Jackie Robinson changed baseball history and other sports by breaking the color barrier in 1947 to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He took the challenge and gave other African Americans a chance to follow their dreams and join professional sports. For example, he influenced the signing of African Americans like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, and more. He started the nonviolence movement by not reacting back to whites when they started yelling mean comments at him, not allowing him to go in places with the team, and throwing stuff at him. By not responding back he helped African Americans through a hard time and helped integrate baseball. He showed people that having the guts not to fight back is more powerful than having the guts to fight back. Before his baseball career he enrolled in the army, and in 1944 when he refused to go to the back on the bus he was predicted to play a part in the Civil Rights. Which he later did and changed history, but because of his action on the bus it gave people ideas on the things they can do to stand up. Also, in July 18, 1946 he testified about the importance of African Americans in the army. After retiring from baseball he became a spokesperson for the Civil Rights. He did this because of all of his experiences he had while playing baseball on and off the field. He ended up becoming the voice for African Americans athletes, Civil Rights, social and political causes.