James Cleveland Owens, otherwise known as "Jesse", was an Olympic long jumper and sprinter whose speed and inspiring defiance of Hitler shocked the world. The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin and Adolf Hitler of the Nazi Party believed that these Olympics would showcase the great talent of the Aryan (Caucasian) race, and that the last person he would expect he presents himself as an African-American man. (Barnes 1). With sixty-six American Olympic competitors participating in the Games, the American race was in real trouble facing Hitler, the most powerful man in the world (Smith 1). Jesse Owens was one of these men, and although Hitler mocked him during his hundred-yard sprint against six other Caucasian sprinters, he won by a landslide. With this victory and his three other Olympic gold medals, Owens' name was able to be remembered and admired for eternity. Jessie Owens is such a great athlete and individual because he defied Adolf Hitler, accomplished more than was expected of himself, and broke records with ease. At the 1936 Olympics, Hitler believed that the world would show that the Aryan is the dominant race. To Hitler's surprise, the United States did very well and the key figure in the United States' victory was an African American, a race also hated and mocked by Hitler, as was the American race. This man was Jesse Owens, a man with a difficult childhood but a great desire for triumph and success as a long jumper and sprinter (Smith 1). To put it plainly, as Owens crossed the finish line far ahead of the "superior" Aryans in his two-hundred-yard run, he looked Hitler in the eye with confidence (Smith 1). According to (Barnes 2), "Adolf Hitler was so upset by his accomplishments that he refused to congratulate him... middle of paper... because of immense poverty, segregation, and he was under- esteemed by his peers. Jesse Owens was ridiculed by many members of the Nazi Party during the 1936 Olympics, but he ignored their hateful glares and instead saw himself as an athlete and not an icon of his race's inferiority. He was able to prove them wrong with exceptional athleticism. achievements. He is an inspiring symbol of the injustice of racial profiling and a role model for athletes around the world. Works Cited “Jesse Owens.” Notable sports figures. Ed. Dana R. Barnes. Detroit: Gale, 2004. United States History in Context. Internet. February 4, 2014. “Jesse Owens.” Notable Black American Men, Book II. Ed. Jessie Carney Smith. Detroit: Gale, 1998. United States History in Context. Internet. January 31, 2014. “Life of Jesse Owens.” » African-American heroes. Ed. Marshall McCoy. Detroit: Gale, 2004. United States History in Context. Internet. February 6. 2014.