The Beginning of Jesse Owens Life Jesse Owens was born in Alabama on September 12,1913. His real name was “James Clevland” but then changed it to “Jesse”. Jesse Owens was the seventh child of Henry and Emma Owens. Owen's’ father worked as a sharecropper and his grandfather was a slave. A sharecropper is a tenant farmer who gives a part of each of his crops as rent. When Owens first went to elementary school, there was a lot of controversy about him. Since he went to a white school, many people thought differently about him especially the principal. According to https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/historpedia/home/specific-individuals/how-jesse-owens-impacted-the-nation-fall-2012, the principal thought that since Owens was black and from Alabama, he would not be able to read or write. Owen’s first success was during the year of 1928. It was in …show more content…
Cleveland, Ohio where he set the junior high school records by clearing twenty two feet and eleven inches in a broad jump. According to http://www.jesseowens.com/about/, Jesse Owens won the Ohio State championship for track three times in a row. During his senior year, Jesse set a new high school world record by running 100 yards in 9.4 seconds. Owens also broke the world record by running a 220 yard dash in 20.7 seconds. His accomplishments led to him being recruited by many colleges for a track scholarship. Eventually, Owens chose his college. The college he decided to go to was OSU (Ohio State University). Throughout college, Owens work very often to support his wife Ruth. Owens work as an elevator operator, a waiter and as a librarian. He did all of this and still had enough time to fit in track practice and record breaking. This is Jesse Owens’ backstory.
Owens Achievements
Jesse Owens achieved many things that only a few people have achieved in track running.
According to ttp://sports.jrank.org/pages/3577/Owens-Jesse-Awards-Accomplishments.html, in 1928, Owens won a gold medal for the 100-yard dash and a 200-yard dash during the National Interscholastic Championship. Also, was the first American man to in the Olympic Track and field to win four gold medals in one Olympiad. http://www.jesseowens.com/about/ says “In 1936, Jesse became the first American in Olympic Track and Field history to win four gold medals in a single Olympiad by winning four gold medals: 100 meter dash in 10.3 seconds (tying the world record), long jump with a jump of 26' 5 1/4" (Olympic record), 200 meter dash in 20.7 seconds (Olympic record), and 400 meter relay (first leg) in 39.8 seconds (Olympic and world record).” Finally in 1976, Jesse was awarded the Presidential medal of freedom by Gerald R. Ford. This shows the different types of achievements Jesse Owens
earned.
Owens Teachings Jesse Owens has inspired many people throughout decades. He has taught people that good sportsmanship and teamwork are a key to success. According to http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jesse_owens.html, Jesse says “If you dont try to win, you might as well hold the Olympics in someones backyarad.” This quote exclaims that in order to succeed, you must try. Another important saying that Owens says is “Friendships born on the athletic strife are the real in the gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.” Also according to https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/784622.Jesse_Owens, Owens says “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” This shows the things that Jesse Owens wants to teach his audience.