Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium

Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium

Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium

Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
James Cleveland Owens was born in 1913 in Alabama. His family
moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was a boy. When he was in about third grade
his teacher asked him his name. He responded "J. C." Because of his
southern accent she mistakenly thought he said Jesse. He went to East Tech high
school in Cleveland and equaled the world record of 9.4 seconds in the 100 yard
dash. He attended college at Ohio State. On the track team there he won a
record of eight individual NCAA championships, four in 1935 and four in 1936(1)
At the Olympics, he competed and won gold in the following: the 100 meter dash,
the 200 meter dash, 400 meter relay, and the long jump. While Hitler preached
Aryan supeiority, Owens credited the help of his German opponent, Luz Long,
with giving him advice on how to not foul out of the long jump trials. Owens
had fouled twice and Long suggested laying a towel a foot from the foul line to
help him jump sooner. He and Long went on to be friends (1)
Even with his athletic abilities, as a Black man Jesse had always faced
discrimination and difficulties. He tried several businesses and coaching. He
later found success as a speaker. He died of lung cancer in 1980 (1)