The African American civil rights movement of the mid-20th century garnered widespread attention and support from both within and outside the United States, catalyzing significant legislative changes and societal shifts. In contrast, the American Indian civil rights movement faced relatively muted public perception and support, often overshadowed by other social movements, despite addressing equally pressing issues of injustice and discrimination.

While Jackie Robinson is rightly celebrated for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, his impact extends far beyond the diamond. His courageous stand against racial segregation made him an iconic figure in the African American civil rights movement. In contrast, despite their remarkable …show more content…
After retiring from baseball in 1956, he became the vice president of personnel at Chock full o’Nuts, a coffee company based in New York. He worked to improve conditions for employees and ensure fair treatment within the workplace. He established himself as a symbol for black success off and on the field. At the same time He became involved heavily with the civil rights movement, and worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He raised over $1 million for the NAACP in just his first year, involving himself in a fight for civil rights off of the field. Robinson also used cultural events to support the movement, hosting jazz concerts in his backyard to raise funds for civil rights causes. On June 23, 1963, he organized a concert featuring legendary musicians like Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie, raising over $14,000. These events not only generated money for bail funds for jailed activists, but also raised awareness and built community support for the civil rights struggle. Additionally, Robinson and his family actively participated in civil rights marches, including the famous March on …show more content…
Jim Thorpe’s athletic ability is recognized, but his fight for native American representation in film is often overlooked. Thorpe’s athletic career began in college in 1907 when he was discovered by renowned coach Glenn S. "Pop" Warner. He played football for Carlisle’s varsity football team and became an All-American player. From 1908 to 1912. His athletic prowess didn’t stop at football, as it carried over to the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. His success in the Olympics was possibly the highlight of his career as he won gold medals for the pentathlon and decathlon. He earned the title of “the greatest athlete in the world" from King Gustav V of Sweden. His gold medals would later be stripped from him due to his participation in minor league baseball, making him not an amateur athlete and violating the rules at the time. Many people see this as a great injustice. Despite the challenge, his athletic career continued, going pro in both baseball and football. He found more success in football than baseball, however it’s still impressive that he was able to go pro in baseball. He