Who Is Jesse Owens?
The 1963 Olympics, Berlin, A time where Hitler ideology and Aryan superiority buzzes through the minds of the German people. Hitler plans to use this grand stage to promote, his new Aryan race, he plans on dominating the other countries in every sporting event. This in the mind of Hitler is one of his biggest propaganda tools, no other country even want to compete due to this fact, they do not want to give this man that satisfaction. Yet this hate turns to anger, and this anger leads to the competing of other countries. Countries such as the United States of America, with their soon to be star James Cleveland Owens, or as he is better know Jesse Owens. Leading up to the rise in fame of Jesse Owens in the 1963 Olympics, Hitler had came to
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full power in now Nazi Germany. These Olympics were Hitler’s “supreme propaganda tool” (Damon) and he would stop at nothing to make sure his “new” Germany would be perfect as well as his “new” Aryan race would reign supreme. Hitler in theory purged Germany of what he considered imperfections “City streets were swept clean, and vagrants were jailed.” (Damon) yet these imperfections were just normal people, Jews, Blacks, overall anyone Hitler disagreed with. These actions caused many country to consider a boycott of the games, “Americans strongly favored a U.S. boycott of the games. They were not alone. Many countries that had planned to participate in the 1936 Games belonged to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which was also shocked by the fuhrer's actions.” (Damon). This was not good news for Hitler if he wanted to show his Aryan potential. Yet after great thought all the other counties decided to compete, and with this competition along came Jesse Owens. “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.” (Owens) This quote from Jesse Owens the 1963 American track star, summed in short phrase what Jesse's life consisted of. Jesse Owens grew up in the small town of Oakville, Alabama, in poverty. Jesse early life what many would consider a hard one he grew up picking cotton and going to school and his family having just enough to get by. Jesse got his start in running during high school where “he had been a champion in the 100, 220 and the broad jump” (Larry Snyder) he was what you would call a natural at the sport. From high-school Jesse went on to run at Ohio State University, this is where his coach, Larry Snyder, help Jesse unlock his full potential, eye always set on the Olympic Games. Throughout Jesse’s college life he broke records many different track and field events, even made it to the Olympic Qualifiers. Where he would be selected to compete in the games. This decision wouldn’t be one that Jesse could make likely due to the Hitler regime being one of racism and bigotry. Yet Jesse goes, and wins four gold medals stunning the world, having even Germans shouting his name “YES-SAY!” “YES-SAY!” “Yes-say OV-VENS!” (Bennett). This was a true heroic moment showing that no matter what nationality, skin color, or even wealth can determine what a person can
do. Jesse Owens had an immediate impact after the 1963 Olympic Games, he showed that race does not determine your abilities. In the midst of all of the Hitler ideology this was a huge deal, an African American walking into the heart of Berlin and showing up all of the German athletes. That was something that would never even been thought of, a “middle finger” type situation to the entire Hitler regime. Continuing on in Jesse’s life he stayed this beacon of equality, known for way more than just his record breaking feats of athleticism. Jesse Owens an idol, symbol, beacon, overall what many would consider a true American hero. He was the shining star of 1963 Olympic Games, single handling humiliating Hitler on a grand stage. Hitler’s Olympic propaganda machine he wished so desperately to use to show of his “master” Aryan race. Yet one man could take that false pride and hope of supposedly superior race, and throw it away. Jesse Owens showed everyone not just the American people but people of all nations that no matter what your skin color is you can do anything and be anything you want to be, no one man or group can stop you. Quoting again the late great Jesse Owens “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.” (Owens)
full power in now Nazi Germany. These Olympics were Hitler’s “supreme propaganda tool” (Damon) and he would stop at nothing to make sure his “new” Germany would be perfect as well as his “new” Aryan race would reign supreme. Hitler in theory purged Germany of what he considered imperfections “City streets were swept clean, and vagrants were jailed.” (Damon) yet these imperfections were just normal people, Jews, Blacks, overall anyone Hitler disagreed with. These actions caused many country to consider a boycott of the games, “Americans strongly favored a U.S. boycott of the games. They were not alone. Many countries that had planned to participate in the 1936 Games belonged to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which was also shocked by the fuhrer's actions.” (Damon). This was not good news for Hitler if he wanted to show his Aryan potential. Yet after great thought all the other counties decided to compete, and with this competition along came Jesse Owens. “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.” (Owens) This quote from Jesse Owens the 1963 American track star, summed in short phrase what Jesse's life consisted of. Jesse Owens grew up in the small town of Oakville, Alabama, in poverty. Jesse early life what many would consider a hard one he grew up picking cotton and going to school and his family having just enough to get by. Jesse got his start in running during high school where “he had been a champion in the 100, 220 and the broad jump” (Larry Snyder) he was what you would call a natural at the sport. From high-school Jesse went on to run at Ohio State University, this is where his coach, Larry Snyder, help Jesse unlock his full potential, eye always set on the Olympic Games. Throughout Jesse’s college life he broke records many different track and field events, even made it to the Olympic Qualifiers. Where he would be selected to compete in the games. This decision wouldn’t be one that Jesse could make likely due to the Hitler regime being one of racism and bigotry. Yet Jesse goes, and wins four gold medals stunning the world, having even Germans shouting his name “YES-SAY!” “YES-SAY!” “Yes-say OV-VENS!” (Bennett). This was a true heroic moment showing that no matter what nationality, skin color, or even wealth can determine what a person can
do. Jesse Owens had an immediate impact after the 1963 Olympic Games, he showed that race does not determine your abilities. In the midst of all of the Hitler ideology this was a huge deal, an African American walking into the heart of Berlin and showing up all of the German athletes. That was something that would never even been thought of, a “middle finger” type situation to the entire Hitler regime. Continuing on in Jesse’s life he stayed this beacon of equality, known for way more than just his record breaking feats of athleticism. Jesse Owens an idol, symbol, beacon, overall what many would consider a true American hero. He was the shining star of 1963 Olympic Games, single handling humiliating Hitler on a grand stage. Hitler’s Olympic propaganda machine he wished so desperately to use to show of his “master” Aryan race. Yet one man could take that false pride and hope of supposedly superior race, and throw it away. Jesse Owens showed everyone not just the American people but people of all nations that no matter what your skin color is you can do anything and be anything you want to be, no one man or group can stop you. Quoting again the late great Jesse Owens “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.” (Owens)