Jesse Owens Inequalities

In the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, Mack won the silver metal in the 200m-hurdle (13). Learning to deal with criticism early was a major contribution to his success in life. He and his friends would be called racial names while just trying to play baseball at the local park (Kahn 10).

“Although I wasn’t invited to shake hands with Hitler, I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the President either.” - Jesse Owens. Jesse Owens was an African American athlete that won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics at Berlin during the Nazi regime. The 1936 Olympics was quite controversial because of the Nazi’s and their policies for minority groups like the Jews. It was so controversial that the United states nearly pulled out of the international spectacle. Germany wanted to use the Olympics to showcase their country. But Jesse Owens took much of the attention away due to his athletic display. Even with his legendary performance in Berlin, it didn’t change much of his status in the US as a black man. In the

Jackie Robinson was an important figure in the civil rights movement. His greatest accomplishment, however, was integrating baseball. He made many Americans excited about it because he was the first African American to ever play in Major League Baseball. Also, he did many things for the civil rights movement. The integration of baseball set off a reaction of different movements to desegregate places like schools, public facilities, and the army.

The two titles he is most known for is a minister and a Civil Rights activist. He has two names, one more known than the other. He was by far the most successful African American who ran for President until 2008 where Barack Obama won the First Black President. Can you guess who is? Another clue is that he is still alive. Who is he? Well, it is none other than Jesse Jackson. A man who is not only noteworthy and significant to American history , but Black history. Throughout this paper, a deeper understanding of Jesse Jackson will be discussed. Jesse Jackson's early life, education, accomplishments and contributions, and what he and his family are currently doing now.

Jackie Robinson- a revolutionary baseball player did not stop simply with changing sports, he fought in all aspects for the civil rights that he believed African Americans should have. “His courage and bravery played a major role in the history of integration, both on the field and throughout American society, and no history of the civil rights movement would be complete without noting Robinson’s major role… he was one of the movement’s strongest voices” (Gates). Jackie was a monumental and impactful voice in the Civil Rights Movement, he spoke out to the public and made his opinion and dream known that he believed African Americans deserved equal rights and status with whites in America. When his virtuous friend, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Georgia, Robinson asked Presidential Candidate Nixon to intervene and release King from jail (Gates). Also, Robinson corresponded with people like Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon to try and further civil rights (Anderson and Mosor). He was also arrested while serving in the army for refusing to move to the back of a bus and then was placed in martial court with all odds stacked against him, Robinson surprisingly won the case and was not convicted of the two charges for disobedience (PBS). Winning the case proved that Jackie

There are many people in the world who have made an impact on America. Many people are known for their strength ,courage, and willingness to fight for their beliefs. That is what Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens have in common; they fought for what they believed in. They broke color barriers, set records, and changed American history. Although they bear some minor similarities, the differences between Jackie and Jesse are clear.

As for Cesar Chavez, his struggles were not as significant, but he still experienced many hardships. Cesar came a from blue collared family. His parents owned a store and worked on a farm with over one hundred acres of land. However, when the Great Depression hit, his family was kicked off of their land for failing to pay taxes. While fighting to get their house back, all hope was eventually lost and they packed up and moved

Though Marion Barry faced many obstacles, he was able to change the black community in several ways. Even though many people judged him for previous mishaps, he had many hopes and concerns for African Americans.

Jackie Robinson forever changed the face of America for the better; he was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson didn’t let anyone stop him from playing baseball, even when no one wanted him to play. Discrimination is a big part of both the holocaust and Jackie Robinson's life, neither of them lost their faith. Jackie Robinson has impacted me because he has shown me that if I really, truly believe in something to go through with , even if no one else believes in it. Although people discriminated against Jackie Robinson, he did not lose faith, he stayed true to who he was, and did not let anyone tell him what he could and couldn't do, it is clear that Jackie Robinson changed the face of history.

Before I begin to talk about Arthur Ashe, I feel that it would be appropriate to talk about what was going on around the world at the time. One of the reasons why Arthur Ashe was famous was because he was African American and in that time period, americans found themselves question the ideals of the country. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence "that all men are created equal", yet africans were segregated from everything; from schools to water fountains. Africans were treated like second class citizens even though many of them have brought fame and honor to the country. Many black athletes would go on to shock the world, including Jesse Owens who would win four gold medals in the 1936 in Nazi Germany Olympics, and Jackie Robinson who became the first major league african american baseball player. Among these famous players was Arthur Robert Ashe Jr.

One of the most influential events in American history occurred when Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This accomplishment and others that he would achieve in his life time, were inspiring given the historical context in which he rose to fame. Jesse Owens created a historic legacy not just because of his record finishes on the track, but also due to the challenging times in which he competed.

Muhammad Ali, born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, is a hero for many people. Cassius lived in a time where black people were considered inferior to white men. “I remember one time when Cassius was small,” Mrs. Clay later recalled. “We were downtown at a five-and-ten-cents store. He wanted a drink of water, and they wouldn’t give him one because of his color. That really affected him. He didn’t like that at all, being a child and thirsty. He started crying, and I said, ‘Come on; I’ll take you someplace and get you some water.’ But it really hurt him.” (http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/civil-rights-movement/essays/importance-muhammad-ali) He became a role model for many generations and for many people of all race, ages, and religions. Here are different ways he affected the world.

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” This quote said by Jesse Owens says in order to make your dreams reality, you have to believe in yourself. You have to WANT to accomplish your dreams, discipline yourself when you make a mistake or slack, and put effort into completing those goals. Have you ever had a goal you wanted to complete, like maybe making a 100 on your next quiz?

Some might say Jesse Owens is not controversial because he did not change the racism in America. Jesse Owens said “When I came back to my native country, after all the stories about Hitler, I couldn't ride in the front of the bus," Owens said. "I had to go to the back door. I couldn't live where I wanted. I wasn't invited to shake hands with Hitler, but I wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either." This quote may be true, but Jesse Owens was influential and was an example that it does not matter the ethnicity or nationality, a hero is a hero.

Few athletes have transcended their sports to become a symbol of an era as did Jesse Owens. Enduring a childhood marked by grinding poverty in Alabama, Owens became a star athlete in high school after his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. His achievements earned Owens several lucrative offers to attend college as a track-and-field athlete, and he enrolled at Ohio State University in 1933. On May 25, 1935, Owens made national headlines for setting five world records and tying another record at the Big Ten Intercollegiate Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Although many historians consider Owens's performance that day the greatest achievement by any track-and-field athlete