But Jesse Owens' reception by the German public and the spectators in the Olympic stadium was warm. There were German cheers of “Yesseh Oh-vens” or just “Oh-vens” from the crowd. Owens was a true celebrity in Berlin, mobbed by autograph seekers to the point that he complained about all the attention. He later claimed that his reception in Berlin was greater than any other he had ever experienced, and he was quite popular even before the Olympics.
The Snub Myth
Hitler did shun a black American athlete at the 1936 Games, but it wasn't Jesse Owens. On the first day of the Olympics, just before Cornelius Johnson, an African American althlete who won the first gold medal for the U.S. that day, was to receive his award, Hitler left the stadium early. Prior to his departure, Hitler had received a number of winners, but Olympic officials informed the German leader that in the future he must receive all of the winners or none at all. After the first day, he opted to acknowledge none. Jesse Owens had his victories on the second day, when Hitler was no longer in attendance.
Ironically, the real snub of Owens came from his own president. Even after ticker-tape parades for Owens in New York City and Cleveland, President Franklin D. Roosevelt never publicly acknowledged Owens' achievements (gold in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter relay, and long jump). Owens was never invited to the White House and never even received a letter of congratulations from the president. Almost two decades passed before another American president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, honored Owens by naming him “Ambassador of Sports” — in 1955.
One reason the Hitler snub myth is so hard to kill is that Owens himself, after initial attempts to set the record straight, started telling the story himself. He grew tired of trying to deny a tale that the American press had erroneously reported widely and that had taken on a life of its own. Would Hitler have snubbed Owens if he had been in the stadium on day two? Perhaps. But since he wasn't there, he didn't.
Some True Jesse Owens Stories
For his Berlin wins, Owens was wearing track shoes made by the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, a German company. The Dassler brothers later split into two firms, known as Adidas and Puma.
In 1984, the Berlin street known as Stadionallee (Stadium boulevard), south of the Olympic stadium in Charlottenburg, was renamed Jesse-Owens-Allee. Owens' widow Ruth and his three daughters attended the dedication ceremonies on March 10 as guests of the German government.
The Jesse-Owens-Realschule/Oberschule (secondary school) is in Berlin-Lichtenberg.
Despite his stardom, Owens received no scholarship money from Ohio State University. He had to work as an elevator operator, waiter, and gas station attendent to support himself and his wife.
Two U.S. postage stamps have been issued to honor Owens, one in 1990 and another in 1998.
Jesse Owens was born in Danville, Alabama on Sept. 12, 1913. His family moved to Cleveland when he was nine. In 1949 the Owens settled in Chicago. His grave is in Chicago's Oak Woods Cemetery.
Owens became a heavy smoker following his athletic days. He died of lung cancer in Phoenix, Arizona on March 31, 1980.
