Jesse Owens Influence

In General

James Cleveland Owens, more commonly known as Jesse Owens was an Olympic sprinter from Alabama. Along with winning four gold medals, Owens pushed for social change and became a role model for all Americans.

Childhood

Jesse Owens was born as James Cleveland Owens on September 12, 1913. He was born to Emma and James Owens in Alabama. When Jesse was 9, his family tried to escape racial discrimination by movng to an Ohio ghetto. He was called J.C. by most and got his name Jesse by a hearing mistake. His teacher asked James what his name was and he replied J.C. The teacher assumed he said "Jesse" and the name stuck.

High School

During High School, Owens showed that he was an amazing athlete. He turned heads after setting high school records including the high jump and the long jump. He also won most of the sprints including the 100, 200 and both the 4X1 relay and the 4X2 relay.

College

Jesse Owens didn't go far from high school to college. Owens decided to stay close to home and went to Ohio State University. He was the captain of the track team and won many events while also breaking many records.

Big Ten Captain

Jesse Owens was the first African American to be a big ten captain on any team. This was very significant because even in a somewhat segregated America, Jesse Owens surpassed these boundaries and became a Big Ten captain at the Ohio State University. A few months later, Owens was in the Olympics.

Record Breaking

In 1935, Jesse Owens had possibly the most accomplished 45 minutes of all of sports, breaking five records and tying a sixth. His long jump record lasted 25 years. Throughout all of his career, he broke records. He broke records in high school, college and in the olympics. Owens was a very accomplished runner.

Olympics

Jesse Owens was very successful during the 1936 Berlin Games, winning four gold medals. He equaled nine Olympic records and set three world records. He earned gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter dash, long jump and the 4X100 relay. He became an olympic legend after this impressive performance.

Hitler's Olympics

After Owens did great in the 1936 Olympic games, he became famous. But his achievements were even more impressive because he showed up Hitler and his "superior" Aryan race. He put a "chink" into Hitler's propaganda machine. He showed that the Aryan race was not any better than any other race. After winning four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he became a hero back in the US and in Germany. He turned Hitler's own people against him. According to the Olympic webiste, "Owens’ achievements led the people of Berlin to hail him, an African-American, as a hero." (olympic.org) He opened the eyes of many people.

US Role Model

Jesse Owens became a hero after the olympics. In the USA and all across the world, Owens was being praised. His success on the track impressed all and for the first time, southern newspapers featured an African American athlete. He became a role model for all of America by defeating Hitler's "perfect" aryan race. Owens made it acceptable for America to stand behind an African American. And even though Owens became a hero, america's racial status was still unequal. Owens became a hero, but it didn't completely change racial issues.

African American Hero

It is odd to think that someone leading a nation is discrimintated by that nation. Even after defeating Hitler and his Aryan race, President Roosevelt still didn't shake his hand. He created a social breakthrough and started to fight racial discrimination. Although Owens was a hero, he still was discriminated just because of the color of his skin.

Never Gave Up on America

A few years after the Olympics, America stopped caring about Jesse Owens. Yet after America turned its back on Owens, he still supported the nation and his communities. He forced social change and became a role model in America. Two of his traits were hard work and personal responsibility. He became a role model with these principles.

Why Does It Matter?

If it weren't for Jesse Owens, the America we live in today would be very different. By winnning those gold medals, Owens gave everyone hope that if a war were to come, Germans were beatable. Owens showed that no race is better than the other and back home in America, he tried to give people equal rights.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jesse Owens was a big influence in American history. First of all, he was a very accomplished runner. Secondly, he won his races in a very important time and a very important place. The 1936 Olympics were in Berlin, in Hitler's Germany. There was a lot of propaganda at the time saying that the Aryan race was superior. Owens walked into Berlin and won all of races, and became a hero in Germany and all across the world. Finally, Owens pushed social change in America. He was one of the first African Amerians to be on the cover of a Southern newspaper. He showed that all races are equal and should be treated that way.

The End

I hope you learned something from my presentation. Thank you for watching!