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Birth
James Cleveland Owens was born on September 12, 1913 at Oakville, Alabama to parents Henry and Mary Emma Owens. He was one out of ten children (Gentry 19). Picture: http://www.photos14.com/black-baby -
School Track Team
He went to Fairview Junior High and East Technical High School, where he tried out for the track team. He set a world record by running the 100-yard dash in 9.4 seconds ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://www.memphisheritage.org/mhihost/Architects-NowlandVanPowell.html -
First Child
He had a child named Gloria with Minnie Ruth Solomon when they were both in highschool. She was 14, and was forced to drop out (Gentry 30). Picture: http://www.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_6_2_77101_14204_558035_43/ -
1933 Interscholastic Championships
"Jesse Owens stunned everyone at the meet by winning the 100-yard dash with a time of 9.4 seconds, the 220-yard dash in 20.7 seconds, and the long jump with a record-setting leap of 24 feet, nine and five-eighths inches" ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://www.biography.com/people/jesse-owens-9431142 -
Jobs in College
"As a college freshman at Ohio State University, Owens paid for school with jobs as a gas station attendent and as a page in the state House of Representatives" ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://oaa.osu.edu/irp/home.php -
Ohio State University track-and-field meet
"Owens equaled the world record for the 100-yard dash (9.4 sec) and broke the world records for the 220-yard dash (20.3 sec), the 220-yard low hurdles (22.6 sec), and the ling jump (8.13 meters [26.67 feet])" ("Owens, Jesse"). Picture: http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/rtrent/archive/2008/05/31/alex-wins-his-berth-to-the-state-track-meet.aspx -
Marriage to Minnie Ruth Solomon
He met Minnie Ruth Soloman at East Technical High School and they married after high school in 1935 (Gentry 28). Picture: http://www.profimedia.si/picture/ohio-track-star-weds/0099984998/ -
Show Business Career
"Owens announced that he was going to begin a new career as a professional entertainer. [He] led a swing orchestra, won a sprint against a race horse in cuba, and played detective in a Hollywood movie" ("Jesse Owens"). PIcture: http://www.duke.edu/web/broadway/ -
Scandal with Hitler
The was a scandal with Hitler in the 1936 Olympics games. HItler refused to shake hands with Jesse Owens because he was black. HItler only congratulated a few of the German athletes, and the Internation Olympic Commitee president insisted that Hitler congratulate them all, or nothing ("Jesse Owens").
Picture: http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/04/27/pima-dems-chair-jeff-rogers-takes-a-very-strong-stance-against-democrats-mark-stegeman-and-miguel-cuevas/adolph-hitler-and-nev -
1936 Berlin Olympics
"Jesse's brilliant gold-medal efforts have become legend in the 100-meter run (10.3 sec, and Olympic record), the 200-meter run (20.7 sec, a world record), the long jump (8.06 meters [26.4 feet]), and the 4 x 100-meter relay (39.8 sec)" ("Owens, Jesse"). Picture: http://yaymicro.com/stock-image/olympic-symbol-in-the-sky/516290 -
College Degree
"In 1937, Owens earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio State and continued his eclectic show business" ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://www.localcollegeexplorer.com/Online_Degree/ -
Second and Third Children
Jesse Owens and Minnie Ruth Solomon had two more children together, Marlene in 1939, and Beverly in 1940 (Gentry 40). Picture: http://www.smallwonders.com/ -
Awards
"In 1949, Owens gained some renewed public interest when Ebony magazone's sportswriters dubbed him one of the 10 'greatest Negroe athletes of all time,' and the Associated Press sportwriters named him the world's 'top track performer since 1900'" ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://www.trophies2go.com/track/page_num/5 -
Secretary of the Illionois Athletic Commission
"Owens accepted a post as secretary of the Illinois Athletic Commission in 1952. He resigned in 1955 to do a goodwill tour of India" ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://bayarearc.com/foreign-investor/immigration-resource-center -
Goodwill
"[Owens] made goodwill visits to India and East Africa for the U.S. Department of State" ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com/donation-pickup/goodwill-partnership -
Death
Jesse Owens died on March 31, 1980, at Phoenix, Arizona of lung cancer ("Jesse Owens"). Picture: http://gallery.pictopia.com/collections/gallery/106451/photo/stripes:77888/ -
Symbol #1: Cheetah
A symbol for Jesse Owens is a cheetah. "Despite the politically charged atmosphere," and being "flustered" and "unsettled" about his career and home life, he pushed through ("Owens, Jesse"). He never gave up, even with the difficulties he faced. He was always moving and in pursuit of his dreams and goals. WIth all the obstacles in his way, from his personal life to politics to his career, he conquered it all. Picture: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cheetah -
Symbol #2: House
A symbol for Jesse Owens is a house becuase he is supportive, he was a "guidance to his family" ("Jesse Owens"). He was always helping out, was strong and never gave out. Even though his difficulties, he still did his part and stayed tough. He never gave in to his conflicts, like racism and his family stuff. He stayed strong and stuck it out even with his career and personal life. Picture: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/cartoon-house-3d-model/586575 -
Bibliography
"Jesse Owens." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.
"Owens, Jesse." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.
Gentry, Tony. Jesse Owens. New York: Chelsea House, 1990. Print.
