Jesse Owens remembered being so hungry as a child that his stomach stuck to his back. Childhood poverty spurred him to finish lines as he rose to fame in high school and college as a track and field star, until he reached the ultimate challenge: the 1936 Olympics.
When he stood triumphantly on the winner’s block, gold medals in tow, making us proud, thousands of Germans applauded wildly and even Hitler politely waved. But then something unexpected – but not surprising – happened.
Newspapers later reported that Hitler had “snubbed the Black American.” But Owens remembered it differently: “Hitler didn’t snub me—it was [Roosevelt] who snubbed me... The president didn’t even send me a telegram.”
He returned home after winning his country FOUR gold medals – to a segregated America.
As final proof of Roosevelt’s discrimination, he invited ONLY the white Olympic athletes to the White House.
Still, Owens became a cultural hero, and a beacon to the world for what we can accomplish, despite America’s president NEVER acknowledging his win, or the wins of any of the Black athletes who had competed.
Through it all, Owens' determination to excel despite America’s disrespect is a powerful message to this racist country – and to us. He gave his sweat and tears to show he was the best – and we can be too!