Black History, Not Just A Month !
Jesse Owens, the son of a sharecropper and grandson of a slave, achieved what no Olympian before him had accomplished. His stunning achievement of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin has made him the best remembered athlete in Olympic history.
The seventh child of Henry and Emma Alexander Owens was named James Cleveland when was born in Alabama on September 12, 1913 ‘J.C’ was what he was called was only nine years of age when his family to moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where his new school teacher gave him the name that was to become known around the world. The teacher was told ‘J.C’ when she asked his name to enter in her roll book, but she thought he said ‘Jesse’.
The Name Stuck And He Would Be Known As Jesse Owens For The Rest Of His Life.
Jesse showed earlier signs of his talent in high school holding record breaking titles in the 100 year dash, 200 year dash and the long jump. This was the beginning of the plethora of awards he would received in his lifetime .During his four year term at Ohio State University, Jesse completed in 42 event by his third year and won them all including four in the Big Ten Championships, four in the NCAA Championships, two in the AAU Championships and three at the Olympic Trials.
In 1936, Jesse competed in front of Nazi Germany leader, Adolf Hitler who was using the Olympic games to push his agenda of Arian supremacy. Jesse became the first American in Olympic Track and Field history to win four gold medals in a single Olympiad by winning four gold medals: 100 meter dash in 10.3 seconds tying the world record and the same in the long jump of 26′ 5 1/4 , the 200 meter dash in 20.7 seconds, and the 400 meter relay [first leg] in 39.8 seconds [Olympic and world record].
” We All Have Dreams But In Order To Make Them A Reality, It Takes An Awful Lot Of Determination, Dedication, Self, Discipline And Effort – J.O “
In 1976 Jesse was awarded the Presidential Metal of Freedom, the highest award bestowed upon a civilian, by Gerald R. Ford. Owen also received the posthumously award by the Congressional Gold Medal in 1990 by George H. W. Bush.
On February 19th, the movie ‘Race’ [which] honors the life of Jesse Owens, is set to hit theaters nation wide, and today we salute Jesse Owens.
One Love PLUMS!