Jesse Owens

By Raluca Enuta
the 12th F grade

Jesse Owens was a track and field star. His most famous moment came in the 1936 Olympics when he won 4 gold medals - much to the annoyance of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party who hoped the Olympics would be a showcase for Aryan supremacy. In his later life, Jesse Owens became a goodwill ambassador for America and athletics. Jesse Owens rose to national prominence in 1933, when he equalled the world record (9.4 seconds) for the 100 yard dash. He attended Ohio State University, but without a scholarship he had to continue working part time. At the time, America was a highly segregated society and when travelling with the team, Jesse had to suffer the indignities of eating at separate restaurants and staying at different hotels. One of his great athletic feats occurred in 1935, where in one track meet he broke three world records. This included the long jump (record stood for 25 years), 220 yards and 220 yards hurdles. He also equalled record for 100 yard.

Jesse Owens at 1936 Olympics

Jesse Owens finest moment came in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He won Olympic gold in the 100m, long jump, 200m and 4* 100 metres relay. (An achievement not matched until Carl Lewis in 1984). It was a powerful rebuttal to the Nazi's hopes of displaying 'Aryan superiority'. Hitler gave medals to German athletes on the first day, but, after that decided not to give any medals. Albert Speer later wrote that Hitler was annoyed that the 'negro, Jesse Owens had won so many gold medals. Yet, with great irony, Jesse Owens was treated well during his stay in Germany, he didn't experience the segregation that he did back home in United States and many Germans sought his autograph. During the games Jesse Owens displayed the sportsmanship that he became renowned for. During the long jump final, he found time to massage his German rival Lang. Lang later acknowledged the great spirit of sportsmanship that Jesse Owens embodied. Jesse Owens was grateful for the friendship that Lang displayed. Despite, achieving a remarkable athletic achievement, Jesse Owens was denied the commercial or praise that he might have expected. He was never given a reception by F.D. Roosevelt or future US presidents. In 1936, the American olympics association rescinded his Olympic status after he refused to travel to Sweden to try and cash in on some commercial enterprises back in America. Jesse was forced to take part in various 'athletic showcases' such as racing against horses, or racing against local runners with a 10 yard head start. He moved into business but it was not successful and it ended in bankruptcy in the 1960s. He was even prosecuted for tax evasion. However, in 1966, with the civil rights movement gaining impetus, Jesse Owens was given the opportunity to act as a good will ambassador speaking to large corporations and the Olympic movement.

American Personalities

Pilgrims or the Pilgrim Fathers (17th Century) - a group of early settlers who left England and founded a colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts, around 1620.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Author, politician, diplomat, scientist and statesman. Franklin urged the colonies to join together and one of the strongest supporters for the idea of a United States.

George Washington (17321799) Founding Father of the United States. Elected the first President of the United States in 1788, serving for eight years. Regarded as the 'Father of the Country"

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) English-American writer and political activist. In 1776, he wrote the best selling pamphlet Common Sense. This advocated America seeking independence from Great Britain.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) Founding Father and principle author of The Declaration of Independence (1776). Third President of the US, Jefferson helped to expand the territory of the US through the Louisiana Declaration(1803).

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) Founding Father, who served as a soldier, economist, and lawyer. The first United States Secretary of the Treasury, establishing a national bank, and taxation system. Negotiated trade deals with Great Britain.

John Adams (1735-1826) Founding Father and the second US President. Adams assisted Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence and helped to pass the Declaration through congress.

James Madison (1751-1836) Fourth president of the US (1809-1817) Drafted the US Constitution and the US Bill of Rights. In 1788, along with Hamilton and John Jay, he wrote the Federalist Papers.

John Marshall (1755-1835) Influential fourth Chief Justice of the United States (1801-1835). His opinions helped to lay the framework for American constitutional law and the Supreme Court.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16th President of the US from 1861-1865. He led the Union forces during the American civil war. Lincoln led the north to victory preserving the Union and passing a bill to abolish legal slavery.

Andrew Carnegie (1835 1919) Carnegie became very rich, through his control of US steel industry and other investments. With his wealth he became philanthropist. Many public libraries named after him.

