Courageous Characters: Nelson Mandela and Jackie Robinson

     One similarity is Nelson Mandela and Jackie Robinson led non-violent protests. In the biography I read about Nelson Mandela, it said "He built bridges of peace between blacks and whites." This means that he didn't use violence to fix his problems, he used his words. In the biography I read about Jackie Robinson, it said "After baseball, Robinson became active in business and continued his work as an activist for social change. This means that he only used his words to fix problems. That is what social change means.

     One difference I noticed between Jackie Robinson and Nelson Mandela was that one broke the color barrier and the other went to fight against arpetheid. The text says, "Blacks and other non-white South Africans were forced to live separately and with fewer rights under a system of segregation." This means African-Americans have less rights than Caucasians. Nelson Mandela ended that. In the biography I read about Jackie Robinson it said, "Robinson began playing in the Negro Leagues, but he was soon chosen by Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, to help integrate major league baseball. This means that Branch Rickey thought he was ready to integrate into the MLB, he was ready to break the color barrier. Nelson Mandela and him are different.

Nelson Mandela

     Nelson Mandela was courageous  because he stood up for what is right. The text states, "Arpetheid was a system that forced non-whites in South Africa with fewer rights." This means that white people had more rights than black people. Nelson Mandela went to jail for 27 years. He stood up for what was right.
     The second attribute of Nelson Mandela is feeling fear, yet choosing to act. He was very courageous. The text states, "His fight cost him 27 year's in prison." When he was on strike, he knew he was going to go to jail. He still fought for more rights. He went through some tough times.

Jackie Robinson: A Baseball Hero

     Jackie Robinson showed us a lot courage for other peoples' rights. For example the texts states, "During boot camp in 1944 in Fort Hood, Texas, Robinson was arrested and court martial led after refusing to give up his seat and move to the back of the when ordered by the driver." This quote shows that when he said no to the driver he was fighting for African, American's rights. He also showed a lot of bravery by doing that.

     Jackie Robinson had the courage to take a unpopular stand. The text says, "Rickey also personally tested Robinson's reactions to the racial slurs and insults he knew the player would endure." This quote shows that Jackie Robinson didn't care about what other people had said about him. All he wanted to do is play baseball and nothing else. He had a strong personality. When he didn't react, they eventually got tired of insulting him.