Topic > Jesse Owens' Life and Legacy his difficult early life Transformation from skinny boy to talented runner Adopting the name "Jesse" Overcoming racism and challenges Jesse's experience with racism as an African American athlete How he used adversity as motivation to excel in athletics Record-breaking success Jesse Owens' Historic Achievements at the Big Ten Championships Participating in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany Winning Numerous Gold Medals and Breaking Records Impact on African Americans and Equal RightsThe Importance of Jesse Owens' Achievements in the Context of SegregationHis Role as a Symbol of Progress for African Americans Post-Olympic Contributions Jesse Owens' Transition into an Inspirational Speaker His Efforts to Motivate and Share His Story with Others Dedication to Helping Youth in His Community Legacy and Continuing Impact Jesse Owens' Legacy after his passing The creation of the Ruth and Jesse Owens Scholarship the foundation's mission to promote youth development and equal opportunity Jesse Owens Essay Example James Charles Owens, known as Jesse Owens, did not live an easy life. Born in Oakville, Alabama, on September 12, 1913, he was the son of a sharecropper and a farmer who rented land. During his early years Jesse was small, too frail to help his father and brothers in the field. In 1921, the Owens family moved to Ohio for better job opportunities and to increase their quality of life. There was little improvement in the job, but Jesse managed to get into a public school, where a teacher accidentally wrote Jesse instead of JC because of his thick Southern accent. From that day on he bore the name Jesse. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In fifth grade an athletic supervisor asked Jesse to show up for the track team that spring. From a skinny little boy, Jesse grew into a strong runner. By the time he was in middle school, he was breaking records. In 1933, at the National Interscholastic Championships, he won the 100 yards, 200 yards and long jump. His performance at nationals caught the attention of colleges across the country. With his heart set on Ohio State University, he couldn't leave his family. With his family struggling to make ends meet and his young wife, Jesse only dreamed of going to college, but when the university offered his father a job, Jesse immediately accepted Ohio State's offer. Being an African American during that time was difficult, Jesse experienced a lot of racism on campus from other students and other athletes. Jesse didn't let these hurtful comments get to him, he simply used them as fuel to help him become a better athlete. Giving the world a preview of what the 1936 Olympics would be like, while at the 1935 Big Ten Championships Jesse Owens made history. In just 45 minutes, Jesse built what many consider to be the largest athletic fleet. He broke three world records and tied another. His success at the Big Ten Championship gave him the extra confidence he needed to excel at the highest level. Jesse participated in the 1936 Olympics, in Nazi Germany. Like many other elite African American athletes who grew up under unjust conditions, Jesse viewed the moral stand against Germany as hypocritical and would not give up the chance to shine on the field. stage.