Jesse Owens

African American track and field athlete Jesse Owens runs the 200-meter sprint preliminaries at the 1936 Summer Olympics in world record time (BArch, Bild 183-H29458 / o. Ang.).

African American track and field athlete Jesse Owens runs the 200-meter sprint preliminaries at the 1936 Summer Olympics in world record time (BArch, Bild 183-H29458 / o. Ang.).

African American track and field athlete Jesse Owens performing the long jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, August 4, 1936 (BArch, Bild 183-R96374 / o. Ang.).

African American track and field athlete Jesse Owens performing the long jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, August 4, 1936 (BArch, Bild 183-R96374 / o. Ang.).

Jesse Owens during the long jump medal presentation ceremony at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. On his left: Naoto Tajima (Japan); on his right: German athlete Luz Long (BArch, Bild 183-G00630 / o. Ang.).

Jesse Owens during the long jump medal presentation ceremony at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. On his left: Naoto Tajima (Japan); on his right: German athlete Luz Long (BArch, Bild 183-G00630 / o. Ang.).

“Olympic Crisis,” cartoon published in the June 1936 issue of The Crisis (reproduced by permission of the NAACP).

“Olympic Crisis,” cartoon published in the June 1936 issue of The Crisis (reproduced by permission of the NAACP).