PBS Documentary - American Experience: Jesse Owens in Manhattan Beach

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete. He had won Olympic gold medal 4 times. Expert in the sprints and the long jump, he was renowned in his lifetime as "perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history. His accomplishment of setting three world records and tying another in not even in an hour at the 1935 Big Ten track meet that took place in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been called "the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport” and has never been broken or equaled.

In the year 1936, Summer Olympics took place in the city Berlin, Germany, where Owens won international recognition with four gold medals in 4 × 100 meter relay,  200 meters, 100 meters and long jump. He was the most flourishing athlete at the games and as such has been recognized with "single-handedly crush Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy." The Jesse Owens Award is USA Track and Field's top honor for the year's best track and field athlete.

James Owens was born in Alabama in 1913 & his family connected to the Great Migration north for an improved life, sticking to Ohio where a teacher misinterpreted his pet name JC, and “Jesse” was caught. At high school and university, Jesse rose as an athlete, making numerous world records.

Away from the track, though, he was still restricted by isolation and could not even reside in the college campus. In the Berlin city, the 22 years old James won gold in the 200m (setting up a new world record), 100m (equaling the world record), 4x100m relay & long jump, in which he made an Olympic record that, remained for 24 years. Owens was not individually insulted by Hitler, and was motivated by the German crowds. He even accredited his long jump win to some supportive tips from his German rival, Luz Long.

When he returned home, he felt ignored. He had no congratulations from the US president, Franklin Roosevelt, and had small prospect to cash in on his achievement through media appearances or funding. After Three years of his Olympic triumph, Jesse Owens acknowledged himself as bankrupt and got involved in sporting stunts to make his survival. It was after this that Owens began gaining true appreciation in his own land.

So, learn more about Jesse Owens through a PBS documentary in Manhattan on Saturday, the 16th of July 2016 at County of Los Angeles Public Library – Manhattan Beach Branch at 11:00 A.M. So, do not miss the screening of American Experience: Jesse Owens. This will highlight Jesse’s early career, Hitler’s ambitions for 1963 Olympics and what pressures Owens had to attend. You will learn about the reasons AS TO WHY Owens had to struggle to make his place in USA in spite of his great success in Germany. So, be there to watch the screening which is really going to be n interesting one. You can opt for a Manhattan Beach taxi or Manhattan Beach cab to get you to the place.