Way down South, Oakville Alabama, in the segregated days of 1913.
Little Jesse Owens, the 7th of 11 children, born into an impoverished family.
When they moved up north in the great migration, to look for work and a better fate.
He discovered he could run, faster than anyone so they snapped him up at Ohio State.
And when he started breaking records he began to get noticed and they got him involved in the national team
But when he travelled with the team he had to eat alone because back then that’s what happened if you were a black athlete
So in 1936 they sent him to Berlin, to take part in Hitler’s games
The Aryan’s were meant to win, but Jesse took gold in everything and Hitler wouldn’t give him the time of day.
But he said Hitler didn't snub me – it was FDR who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram.
It was the dark face of sport in the years between the wars when America wouldn’t acknowledge the success of a black man.
Little Jesse Owens, the 7th of 11 children, born into an impoverished family.
When they moved up north in the great migration, to look for work and a better fate.
He discovered he could run, faster than anyone so they snapped him up at Ohio State.
And when he started breaking records he began to get noticed and they got him involved in the national team
But when he travelled with the team he had to eat alone because back then that’s what happened if you were a black athlete
So in 1936 they sent him to Berlin, to take part in Hitler’s games
The Aryan’s were meant to win, but Jesse took gold in everything and Hitler wouldn’t give him the time of day.
But he said Hitler didn't snub me – it was FDR who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram.
It was the dark face of sport in the years between the wars when America wouldn’t acknowledge the success of a black man.
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