The Human Race

Grace Spellman
Contemporary American History: 153
March 14th, 2017

0
 Jesse Owens, an African American track & field Olympian, is a hero to all athletes, and to

anyone that has been subjected to discrimination because of their race. Although his presence

during the 1936 Olympics was not welcomed, mainly because of Adolf Hitlers presence, Owens

still desired to win for himself. Since America, during this time was still fully contributing to

their filthy habits of racism, Owens was already used to being subjected to hateful comments,

even by other fellow teammates1 . Pre-World War II, 1936 Germany was under control of the

despotic Hitler and the Nazis. Nazi propaganda was spreading throughout Germany, giving

people a sense of a false reality that the Aryan race (German) was superior to all other racial

backgrounds, and that those who were not Aryan were inferior and not to be trusted. Owens

disproved this foolish theory by winning four gold medals, beating the supposed superior

Germans at their own Olympics. Jesse Owens victories contributed to breaking the racial

stereotypes in America, Germany, and for future Olympics to come.

In 1936 America was a divided country. Segregation was in full effect, and Jesse Owens grew up

with this ignorance. People of color were viewed as less than, and because of that, they werent

given the same opportunities as whites were. For young Jesse, he embraced this as a challenge.

To prove no matter who you are, or what you look like, you can be successful in anything. It all

began in 1928, when Jesse began setting records for his Junior High School in Ohio for track &

field. He continued this streak in High School finally landing him on the track & field team in

College, at Ohio State University2. Owens continued to astonish everybody, not just because he

was a remarkable athlete, but because he was black, and his talent was unexpected. Owens

finally participated in the Big Ten Championships in May, 1935, where he set three world

records in the span of 45 minutes. After that, he wasnt just known for being a great runner, but

now it was known he was the best runner. Owens was then admitted into the 1936 Berlin

1
Olympics, where he would make history. Although Owens fellow American teammates were

just as passionate about their sport, and being part of a team, most still didnt accept Owens as

one of them. They rejected him, and Jesse ignored it. He figured since he already dealt with

racism back home, why will Berlin be any different?3 Which was a disturbing comparison, but

unfortunately true. Even though Jesse accomplished all these so-called impossible tasks back

home, America still wasnt impressed. Then the 1936 Olympics happened. Jesse brought home

four gold medals in track & field, leaving everybody in the dust. He was the first American, first

black man, and first in the world to do that4. People in America began to open their eyes that yes,

this man was colored, but he could still be supremely talented, regardless of his race. Americans

realized, and accepted that Jesse Owens was one of them. Owens wasnt asking to be treated like

some hero, he just wanted to break those racial stereotypes, and he didfor the whole world to

see. For the futures sake, American athletes of all races are now viewed by their ability, and not

by their skin color, thanks to Jesse Owens.

Nazi Germany was not welcoming of anybody that wasnt pure German. Hitler made this very

clear by spreading Anti-Semitic propaganda all over the country, trying to make Jews appear

evil, as well as other races. Hitler deemed the Germans Aryan, the supreme race. He was

planning to prove this theory at the 1936 Olympics, which he was hosting in Berlin5. Hitler may

not have known who Jesse Owens was before the Olympics, but after, it would be a name he

would never forget. Owens defeated every Aryan he competed against. Hitler was infuriated.

Jesse Owens not only proved Hitler wrong, but he did it in front of every German watching,

placing a great amount of doubt in Germany, by shaking the trust in their Fuhrers teachings. As

well as enhancing the knowledge that there is no perfect race, we are all flawed, and we are all

equally talented. Hitler already showed signs of doubt when he disallowed any Jews from

2
competing on the German Team. He was intimidated by other races, and feared they would beat

his not-so-perfect raceand they did. The 1936 Olympics was a demoralizing loss for Germany

but an even bigger loss for Nazi Germany.

The Olympics are supposed to be a place where people of all countries, of all backgrounds, are

welcome. But that doesnt mean they were treated equally. Specifically, during the 1936

Olympics, America wasnt even going to participate, because Germany wouldnt allow any

Jewish athletes on their team6. During every medal ceremony, it was required for every athlete,

no matter what nationality to Heil Hitler. By participating in this act, you were pretty much

giving this fascist leader your respect, as if you were bowing before him. That was why when

Jesse Owens was given his gold medals in four different ceremonies, he didnt Heil Hitler like

the others, instead he and other fellow teammates gave the American salute. They didnt salute to

Hitler nor to Germany but to America. Owens was cheered on, and applauded when he got his

medals. This also angered the Fuhrer. The other athletes there admired Owens courage. Jesse

Owens saluting was a silent insult to Hitler, expressing how injustice would not be tolerated;

especially at the Olympics, a place where everyone should be equal. In the future, this

courageous act would go down in Olympic history.

