All Formats & Editions

Born the tenth child of a poor Southern sharecropper and barely able to read or write, Jesse Owens used his astonishing drive and athletic ability to win an unprecedented four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He became an international superstar overnight and exploded... Read Full Overview

The tenth and last child of an Alabama sharecropper, Jesse Owens grew up to win an unprecedented four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. Far from a simple rags-to-riches fable, Owens's story embodies the complex hopes, ideals, and convictions of a celebrated black athlete caught... Read Full Overview