

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

"Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing; nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead."

"Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life."

"There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free."

"As I write these words now I cannot stand and sing the National Anthem. I have learned that I remain a Black in a white world."

"Above anything else, I hate to lose."

Jackie Robinson: Legacy and Death

After retiring from the Dodgers, Robinson acted as a sportscaster, worked as a business executive at Chock full o'Nuts and was active in the NAACP and other civil rights groups.

Weakened by heart disease and diabetes, Robinson died in 1972 at the age of 53 from a heart attack suffered at his home in Stamford, Connecticut.

Thousands attended his funeral service, including former teammates and other professional athletes. His eulogy was delivered by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who declared, "When Jackie took the field, something reminded us of our birthright to be free."

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Following his death, his wife Rachel, by then an assistant professor in the Yale School of Nursing, established the Jackie Robinson Foundation. In addition to recognizing other trailblazers in sports, the foundation awards the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship to minority students.

Robinson's jersey number 42 was retired by all big-league teams in 1997, meaning it could no longer be worn by any player. Those players already wearing the number were allowed to keep it.

The gesture was meant to honor Robinson's legacy and the historic impact he had on professional baseball, sports in general and, by extension, American society, and in recognition of the difficulties the athlete faced in breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.

Jackie Robinson Movies: 'The Jackie Robinson Story' and '42'

In 1950, Robinson played himself in a movie on his life called " The Jackie Robinson Story." And in 2013, a movie about Robinson's life called " 42 " was released to critical acclaim, with his widow involved in the production.

Sources

Baseball Hall of Fame. "Jackie Robinson." BaseballHall.org.
Lamb, C. (2019). "How Jackie Robinson's wife, Rachel, helped him break baseball's color line." TheConversation.com.
Breslin, Jimmy. (2011). Branch Rickey: A Life. Penguin Random House.
Jackie Robinson: 7 memorable quotes. ABC7NY.com.
Jackie Robinson. Baseball Reference.

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Jackie Robinson, the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball, joined the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, a date now famous as Jackie Robinson Day.