John D. Rockefeller (1839 1937) Rockefeller was a successful businessman who controlled much of the US oil and railroad industries. His name became synonymous with wealth and economic power.

Thomas Edison ( 1847 1931) - Pioneer of the mass use and distribution of electricity. Edison was one of the most prolific inventors, who developed commercially available electric light bulbs.

Woodrow Wilson ( 1856 1924) US president. Wilson was President during the First World War. His idealistic 14 points formed the basis for the League of Nations, the forerunner of the UN.

Henry Ford (1864-1947) Founder of Ford motor company. Ford pioneered the use of the assembly line for making cars, helping to reduce the price and make cars affordable for the average American consumer.

Wright Brothers Orville (1871 1948) and Wilbur (1867 1912 ) who successfully made the first powered air flight in 1903. They continued to develop aeroplanes ushering in a new world of flight.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 1945) - US President 1932 - 1945. The longest serving US President, Roosevelt came to power during the crisis of the 1932 recession. He expanded federal government to deal with crisis and oversaw the US entry into the Second World War.

Babe Ruth (1895 1948) Iconic baseball player. Babe Ruth was one of the greatest baseball players and also noted for his wit.

Amelia Earhart (1897 1937) - Female aviator. She broke several records and became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932. She disappeared whilst attempting to circumnavigate the world.

Ernest Hemingway (1899 1961) American author and journalist. He wrote many classics of modern American literature, including 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'

Walt Disney (1901 1966) American film producer and creator of cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney pioneered the successful film portrayal of classic fairy tales, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

Jesse Owens (1913-1980) US athlete. Owens was an iconic figure at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. He won gold at the 100 metres

John F. Kennedy (1917 1963) US President. Elected in 1960, Kennedy was seen as a young dynamic President who offered a new hope to the US and the world. He played a role in diffusing the Cuban missile crisis and the threat of nuclear war.

Martin Luther King (1929 1968) - American civil rights campaigner. Martin Luther King led the non-violent civil rights movement. His powerful oratory helped to lay the foundations for sweeping change and an end to the segregation in the Deep South.

Neil Armstrong (1930 2012) US Pilot and astronaut. In 1969, Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to successful land and walk on the moon, giving the memorable quote. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. "

Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) American pop singer. Elvis Presley helped to revolutionise American pop music becoming an idol for millions in the 1950s and 1960s.

Billie Jean King (1943- ) - American tennis player and campaigner for equality. Billie Jean King won 12 single grand slam titles. She also campaigned for women's equality, and beat Bobby Riggs in a high profile, 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match.

Al Gore (1948 - ) - US presidential candidate and environmental campaigner. He narrowly lost the 2000 election to George Bush, but concentrated on environmental issues. Producing a film 'An inconvenient truth' about global warming.

Paul Krugman (1953 - ) - Nobel Prize winning economist. Krugman rose to prominence through his attacks on the politics of George Bush. After the financial crisis, he became a prominent advocate of Keynesian economics.

Bill Gates (1955 - ) American businessman, founder of Microsoft. Gates became one of richest men in the world. Recently he has concentrated on philanthropic endeavours.

Carl Lewis (1961 - ) - US athlete and Olympian. Carl Lewis won nine gold medals in the 100 metres, 100 metre relay and long jump.

Barack Obama (1961- ) US President 2008-2016. Obama was the first black President and elected on a tide of optimism.

Sarah Palin (1964 - ) Republican party Governor of Alaska. Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008 election. Seen as a prominent figure in the right wing 'tea party' movement, within the Republican party.

Jimmy Wales (1966 - ) - Internet entrepreneur. He is the creator of the 'non-profit' Wikipedia - the world's largest online internet encyclopedia.

Lance Armstrong (1971- ) American cyclist. After surviving cancer, he won the Tour de France 7 times, before being stripped of his titles for doping.

Larry Page (1973- ) Computer scientist. Co-founder of Google. Larry Page invented 'Page Rank' an influential tool that helped give Google search a competitive advantage.

Tiger Woods (1975- ) - golfer. Became the world's number one golfer and dominated the sport through the 2000s. Personal problems caused him to lose his number one position, but since 2011, he has made a strong comeback. He has currently 79 PGA titles. By Raluca Enuta the 12th F grade