Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens at Ohio State University. (http://www.lector.net/jul2000/owens1.jpg)

Jesse Owens was a leader in his own way. He was born on September 12,1913. He then died on March 31, 1980. Jesse was an African-American athlete and a civic leader who crossed boundaries that no black man at that time had crossed. He also made a statement by winning in front of the Nazi leader Adolph Hitler, who openly espoused white superiority. This was at the 1936 summer Olympics where Owens won 4 Gold medals and was by far the standout in the Olympics.

Owens in his starting position. (http://www.africanamericans.com/images2/Maya%20Angelou/J_OWENS.jpg)

Jesse was born in Oakville, Alabama but he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His original nickname was J.C. but one of his schoolteachers misunderstood him and called him Jesse. This name stuck and this is how we know him today. While attending Ohio State University, he set three world records and tied one in one meet. These records here in the long jump, the 220-yard dash, the 220 low hurdles, and the 110-yard dash. To this day, only one man only has matched his performance and that man is Carl Lewis.

Owens being awarded his medal. (http://www.mathdaily.com/lessons/upload/thumb/b/bb/250px-JesseOwens_1936olym.jpg)

After the Olympics Jesse had a hard time finding work. So he went around promoting himself racing horses and people for money. He was later awarded with the Presidential Medal by Gerald Ford, and the Congressional Gold medal by George Bush. Jesse Owens died from cancer in 1980.