In conclusion, Jesse Owens demonstrated how the world should not judge a man by his race. He

amazed Americans when he set three world records, beating a field of Caucasians, letting his

talent shine, not his color. Jesse Owens won his race in the 1936 Olympics, and conquered the

stereotype against his race. Owens proved Nazi Germany wrong, that we are all equal, and

nobody is superior to others7. He didnt give in to the pressure of Hitler, he wasnt fooled, Jesse

Owens was an intelligent man, on and off the track. Owens had everyone see his talent in full

effect, nobody would forget it. His legacy lives on by being one of the best athletes ever, but

3
mainly for proving that focusing on race is irrelevant. Jesse Owens contributed to breaking the

racial stereotypes in America, Germany, and for future Olympics to come.

4
 1Notes

. Taha, Leila. "Jesse Owens Biography: Olympic Triumphs, Olympic-Sized

Struggles."Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

2 . "About Jesse Owens." About | Jesse Owens. Ed. Luminary Group. LLC, Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

3 . Davis, Clive. "Jesse Owens: The Black American Runner at the Nazi Olympics."Express.co.uk.
Express.co.uk, 22 May 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

4 . "About Jesse Owens." About | Jesse Owens. Ed. Luminary Group. LLC, Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

5 . Rothman, Lily, and Liz Ronk. "Jesse Owens, Hitler and the Legacy of the 1936 Summer
Olympics: Photos." Time. Time, 03 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

6 . Davis, Clive. "Jesse Owens: The Black American Runner at the Nazi Olympics."Express.co.uk.
Express.co.uk, 22 May 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

7 . Rothman, Lily, and Liz Ronk. "Jesse Owens, Hitler and the Legacy of the 1936 Summer

Olympics: Photos." Time. Time, 03 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

Annotated Bibliography

1. Taha, Leila. "Jesse Owens Biography: Olympic Triumphs, Olympic-Sized

Struggles."Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 11 Mar.

2017.
 Leila wrote this resourceful article giving a quick history lesson on Jesse Owens past,

for example beating records, his various schools he attended, and the 1936 Olympics. This

source explains in depth how he earned the title the best athlete in the world. Although he was

upset that President FDR made no effort to congratulate him or even acknowledge his

achievements. This article complimented my content very well with historical facts pertaining

to Jesses background, and his athletic victories that broke stereotypes.

2. "About Jesse Owens." About | Jesse Owens. Ed. Luminary Group. LLC. Web. 11

Mar. 2017.

This is the official Jesse Owens website. It gives a brief biography of Jesses life,

specifically discussing the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which is important for this topic. The site

explains Jesses career in track & field, and how he began breaking records in Junior High. This

source talks about Jesse proving Hitlers Aryan theory to be incorrect. Its credible and

resourceful, as well as supports my thesis in that Germany got to see firsthand, a man of color

demonstrate that no race is perfect (Aryan), and stereotypes dont define people.

3. Davis, Clive. "Jesse Owens: The Black American Runner at the Nazi

Olympics."Express.co.uk. Express.co.uk, 22 May 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

Clive Davis wrote this credible article for the 80th anniversary of Jesse Owens huge

victory at the 1936 Olympics. Davis talks about how Jesse suffered prejudice acts from his

fellow teammates, as well as his classmates at Ohio State University. Also, how America was

still segregated during this time so Jesse was not allowed to live on campus or eat with his

colleagues. This article gives an inside look on how Nazi Germanys propaganda struck the

Olympians by surprise, and the Anti-Semitic remarks were unaccepted by the Americans. This
source consequently supported my message, that Jesse Owens configured the Olympic games,

to consider ability and not the race of the athlete.

4. Rothman, Lily, and Liz Ronk. "Jesse Owens, Hitler and the Legacy of the 1936

Summer Olympics: Photos." Time. Time, 03 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2017.

This credible source was written by Rothman and Ronk, it gives a better understanding

on how Hitler was humiliated at the 1936 Olympics. Jesse Owens proved Aryans dont exist in

front of every German watching. As well as how Hitler refused to congratulate Owens, but in

the end, it was Hitlers loss. This source supports my material explaining how Jesse broke the

racial standards in front of America and Germany, concluding their ignorance didnt affect

Owens, and he proved that to everyone.