The Nazi Olympics: African-American Athletes (Part 2)

Part 2 of 2.

Eighteen Black athletes represented the United States in the 1936 Olympics -- triple the number who had competed for the United States in the 1932 Los Angeles Games. African-Americans dominated the popular track and field events, and in the end, Black athletes brought home 14 medals, nearly one-fourth of the 56 medals awarded the U.S. team in all events.

Many American journalists hailed the victories of Jesse Owens and other Blacks as a blow to the Nazi myth of Aryan supremacy. However, the continuing social and economic discrimination the Black medalists faced upon returning home underscored the irony of their victory in racist Germany.

In this video, athlete John Woodruff, professor David Wiggins, professor Clayborne Carson, and author Jeremy Schaap reflect on the history of black athletes in American sports and the relevance of their achievements at the 1936 Olympics.

To learn more about the 1936 Olympics, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/olympics/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Nazi
• Olympics
• Holocaust
• USHMM
• Owens
• Metcalfe
• Carson
• Schaap
• Wiggins
• Sports

[PURELOVECREW]

It is a fact, Blacks are treated better in Germany than is America.

[Psyho84]

BTW Jesse Owens claimed that Hitler did in fact shake hands with him behind the cameras. Blacks running faster is not in conflict with nazi ideology.

[romeyrome816]

@turbofritz2 i been to germany and it sucked, prob the dirtiest place i ever been

[seattlefcfan11]

Fun fact: The first pair of cleats ever sold by Adidas where to Jesse Owens before 1936 Olympics, true story!

[whiteguy212006]

For one National Socialism isn't Nazism, morons, two USA isn't the most racist country towards minorities, mainly towards whites. Third, the Olympics in those days where Germany had more medals than the US, obviously Aryan supremacy strength was proven.

[ottawafrankie]

The USA was and is the most racist country in the world.

[apostatdurock]

You should read Veronica Clark Black Nazis ! A Study Of Racial Ambivalance In Nazi Germany's Military Establishment Non German Ethnic Minority And Foreign Volunteers ,Conscripts Laborers And POWs ,1940-1945 (Paperback).

[apostatdurock]

@turbofritz2

You are right Jesse Owens said :" Hitler didn't snub me--it was FD Roosevelt (rosenfeld) who snubbed me . The president didn't even send me a telegram." and " When i passed the Chancelor he arose , waved my hand and i gave him his salvation."

He had no problems in Germany , in USion a lot .

[1royal69]

I'm not African American but I am an American and I will say... Respect and honor for them, cause when they set their mind there's no one stopping u brothers. From a fellow American!!!

[jackluciferkennedy]

wait didn't they did some jesse and hitler thing on the simpsons?XD

[Jammydodge88]

hahaha slap in the face for all the racists right here xD LONG LIVE THE BLACK RACE :D!