Winner of the Spring 2017 StMU History Media Awards for
Best Article in the Category of “People”
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Hitler quickly turned Germany’s fragile Weimar democracy into a one-party dictatorship. During his rule, Hitler pursued a plan to harass one half-million German Jews to leave Germany. Hitler promoted a “master race” scheme that sought to keep the so-called Aryan race pure from racial contamination from all other races he deemed to be inferior. This Aryan race consisted of only Germanic peoples who had the characteristics of blond hair, blue eyes, and light colored skin. Three years after taking power, Hitler hosted the 1936 Olympics in the German capital of Berlin. This was his opportunity to put his “New Germany” on display for all the world to see.
As Hitler’s Nazi government prepared for these Olympics, athletes from the United States were also preparing themselves for the coming competition in Berlin. In the United States, African Americans were dealing with their own problems of racism. Not only was life hard as an African American in the 1930s, but life was even harder as an African American athlete. One African American, who would later become one of the most famous athletes in the history of Track and Field, was James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens. At the age of eight, he had moved to Cleveland, Ohio with his family, who had sought for better work and educational opportunities. “On his first day of school, he introduced himself as ‘J. C.,’ but his teacher misunderstood him to say “Jesse.” The young Owens bashfully accepted the mistake, thus taking on the name by which he would become famous.”1 Jesse Owens would grow up loving to run. He was the fastest runner in his school and loved competing against others. His dream was to attend the University of Michigan, but there were no scholarships offered in those days and his parents could not afford tuition. Instead, he attended Ohio State University, where he worked for the boosters to pay for his expenses.
In the Summer of 1936, at the Olympic trials, Jesse finished first in all three of the events that he competed in. He had trained hard in the preceding months, and the hard training paid off, allowing Owens to attend the Olympics of 1936, known as “The Nazi Games” or as “Hitler’s Games.” In actuality, these Olympic games were not originally intended to be games hosted by the Nazis: the “Nazis were never invited to host the Games—and probably never would have applied to do so. Instead, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had awarded the Olympics to Germany’s Weimar Republic in 1931 before the Nazi takeover as a way of welcoming Germany back to sports respectability.”2
Ironically, Adolf Hitler knew nothing about sports and expressed little interest in hosting the Olympics; instead he wished to host an all-German athletic celebration. “But Dr. Josef Goebbels, the influential minister of propaganda, glimpsed how Germany might score a tremendous public-relations coup and convinced Hitler to support both the Winter and Summer Games.”3 Influenced by Dr. Josef Goebbels, Hitler used these Olympic games as a political relation with other countries.
Several weeks after the Olympic trials, Jesse Owens competed in the Berlin Olympics and made a name for himself. He won four gold medals, in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relays, and in the long jump. Jesse Owens had set records and represented America in a humble and most respectable way, considering the circumstances. Even though many have claimed that Adolf Hitler refused to congratulate Jesse Owens, others go further by claiming that Hitler actually “snubbed” Owens:
By the end of that fabulous week in Berlin, an attractive yarn attached itself to the name of Jesse Owens. Supposedly, he was ‘snubbed’ by Adolf Hitler, who reportedly refused to congratulate him publicly after his victories. Actually, the story was concocted by American sportswriters, who were all too willing to read the worst of motives into Hitler’s behavior and to assume innocent excellence from America’s newest hero. Although it had no basis in fact, the story of ‘Hitler’s snub’ was repeated so often that people took it as truth. It remains one of the great anecdotes of American popular culture.4
Racism was as alive in the United States as it was overseas in Germany in the 1930s. German Jews were a persecuted minority in the 1930s, and African Americans were experiencing similar treatments of racism in 1930s America. “World reaction to Hitler’s program resulted in a movement to boycott Nazi goods and services, which included a movement to take away the 1936 Olympics from Berlin in an attempt to force the German government to cease its discriminatory practice against the Jews.”5 It was not until the United States entered World War II that sentiment against racism began to penetrate the American social consciousness. Even though Owens continued to face white racism in his own country subsequent to his Olympic victories, he later reflected on his experiences of racism: “What I’ve done is no more than countless other Negros (and Jews, Poles, Greeks and just Americans in general) have done…. I’ve been a Negro in America for fifty-seven years, and I want to tell you that [being black in America] can be pure hell at times and can shake anyone’s sureness. Often it’s worse if you were the world’s fastest human.”6 When Owens returned to the United States after the Olympics, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt refused to acknowledge his accomplishments or even invite him into the White House. It was not until 1979 that President Jimmy Carter presented Jesse Owens with the Living Legend Award. Forty-three years after his Olympic victories, Jesse Owens had finally been properly recognized for his great achievements.
