Jesse Owens: A True Hero

Following his success in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens stated that “[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.” While Owen’s words were brushed aside at the time, this statement illustrates the color barrier that stood strong throughout Owen’s many triumphs. Often thought of as one of the best presidents of the United States, FDR fell victim to the degradation of African Americans along with everyone else. Jesse Owens was the first in a series of African Americans who transcended the color barrier for brief moments when it was to the advantage of White America in a time where African Americans were treated as objects. However, his restoration to the lowly levels of American civilization quickly returned upon his reentry to the country he represented. While subjecting himself to this continuous ridicule and embarrassment, Owens persevered as a true hero for the African American race, as optimistic people capitalized on the fame he obtained for brief stints. Therefore, acting as the first “nonwhite” hope, the eventual reputation he garnered from

his contributions to the country and his respectable nature afterwards proved to be an integral aspect of the eventual disappearance of the color barrier in the realm of sports.

Although throughout most of the 20th century the African American population was constantly degraded, they served an imperative purpose as White America treated men such as Jesse Owens as objects to progress their own agenda. With World War 2 looming in the distance, the 1936 Olympics needed a hero to oppose the tyrannical Hitler. When America needed to prove its relevancy and ability to defeat the Great Depression, the argument of “to go or not to go” because of anti-semitism was quickly neglected in favor of America’s need to showcase its strength. When out of 49 Americans “only Owens qualified for more than one event” his backing, for the benefit of the country, was unconditional. This occurred with knowledge by the United States that “The games don’t allow individuals to participate, athletes participate on behalf of the country.” Therefore, Owens is not thought of as an individual man but rather as an emblem of success and victory to the superiority of the United States as he “won four gold medals and set world records.” White America wanted his singular triumphs to be viewed as a microcosm of what the whole country can accomplish. Therefore, all that mattered for the United States was their domination of the track and field events as these games included the “first major collusion of athletics and politics.” Consequently, America needed a presence.
With each additional gold medal Jesse Owens won, they announced his name, but , more importantly, it was another tally for the rest of the world in their attempt to “shatter Hitler’s Aryan dreams for the Games.” In the times of a divided world filled with fear and apprehension for what Hitler had in store, a success story by someone other than a supporter of “Aryan superiority” settled minds worldwide that no group can truly be invincible. “Owens had been fine-tuned by history for the role history asked him to play” and he delivered for the United States even as they objectified him as “less than a full fledged human.” Owens possessed the ability to keep “his head down and kept competing as hard and fast as he could.” This was a behavior that helped him rise to prominence in future generations but was not considered at the current time even though he was the “acknowledged star of the Berlin Games”. Once again, this sheds him in a light where he is still a star for the United States and he still represents the demands and morals of that country. Every little mistake Owens made was analyzed and noted such as on his first two long jump attempts. However, “he easily qualified on his third and last jump” which was to the “immense relief of U.S. officials” since Owens was there to do his job by using his abilities to “refute Nazi propaganda.” Owens was hardly a surprise that delighted the lives of many Americans. Based on the way he has been treated it is clear that he was there for all business and the expectations he carried were lofty. Once Owens had done his job, just like any object people possess, his worth was downgraded. His return to the dregs of the United States illustrated the severity of the color line during this time and the arrogant actions of White America who only thought of what benefitted themselves.
Jesse Owens dismissal from the public spotlight immediately following the glory he gained for America in the Olympic Games demonstrated the longevity of the color line and resistance to immediate change.

The short term effects of Owen’s remarkable Olympic showcase immediately prevailed in favor of what America knew to be true. Following his victories, it was clear, “Owens was the hero of the Olympic fortnight, but he was rarely treated as one.” The way his country exploited him as an object continued as he was forced to put on free exhibitions allowing the country to take in greater and greater sums of money. However, Owens never caught a glimpse of this money and when he quit with the necessity to provide for his family, his use by White America was terminated and his delegation to the bottom of America followed without

surprise.
Jesse Owen’s attempts to help his family in times of financial need led to “expelling him from amateur athletics forever, despite appeals from other top athletes.” Thereby proving the common conception that Owens was thoroughly used by the United States. Furthermore upon his return, even in the instances he was recognized for his achievements on the national stage, he was told “he could have a room if they used the service entrance” and it was clear “his face never appeared on cereal boxes” like his fellow athletes and friends. The progressive Americans that may have thought of themselves as supportive of the black population failed to have any influence or stance regarding Owen’s arrival to the United States. His removal from the sporting arena and tracks caused the relevance that he had obtained to quickly disintegrate since he no longer had the ability to compete and showcase his success. Just as America has tried to hide their denial of rights and opportunities and their poor treatment of Indian Americans, they tried to limit Owen’s ability to act as a figure and symbol for black America.
Not only was he banned from what brought him into the national spotlight but he was “reduced to becoming a kind of circus.” Americans recognized that the world would never realize their fowl treatment of Owens or how he was really viewed within the country so they returned this man to a lowly life. With “no Hollywood offers, no endorsement contracts, and no ad deals” Owens returned to a role where “he had to fight to earn a living and support his family for years.” The benefits of a world class athlete did not apply to him and instead the way he was welcomed upon arrival seemed to suggest to younger generations that a black world class athlete is hardly anything at all. It cannot be denied that “He was a hero, but he was a Black hero, and the market for black heroes was limited” so he was condemned to a life where he had to have an “honest livin”. This great non white hope that provided the world with the opportunity for them to believe in themselves and the flaw of the Aryan race could be in the front when it came to being a symbol and emblem for the strength of the United States yet could not “ride in the front of the bus” on an everyday journey.
Thereby, as his fame disappeared so did his money, forcing Owens to race on dirt tracks in Cuba for a crowd of 3,000 people in hopes of getting small increments of money in return. Not only was he forgotten, but he was embarrassed and this accentuated the color barrier that was all but physically present. His importance or lack thereof never garnered him a visit to the White House. He prevailed as a struggling negro fighting the demands of the American nation. FDR chose to ignore his pervasiveness knowing that it would be short lived. Although this color barrier was still prevalent at the moment, Owen’s impressive reaction to the situation he returned to would improve the color barrier as time progressed and America had time to reflect.
With hindsight as 20-20, years after Jesse’s victories in the 1936 Olympics, his dismissal by American society was eventually overturned and his name ascended into the spotlight finally receiving long awaited praise. In turn, this enabled the deterioration of the color barrier. While running towards success, Owens provided glimpses of hope for African American athletes yet it took years for his success to materialize into something greater as white Americans subsequently realized his impact and accredited Owens for his actions. Owens was a pioneer for mixing sports with politics and was very successful. Additionally, he led by example preventing hindsight from viewing him in any other way than a true hero. “Jesse was the person who pointed the way” not only for African American athletes, but he pointed the way for African American people in general. He provided them with a sense of opportunity, and furthermore, he pointed the way for a country in desperate need of inspiration and a figure to act as their emblem of strength. Sadly, the country failed to initially recognize the accomplishments eventually attributed to Owens.