An Interview with ​Jackie Robinson 

By: ​Lily Anderson 4A 

 
Set The Stage:​ Give a brief description of where you are and why you are 
interviewing your subject…. 

I am interviewing Jackie Robinson at a conference following his induction into 

the Hall of Fame. I wanted to meet with Mr. Robinson to get his perspective on 
how he changed history for the better. 
 
 

Transcript of Interview 
   
Questions  Answers 
1  What do you remember from your  I don’t remember my father that 
childhood?  much because he left us when I was 
still very young. My mom had to 
raise me and my four older siblings 
by herself, so we had to learn to 
take care of ourselves. I was little bit 
of a rebel when I was in elementary 
school. I joined the “Pepper Street 
Gang” because I thought I was really 
cool, but my pastor talked some 
sense into me and helped me focus 
on more important things, like my 
athleticism.   

2  How did you get into baseball?  My older brother, Mack Robinson, 
was a big role model for me. He 
always pushed me to do my best. 
He won silver in the 1936 Berlin 
Olympics, so I strived to be as 
talented as him. It took me awhile to 
figure out that baseball was my 
calling because throughout my 
school years, I played baseball, 
basketball, football, and track and 
field.  

3  What was your college experience?  College was a little disappointing at 
 first because I was hoping I was 
going to get an athletic 
scholarship. I still decided to go to 
college at Pasadena Junior College. 
Two years later, after getting 
recognized for my athletic ability, I 
enrolled at the University of 
California - Los Angeles. I had great 
success there, as I was the first 
person to letter in all four sports 
that I previously mentioned.  

4  How did you feel when you got the  When Branch Rickey called me, I 
call from Branch Rickey?  was in shock. No African American 
had played in the Major Leagues. I 
knew it would be difficult, not the 
actual game, but the way others 
would think of me playing. Rickey 
believed that I would be a great 
person to break the social barriers 
of racism in baseball. He did a 
great job preparing me for all the 
struggles and threats and 
controversies I would go through in 
my career.  

5  What was it like playing in your first  It was very overwhelming. I was 
professional game?  making history that day. But like 
any other game, I wanted to do my 
best. It was packed, and the fans 
cheers filled the stadium as I stood 
watching from first base. I wish I 
could’ve still hit better because I 
went 0 for 3, but all-in-all, it was a 
very exciting, yet emotional, game. 

6  Did you feel safe playing with your  At first, yes, I was kind of nervous 
teammates and against other  playing with my teammates. I knew 
teams?   that they didn’t want me there. They 
signed a petition saying they would 
rather be traded than have to play 
with me. After being spiked in the 
calf with a cleat and having bats 
pointed at me as guns, my team 
finally came to my defense. There 
were still moments where I felt 
unsafe, especially when traveling, 
 but I knew my teammates always 
would have my back. 

7  Explain how you were able to keep  It was very hard. Even at a young 
calm despite all of the threats and  age, I always stood up for what I 
comments that were made to you.  believed and spoke my mind. Rickey 
told me that apart of my contract, I 
could not retaliate for three years. 
Let’s just say I bit my tongue a lot. 
After three years, though, I got to 
speak out and that was much 
better for me. People did not expect 
me to talk back, but I did with not 
only my words, but also my play.  

8  How do you feel knowing you  I am extremely honored. If you 

changed the course of history?  would’ve told me I was going to be 
the first African American to play 
professional baseball, I would’ve 
said you were lying or joking. My 
main goal, though, was to inspire 
others following behind me and 
open the eyes to those around me. 

9  Do you think you influenced the  Personally, I don’t think I really 

Civil RIghts Movement?  helped with the movement while I 
played. However, somehow the first 
three years of my career when I was 
not allowed to retaliate led to the 
practice of nonviolence in the Civil 
Rights Movement.  

10  When you retired, did you know you  Yes, I did. I wanted to help better 
wanted to be involved with the  the rights of African Americans and 
NAACP?  would do whatever necessary to get 
them. Since I was already famous, 
my name was very big and everyone 
knew me, so people listened to what 
I had to say about segregation and 
racism and the rights we had or 
didn’t have. I was thankful to be 
able to join the NAACP and 
fundraise for them in order to 
rebuild burned down churches.