Despite all the controversy that Jesse Owens encountered while doing what he loved, he is a true representation of perseverance and determination. Jesse Owens passed away in March of 1980 from lung cancer.
- Salem Press Biography Encyclopedia, January 2017, s.v. “Jesse Owens,” by William J. Baker. ↵
- John Rodden and John P. Rossi, “Berlin Stories,” Commonweal 143, no. 13 (August 12, 2016): 25. ↵
- John Rodden and John P. Rossi, “Berlin Stories,” Commonweal 143, no. 13 (August 12, 2016): 26. ↵
- Salem Press Biography Encyclopedia, January 2017, s.v. “Jesse Owens,” by William J. Baker. ↵
- D. A. Kass, “The Issue of Racism at the 1936 Olympics,” Journal of Sports History, no. 3 (1976): 223. ↵
- Joseph Boskin, “Jesse Owens: Running in the American Dilemma,” Review in American History, no. 3 (1987): 457. ↵
161 comments
Marissa Gonzalez
This article was very interesting and informative. I was not familiar with James Owens but he was really successful in the Olympics and deserved the credit he was not really acknowledged for which is unfortunate. I feel that this article compared the parallelism between Hitler’s racism to America’s racism. Even though Hitler’s actions upon his opinion were very extreme compared to America’s, it does not make the actions of racism of America right. This was probably a reality check in American life that made some people realize they’re not any less racist compared to Hitler. Great research!
Erick Martinez
This was a great article, it is so sad to see all Jesse Owens encountered in his life. He was forced to battle through some tough situations, especially considering the time period he lived in, but it is great to see how successful he was able to become. In the end Jesse Owens, a very humble man, received only some of the acknowledgment he truly deserved.
Irene Astran
The beginning of this article was very well done. I like that you gave an overview of the political climate in Germany first. It really helped describe the strenuous conditions that Jesse Owens must have been under during that time. It is unfortunate that this man’s accomplishments were not duly recognized until decades after his victories. I appreciate that you provided the information about him finally being given his due by President Roosevelt.
Zaraly Frasquillo
Let me start by saying, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt you are a jerk! Now that, I have that out of my system, I want to congratulate you for writing an amazing article. I am so happy that before Jesse Owens passed away he was awarded the recognition he deserved. It is just tough to understand now, how cruel people were back then (not saying that it is perfect now but, you get what i mean). I am just so proud of Jesse, he wanted something and he did not give up until he accomplished it, even if there were many obstacles. Great article!
Alexis Soto
Let me begin by saying what a great title. It caught my attention and I am sure others will agree. The article itself was well written and informative. The title may have gotten me to read the article but the writing is what made me want to finish reading it. I managed to learn a number a things such as his actual name being James or how Nazi Germany came to hosts the Olympic games. The best part about the article is how you were able to inform the reader of why this event was important not just to sport fanatics but also the implications it had on a world scale, and on a local level. Jesse winning was a loss for Hitler and a win for all those oppressed. I wait patiently for your next article.
Luke Trevino
wow really great article! it had me intrigued the whole time i read it. It was extremely well written and connected very well. I had never known of Jesse Owens prior to this article. His work is truly inspirational he stood against all odds as in being a minority, but still being able to go to college and race in the Olympics. It was sad that his title went unrecognized for as long as it did but like i said great article. Keep up the good work!
Alyssa Valdez
Very interesting article! It is so disappointing that Owen didn’t get the credit he deserved, when he won and even had to wait until another president acknowledged him. I thought your article was also very well organized and very well put together. It was very easy to follow along and enjoyable overall. I can tell you put a lot of effort into it!
Ana Gonzalez
Great article! It was well-written as it flowed nicely from paragraph to paragraph and it was also well-researched. You did a great job explaining how discrimination affected Owens not only in America but also when he traveled to Europe and participated in the games. I think that it is shameful that President FDR refused to acknowledge the success of Owens but I’m glad he received the Living Legend Award, because after reading your article, I do believe he is a legend. Great job!
Aimee Trevino
Wow great article! I had heard about Adolf Hitler having “snubbed” Jesse Owens, and always believed that to be true, so it is insane to read that it was actually exaggerated by an American sportswriter! That is pretty easy to believe, however. The fact that Jesse Owens was able to go to college and run for the Olympics is extremely amazing, especially when considering how hard it was for African Americans at the time. Overall, really well written.
Santino
Great article Briana. I knew of Jesse owens story before but had no clue of what else he had to face including what waited for him back here in America after those Olympic games. Very Informative.