Jesse Owens: A True National Hero

1. Jim Thorpe;  has been characterized as one of the greatest athletes America has ever seen. Thorpe was born on May 28, 1887 in a single room cabin in small town Oklahoma, Prague. Jim attended school at an all indian establishment in Pennsylvania, although he began his athletic career somewhere else. He began playing football and running track. From Carlisle he was selected in an third-team All-American in 1908. In 1909 and 1910 he made the first team, some say that he may dedicated his success to his coach Glenn "pop" Warner. At the age of 24 Thorpe became part of the all american team and sailed to Stockholm, Sweden for the 1912 Olympic games. Thorpe began setting records in multipart games, known as the pentathlon and the decathlon, those

The 1936 Berlin Olympics is the most infamous sporting event in history. It was widely thought that Hitler and the Nazis would use this event as propaganda. “Jesse entered the 1936 Olympics, which were held in Nazi Germany amidst the belief by Hitler that the Games would support his belief that the German ‘Aryan’ people were the dominant race” (“Biography”). Despite this knowledge, the United States chose to participate in the Olympics. One of the most famous athletes of the Olympics was Jesse Owens. “His stunning achievement of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin has made him the best remembered athlete in Olympic history” (“Biography”). It is a myth that Hitler did not want to shake Owens’s hand because he is black. Besides

In 1943, Dr. Elijah Anderson was born in the Mississippi Delta in the middle of World War II. In his family of five, Dr. Anderson was the middle child. His grandmother resided with them, serving as the midwife. During this time, his parents were southern sharecroppers that picked and chopped cotton for a living. However, his father, Leighton, also drove a truck in the Army Infantry during World War II. With only a fourth grade education, Dr. Anderson’s father was able to get a job in the Industrial Midwest were two of Dr. Anderson’s uncles lived. In this time of racial segregation, his family participated in the Great Migration movement, relocating to South Blend, Indiana. Here his father had a well-paid job at the foundry of the

As Jackie Robinson once said “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”. There is no doubt that Jackie Robinson has been one of most impactful baseball players to ever play the sport. For reasons such as pushing himself to reach his goals, facing many hardships, and being the first African American to play in the MLB, he has shown perseverance and been a role model to everyone.

October 23, 1945, Jackie Robinson shook hands with Branch Rickey, officially changing baseball and society, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson grew up in a poor household in Pasadena, California. He attended UCLA, making himself a four sport star athlete . Major league baseball had been segregated at the time, with the only black men playing in separate Negro Leagues. Branch Rickey, the owner of the Dodgers, wanted to break the color barrier. To do that, he had to find someone that could withstand racial discrimination and learn to not fight back when dealt with harsh criticism. Jackie Robinson took an amazing risk when he became the first African-American athlete to play in the major leagues. Robinson has been a huge inspiration to athletes, paving the way for blacks, not just in the game of baseball, as well as being an outspoken activist for the rights of American-Americans.

Bo Jackson is composed of three traits that make him an epic hero, Humility, National Heroism, and Supernatural Foes. Bo Jackson is one of the best athletes of all time if not the best. He competed at the highest level in two different sports, by not just playing them, but by performing at the highest level in both sports. He competed in the All Star Game for baseball and hit leadoff, and he played in the National Football Leagues Pro Bowl. There are so many stories about Bo Jackson that will make a person question if the things he can do are even humanly possible. A few examples of Bo Jackson’s abilities, were when he dunked a stick on a ten foot basketball goal, he could do a backflip while standing in hip deep water and he also hit a line drive baseball so hard the batting cage fell over.

Prisoner of war, olympic runner, and war hero are three words that describe Louis Zamperini. Many people know that Louis Zamperini was an olympic runner and in the war, but he was so much more. As a well known Prisoner of War and Olympic Runner, Louis Zamperini showed Americans that no matter what gender, no matter what age, no matter how brave you are, they should fight for what is right. He left a lasting legacy as a person who had integrity at all costs.

An icon is a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something. This man was not only an Icon in baseball, but a civil rights leader, a father of three, and a role model for all young adults. Jackie Robinson was a small town boy who had big-time dreams. He was from a small city in Georgia and always had outstanding athletic abilities. Not only was Jackie a baseball player, but he also played a major role in breaking the color barrier. Jackie Robinson has lived a successful life due to his determination to break color barriers, his determination to prove people wrong, and his outstanding athletic abilities.

Jackie Robinson is remembered as the African american that broke the color barrier for the Major League Baseball. Many words can be used to describe him, such as hero, powerful, stupid, anything of that sort, not all good, but not all bad. Keeping a cool head was key to his success, dealing with many racist names that he was called as he stepped up to the plate. With pitchers aiming at his head, he still became a very accomplished athlete in as many fields imaginable. Jackie didn’t pay attention to what people thought or said about him, just knowing he was going to get on base the next pitch.

Jackie Robinson not only made impacts on the field that were monumental, but he made impacts off the field that were equally as important. Jackie helped presidents get elected, get kids off the streets and into the most prestigious schools there is, and most importantly he broke the black color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson is one of the most influential people to ever live, he did things that people would dream about, he stood up for what he believed.

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” (Jackie Robinson).

Skin color doesn't define if one race is superior to other races. Jesse Owens was a participant in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was among the few African Americans who represented America. Even though all the odds were stacked against him, because of his color skin, he still went to Berlin to compete. Owens father, Henry Cleveland, was a sharecropper. Mary Emma Fitzgerald, Owen's mom, took care of him. Jesse Owen took a stand against racism at home and abroad through his defiant performance in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Hard Working, Strong,and Committed are three words that people think of in connection to Jackie Robinson. Many people know who broke the color barrier in baseball,was jackie robinson, but he was so much more. As a normal kid, Jackie Robinson showed the world that anyone could make a positive change is you stay hard working, strong and committed. He left a legacy as a world changer.

Did you know Hank Aaron played baseball with sticks and tin cans in his youth? This outline is about Hank Aaron and his accomplishments. Hank Aaron is known as the greatest player ever. He is also well known for his fight and courage to break segregation. You will learn how he broke the homerun record, the batting record, and most importantly, how he ended segregation.

Arthur Ashe was an African American boy, who grew into an ambitious adolescent and evolved into an accomplished man. During his lifetime he worked very hard at becoming someone important in American history. In his life, he became very successful and well-known for his contributions to society. Ashe may be gone, but his legacy will live on forever and this is his