Long before Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play baseball, another African American athlete made tremendous strides in establishing African Americans equality among other athletes. In the summer of 1936 Adolf Hitler believed the Olympics in Berlin would be the perfect opportunity to show the world that the Aryan race was superior.
An African American, from the United States by the name of Jesse Owens delivered a shock to Hitler and most of the world. Owens won four Olympic gold medals during the games of 1936. More importantly, Owens showed the world that there was no such thing as a superior race.
Owens has since received several honors such as being named the greatest track and field star for the first half of the century by the Associated Press. Owens was also awarded a Medal of Freedom by Gerald Ford.
Owens passed away on March 31, 1980. After his death Owens was awarded a Medal of Honor.
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