Black History IS American History: Jesse Owens

Photograph: Courtesy Washington, D.C. Public Library

Although February is designated as Black History Month, I don't think telling the stories of the people who changed and continue to impact our Nation should be limited to only one month out of the year! Black History IS American History and should be celebrated Everyday! Although my Blog is usually shared once a month, during February I will present the story of an outstanding Black American every week. This week I'm sharing the life of Jesse Owens, a history making athlete and activist.

Jesse Owens is remembered as one of the world's greatest track and field athletes. He competed as a low hurdler, a broad jumper and a sprinter. Jesse was born in Danville, Alabama and would later attend The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. One of the most memorable moments in his athletic career happened at the 1936 Olympics in Munich, Germany. This was a time when Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was in power. Prior to the Olympic games, Hitler had bragged to the world that no Black athlete would beat any of his Aryan athletes. However not only did Jesse Owens beat the Germans, but he won four gold medals as an angry Hitler watched. At that time, Jesse was the most successful athlete of the games and the first American to win four track and field gold medals at a single Olympics. And because of his decisive win, embarrassing and dispelling Hitler's racist beliefs, Hitler refused to present Jesse with his medals. 

Although Jesse had proven himself as an athlete and had represented America with honor and respect, when he returned to the United States he experienced some of the same racial prejudice that occurred in Nazi Germany. For many years, that racial prejudice made it very difficult for him to make a living. It wasn't until 1976, when Jesse was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom that his achievements were fully realized. Jesse Owens died in 1980 at the age of 66.