Robinson poses in the dugout with Dodgers teammates as he makes his historic debut on April 15, 1947. With Robinson, from left, are Johnny "Spider" Jorgensen, Harold "Pee Wee" Reese, and Eddie Stanky.

In the 1940s, Major League Baseball owners debated about the integration of African Americans into professional baseball because they did not think that the white audiences would want to watch African Americans play baseball. Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, signed a contract with Jackie Robinson. This contract made Branch Rickey the first person to successfully end segregation in Major League baseball, and draft an African American into the league. Through diplomatic speeches and letters, Robinson was able to change the views of many people, and help them to understand that African Americans are equal to everyone else and should be allowed to play in the Major Leagues.