Jesse Owens, An African-American Hero

On August 9, 1936, Jesse Owens, four time Olympic gold medalist would be known as an American hero. Owens having broken multiple world records in track and field during his time. He would achieve what so many African-Americans hoped they could.
Jesse Owen was born on September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama and was the youngest of ten brothers and sister. His parents Henry Cleveland and Mary Emma Owens were both children of slave works.His father was a sharecropper, but due to the economic downturn that was brought on by the Great Depression, he would become unemployed like so many americans in the 1930’s. However, his father recognizing the opportunities his family could get by moving to the north. They would take part in the great migration

He would work around Owen's work schedule to prepare him for tournaments. Owens determined to worked hard to perfect his skills in running would go on to high school and almost break a high school world record in track.
With his father finally able to get a job so he could provide for his family, Owens would take the opportunity of pursuing his dream of running professionally and enroll to Ohio State University. Larry Snyder, the Ohio State University track coach, realized Owens potential for running. He would help Owen to pay for his tuition so he would not miss practice because of work. Owen not having to worry about money and being able to focus on perfecting his skills. He would compete in the Olympic games in Berlin, winning four gold medals and breaking multiple world records.
The story of Jesse Owens is an inspiration story of how overcoming struggles and with hard work we can accomplish anything. However, as we now know from previous chapters in the book. There is always something more to the story. To better understand the factors that played in Owens’ life which contributed to his success as an African-American athlete, in the 1936’s Olympic games, and be recognized as an American hero. We would first have to go back to the beginning. Back to the time when racial segregation and discrimination against African-Americans had become a

Hitler trying to use the Olympic games as propaganda to show a united and greater Germany, but masking the true of the seclusion of Jews and the bigotry throughs blacks. Many nations would be hesitant to participate in the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin, as it would signified their support of what the Nazi army was doing in Germany. So how is it that Jesse Owens, an African-American during a time of racial segregation, would go down in history to be known as an American Hero. Was it because Owens had become the first African-American to win a Gold medal in the Olympics? Or maybe it was the Opportunities Owens had obtained from his coaches in school, who provide him with more practice time? Perhaps it had something to due with his cultural heritage? In order to better answer these questions. Let's look at the accomplishments of, John Taylor, another African-American Olympic athlete during the