He remembered being so hungry as a child that his stomach stuck to his back. Childhood poverty spurred Jesse Owens to every finish line as he rose to fame in high school and college track and field until he reached the ultimate game - the 1936 Olympics.
But when he stood triumphantly on the winner’s block, making us proud, with thousands of Germans applauding wildly, and even Hitler waved at Owens, something unexpected, but not surprising, happened.
Racist American newspapers reported that Hitler had “snubbed the Black American,” but Owens quickly refuted this lie: "'Hitler didn’t snub me—it was [Roosevelt] who snubbed me. The president didn’t even send me a telegram.'"
While Owens became a cultural hero, and a beacon to the world for what we could accomplish, America’s president NEVER acknowledged Owens’ win or any wins of the Black athletes who attended the Olympics. As final proof of President Roosevelt’s discrimination, he invited ONLY the white Olympic athletes to THE WHITE HOUSE.
But through it all, countering the narratives of racists, Owens' resilience and determination never to lose self-respect was a powerful message to this racist country and US. He gave his sweat and tears to show he was the best!
Even when racists lie, refusing to acknowledge our accomplishments, we will still triumph in the end!