Name: _______________________ Block: ________ School: ___________________ Date: February 3, 2017

History remembers the winners. - Avery

Race is the story of Jesse Owens, the fastest man in the world, an African-American who dared to run
in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It was a time of racial tensions and snobbery throughout the world and the simple
fact of his excellence was a clear and (humbly, respectfully) defiant challenge to both the Nazi regime and
racism in the US. His life made a profound difference in the world at the time, but has something for us today,
as well.

One of the things the movie really highlights is the fierce moral dilemma America nationally, and Jesse
Owens personally, faced about participating in the Berlin Olympics. To go could be seen as a sign of support for
the Nazi regime. How could they in good conscience go to something hosted by the Nazis, on their turf, that
would bring support at the least and maybe even honor and glory to a nation that was doing such terrible crimes
against humanity? On the other hand, how could athletes be denied the chance to compete? The games were a
place where people just competed and lines of race, nationality, education, money all of it disappeared. As
Jesse put it: Out there, there aint none of all this for those 10 seconds, you are completely free. The games
themselves actually promoted equality.

That was the American Olympic Committees dilemma. Jesses was even more personal. The NAACP
came to him and said he could not race because it would be giving a stamp of approval to Hitler. His people
were counting on him not to race, to take a stand, Jesse was told. Jesse was in a difficult position. If he ran he
was letting his race down. If he didnt run, he was letting his coach and team members and fellow runners
down. Not to mention, he loved to run and would be letting himself down if he didnt go. The Olympics didnt
come every year. This was a once in a life-time chance.

To add to the struggle, Jesse felt pressure that if he went, he had to win, or else it was almost like
proving that Hitler was right and the Aryan race was superior. Winning seemed to be the only way to go without
giving a nod of support to Hitler. But he couldnt control if he won or not.

The thing is, if Jesse hadnt gone, it wouldnt have been much of a protest. The Olympics would have gone on
as usual, and few would have remembered that Jesse Owens had not competed. Fewer still would have
known why he hadnt competed. They might have assumed he was afraid, or not good enough, or injured, or any
number of things, but it would have been hard to make his absence truly felt as a protest. This wasnt an
invitation such that a refusal would be a clear snub that stung and made a point. This was an opportunity he
simply would have missed.

Fortunately, Jesse went. He chose to show up for the world, to give it the very BEST version of himself.
He ran and he jumped gloriously and he won. He won everything he did. He won so much and so beautifully
and with such grace that even the Germans were cheering for him, loving him, celebrating the gifts God gave
him. Even racist Americans were cheering him on, forgetting his color and remembering what country he came
from insteadremembering he was one of their own.

His glory made a far more powerful statement that his absence ever could have. Rather than protesting the
others for their crimes, he just became so excellent it silenced them. The truth of his excellence shed such light
on the lies of racism and supremacy that there was no need to say anything. Amazing.

Race: The Incredible True Story of Gold Medal Champion Jesse Owens. Dir. Stephen Hopkins. Forecast Pictures, 2016.
Name: _______________________ Block: ________ School: ___________________ Date: February 3, 2017
Discussion Questions on Back

Questions for Discussion

1. Why was it a tough decision for Jesse, to participate or not in the Olympics? Have you ever faced a similar
decision? Explain.
Answer:

2. Would Jesse Owens have been wrong to refrain from going to the Olympics?
Answer:

3. Why did it matter that Jesse Owens was the absolute best he could be at those Olympics in particular?
Answer:

In reference to discussion questions 4 & 5. Sometimes we dont know if we really have any glory in our lives. Other
times, we are afraid that our glory wont be enough (like Jesse felt). Still others, we are encouraged, for various reasons,
to hide our glory, to withdraw and abstain. We think that sounds good and wise. We dont want to be hurt, or disappointed,
or to disappoint otherswe want to make a statement, to be a conscientious objector, to hurt someone else whatever the
case may be. But we were not made to hide our lights under a bush. History remembers the winners. It remembers the
excellent. It remembers those who show up for their lives and give it all of who they are. Its vulnerable. Its risky. Its also
glorious. Its the stuff of movies.

4. Do you believe you have excellence/glory in you?

Answer:

5. Are you ever tempted to hide that glory under a bush? Why or why not?
Answer:

Race: The Incredible True Story of Gold Medal Champion Jesse Owens. Dir. Stephen Hopkins. Forecast Pictures, 2016.
Name: _______________________ Block: ________ School: ___________________ Date: February 3, 2017

6. What would it look like for you to actually show up for your life with all that was in you?
Answer:

Race: The Incredible True Story of Gold Medal Champion Jesse Owens. Dir. Stephen Hopkins. Forecast Pictures, 2016.