Jesse Owens's Role In The 1936 Berlin Olympics

Through the years of 1750 to 1901, the journey of thousands of humans sailed out overseas. With many decisions, they all experienced something different, from those who were forced to leave, had to leave or chose to leave. The voyage of slaves, convicts and free settlers differed immensely, yet, they still had slight similarities.

“Hitler saw the Berlin Olympics as the supreme propaganda tool – the opportunity to present the bright and shining face of the new Germany…workers festooned Berlin with Olympic banners and scarlet Nazi flags with black swastikas…the streets were swept clean and vagrants were jailed (Damon

The Harlem Renaissance is known as a time when African American writers, performers, and musicians dominated American culture. During this time period many african american athletes were also introduced and being recognized by society. Before the Harlem Renaissance african americans were often not allowed to play sports with whites and had separate sports leagues to play in for blacks.This was the case for both team and individual sports like track and field, baseball, basketball, tennis and boxing. This was the case because many people still believed that black people were inferior to white people in many things including sports and should be separated. These are some of the athletes that were prominent during the Harlem Renaissance.

Growing up in southwest Atlanta, Georgia, I have been surrounded by ‘black success’ instead of just ‘success’ for the duration of my life. The blacks in my area are equally as successful, if not more accomplished than, the non-blacks, but we are always titled separately and put into a captive box. The box we are held in told young girls that they should aspire to be athletes, cosmetologists, or plain unemployed. The same box told young men that they could only be considered “somebody” if they were able to catch a ball well. These are occupations we would ‘best be suited for’; these are occupations that perpetuate the box. My dream since I was twelve years old has been to break down that box. I wanted to be known as ‘great’ and not just ‘great…for a black woman.’

Racism in America has played a major part in the professional life of African American. Not only has racism affected the normal day to day career but it has also severely restricted the sport careers for blacks. Around the 1920s is when African Americans got in the picture with sports. But the whites still refused to play in games with the colored so they made their own sports league for baseball. This was called the “Negro National Baseball League” and the “Eastern Colored League.” Baseball wasn't the only sports blacks were involved in though, the main African American boxer was named Tiger Flowers and he also held a title. A lot of jobs in America are held by white people, in our history the minority have been shut out and have not had the opportunities whites have. In today's society this still sticks but it's not as apparent.

In today’s day and age, many, if not most, people enjoy sports either by playing, coaching or spectating. At a certain point in time, not everyone was able to do these things. During the Civil Rights Movement, sports were turned upside down and sports became accessible to a wider range of people. Many important athletes such as Jackie Robinson came out of the era and opened the public’s eye. Several became activists or coaches and changed sports in a way that hadn’t been done before. Outside of their sports they became public role models and were looked up to. They overcame obstacles and fought through a lot of adversity not only from opponents and spectators but teammates as well. Had the advancement of sports during the Civil RIghts Movement

Their extraordinary accomplishments while in college are rarely ever seen, even today. Especially, in the face of ferocious adversity that clearly present for Owens and Robinson. As far as achieving the most for their respective colleges, it is clear that Jesse Owens is in a class all by himself. The eight NCAA national championships alone place Robinson seven national championships behind Owens. In this perspective, Jesse Owens had a bigger impact during college in their respective sports. Jackie Robinson is an incredible college athlete himself, participating in multiple sports. Owens long jump record would not fall for 25

“It never stopped, this running. We were constant prey, and the hunters soon became big blurs: the police, the gangs, the junkies, the dudes on Garvey Boulevard who took our money, all smudged into one. Sometimes they were teachers who jumped on us Mexicans as if we were born with a hideous stain. we were always afraid. Always Running.” - Luis J. Rodriguez, author of Always Running. To put it differently, this quote shows how Luis is impacted by racial inequality seeing as he viewed the world as a scary place for people just like him. Where they were constant prey among the hunters such as gangs, the junkies, and so on. In his autobiography, it tells the story of Luis experiencing racial inequality throughout his life such as in a normal day-to-day

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

Author Horatio Alger believes that commercial success can be accomplished by working hard and that people are solely judged by their worth. In Harlon L. Daltons essay he argues about how Alger’s statement is false and a myth.

Racism is a part of American history that can never be forgotten; a dark past that shows the constant mistreatment of African-Americans. Although African-Americans were freed from slavery in the 1860’s, discrimination continues to be seen today. Racism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one 's own race is superior. The white supremacy woven into mainstream American culture led to the continued widespread exclusion of African-Americans. In the sporting world, race is a widely discussed topic that frequently comes up. In today’s society creating an equal playing field and environment for athletes of all races is essential for the success of a sport. Based

The physical effects of war were debilitating, longer lasting and deadly to the victim. The emotional injuries, on the other hand, were extremely insidious. This was the era before the knowledge about PTSD was little, thus many veterans suffered from the unique and stranger experiences to most individuals (Hillenbrand 30). On the other hand, the Berlin Olympics of 1936 furthermore represents an important role in the book. In the Olympics, Jesse Owens, an African American athlete won the four medals thus defying the racist beliefs of the Nazis that the blacks were inferior.

African-Americans were convicted in immense amounts during the 1880’s. Not only were they convicted, but they were also treated in a way that seemed to be a by-product of slavery. Black people were excluded from public locations and were “left up to grow up in ignorance and vice.” They weren’t given a chance to be part of daily activities among whites, and

African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States. They have endured severe oppression and racism for many years and suffered under Jim Crow Laws as well which were created specifically

One would never know how profound reading original documents for a class that was taking for mere boredom can be. America Views the Holocaust 1933-1945: A Brief Documentary History, by historian Robert Abzug, did indeed change my thoughts and possibly altered my degree selection. I came to be fascinated by the historical presentation of Abzug and the essays, which focus on whether or not history is true and the denial of one of the most horrific events in the world. Being exposed to their essays while reading Taking Sides: America Views the Holocaust 1933-1945: A Brief Documentary History for one of the classes I am taking this semester. I have never been much of a reader but somehow, the essays, documents and stories both encouraged my thinking and question my belief in historical truths. If anything, the truths that were presented are capable of making one see history through different eyes. Abzug states in the Preface, the book "offers a selection of original documents that illustrate the varied