Jesse Owens Contributions

In the realm of the color barrier, this African American gaining so much attention years after his contributions were made allows others to disclose that “To me, what he did meant I have a chance.” Therefore, he progressed the color barrier as he taught by example that achievements are a possibility and there isn’t a limit for blacks anymore. He taught them to keep pursuing their dreams and this proves evident now with the constantly increasing population of African Americans in all sports. These possibilities were only made possible due to the final understanding of Owen’s contributions by White America. When change was given the crucial element of time, it succeeded as finally in 1955 “Eisenhower honored Owens by naming him ambassador of
sports”. Once this award was presented, others realized the naivety they possessed when turning a shoulder to this hero. This leads to his presentation with the Medal of Freedom from President Gerald Ford in 1976 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1990. These awards go far beyond the realm of sports illustrating his success as an African American pioneer for black athletes and his ability to lead as a symbol of hope and opportunity. Furthermore he was recognized for his contributions when politics and sports were forced to mix during the 1936 Olympics.
Better late than never that Owen’s contributions to providing hope for people throughout the world in the ability to defeat the superior race were acknowledged. With every additional distinction given to Owens from postage stamps to streets and schools and stadiums named after him, his fame grew greater which in turn further ended the color line within the realm of sports because of his respectability all throughout his life. Along the same lines, “Ann Arbor made Jesse Owens a track immortal; Berlin made him a household word” and with that, it is confirmed that Jesse Owens was successful in his quest for racial equality in the realm of sports. When a black man can be the most noted athlete throughout the country and be discussed in the comfort of people’s own homes without a negative connotation, there is a success story to be told and Owens has
this. Throughout the years as Jesse Owens becomes a more and more prevalent figure, it is important to reflect on the tumultuous path that led him to his destination.
A man born into a definitively segregated world he worked to achieve racial progress within the realm of sports even as White America did little to budge. His ability to accept his position as an object in hopes that this would someday grow to something greater exhibits his wholesome approach to life. While an emblem of hope for African Americans throughout the country, he became a great inspiration for America as a whole too. He is a man that transcended the color barrier multiple times throughout his life and had a great enough influence to do so for future African Americans within the sports arena permanently. He deserves the distinction of a household name due to his ability to deal with his treatment as an object when he had success, his understanding and determined attitude when he returned to the bottom levels of American life, and his final rise to a heroic status. It was a long journey for Owens and one with much emotion behind it. It was a journey where the opportunities to crack and give in far outnumbered the successes he made, but it was a worthwhile journey. It needs to be understood that within the realm of sports the color barrier is just about vanished, however, in many other aspects of life, there is still much to accomplish. And with that, for the future of this country, and for civilization, and
for every minority or group that feels they are mistreated and misrepresented it is important to remember that “Hitler lived and died, regimes rose and fell, but Owens’ triumph lived on.”