Jesse Owens Perceptions Of African Americans In The Film, The Race

On February 19, 2016, The Race, a movie about Jesse Owens came to movie theaters across America. This film documented the track and field career of Jesse Owens, an African American track and field star and four-time Olympic gold medalist and the main character of the film. Although Hollywood writers dramatize real stories in movies, The Race still conveys the real struggles and obstacles Jesse Owens had to face in his lifetime. In the movie, The Race, Jesse Owens is shown to have challenged the perceptions of African Americans in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.

Throughout the movie, The Race, Jesse Owens worked hard to fulfill his responsibilities to his family, his athletic goals, and his duty toward his country all while challenging the

world’s view on African Americans. In the beginning of the movie, Jesse went to Ohio State University and joined the track and field team coached by Larry Snyder. However, due to Owens’ responsibility toward his fiancee and small daughter, he worked at gas station instead of attending track practice in order to earn money to send to his family.

During this time period, many white stereotyped African Americans as not hardworking or driven, but Owens’ dedication to his family disputes this incorrect perception. Jesse Owens valued his family over his athletics showing how he would work hard to support his family, even if that meant sacrificing his athletic career. Later in the story, Jesse continued to show his dedication and drive in his athletic career along with his love for his family. In his first college track meet, Owens prepared for his first event, the 100 meter race, but was met with an overwhelming chorus of unwelcoming boos and hateful shouts because of his race. Despite this racism , Owens did not become discouraged or give up in his race. Jesse Owens demonstrated his quiet strength by finishing the race in first place and almost breaking the world record 9.4 seconds for the 100 meter race. Owens proved the audience's expectations wrong that he would not do well or succeed showing that even though he was African American, he could work hard and win in athletics. Near the end of the movie, Owens goes to Germany to race

and jump in the Berlin Summer Olympics in 1936. During this time period, Nazi Germans believed in a “master” race, Aryans, and thought that they could use the Olympic games to spread their racial philosophy with the world. The Nazi German leaders and supporters were not prepared for what actually occurred: Jesse Owens, a non-Aryan, beating the top German Aryan athletes in the 100 meter race, 200 meter race, long jump, and the 4 by 100 relay. These Nazi Germans were baffled by this extraordinary athletic feet, and did not expect Owens to beat strong German athletes like Luz Long. Owens proved through his well earned wins that the Nazi Germans philosophy was wrong and that there is no “master” race. In conclusion, Jesse Owens’ actions on and off the track changed that way African Americans were viewed on a global scale.

The film, The Race, successfully shows the importance of Jesse Owens and how he influenced the way of thinking for many people all over the globe. Today, Owens serves as a reminder of equality and personal achievement for all people.