By Noah Adkins

On Aug. 3, 1936, Jesse Owens stood atop the podium in Berlin after winning gold in the 100-meter dash.

Over the next coming days, Owens added three more gold medals in the 200-meter dash, long jump and 4x100-meter relay, becoming one of the defining athletes of the 1936 Olympic Games.

His four gold medals made history, but Owens’ legacy did not end in Berlin.

Ninety years later, Ohio State will revisit that legacy when the Sports and Society Institute and University Libraries host “Running Against History: The Enduring Legacy of Jesse Owens” on Sept. 18 at Thompson Library.

The event will bring together members of Owens’ family and other panelists to discuss his lasting impact on sports and society.

Ohio State also preserves that history through the Jesse Owens Collection, which offers a closer look at his life and career through photographs, papers, books, videos and other materials.

But the collection is only one way to explore Owens’ story. His life and accomplishments have been chronicled through biographies, autobiographies, documentaries and films that examine not only what he achieved on the track, but also the world in which he competed.

Books: Biographies and histories

“Jesse Owens: An American Life”

William J. Baker, Biography, 1986

Baker’s biography follows Owens from his childhood through his athletic career and the years that followed. It looks beyond his four Olympic gold medals, examining his experiences as a Black athlete in America and the challenges he faced after becoming an international star.

“Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics”

Jeremy Schaap, Biography and sports history, 2007

ESPN journalist Jeremy Schaap focuses on Owens’ remarkable performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the political forces surrounding the Games. Drawing on research and access to the Owens family, Schaap places Owens’ four gold medals within the larger stories of Nazi Germany, racism in the United States and the controversy over American participation in the Olympics.

“Jesse Owens: A Life in American History”

F. Erik Brooks and Kevin M. Jones Sr., Biography and history, 2021

Brooks and Jones place Owens’ athletic achievements within the larger history of race, politics and American society. The book covers Owens’ childhood, college years, religious life and Olympic career, as well as the financial challenges he faced after Berlin and the lasting significance of his legacy.

“Heroes Without a Country: America’s Betrayal of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens”

Donald McRae, Biography and sports history, 2002

McRae examines the intertwined stories of Owens and heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, two of the most famous Black athletes of their era. The book explores their athletic success, friendship and cultural significance while examining the racism and discrimination they faced in the United States.

In Owens’ own words

“Blackthink: My Life as Black Man and White Man”

Jesse Owens with Paul G. Neimark, Autobiography, 1970

Owens offers a firsthand look at his life and perspective, writing about his experiences as a Black man in America, his Olympic career and the fame that followed his success in Berlin.

“I Have Changed”

Jesse Owens with Paul G. Neimark, Autobiography, 1972

Published two years after “Blackthink,” the book reflects changes in Owens’ thinking about race, politics and his own life. Owens revisits his athletic career while writing about figures including Joe Louis and Martin Luther King Jr. and reconsidering some of the views he expressed earlier in his life.

“Jesse, a Spiritual Autobiography”

Jesse Owens with Paul G. Neimark, Autobiography, 1978

Owens recounts his journey from childhood in Alabama through Olympic stardom and the difficulties he encountered later in life. The book places particular emphasis on the faith and personal beliefs that shaped his experiences.

“Jesse, the Man Who Outran Hitler”

Jesse Owens with Paul G. Neimark, Autobiography, 1978

Owens looks back on his life and career as an athlete, including his rise in track and field and his experience at the 1936 Olympics. He also shares what happened after he returned home as one of the world’s most famous athletes.

Understanding the 1936 Berlin Olympics

“Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936”

David Clay Large, History, 2007

Large examines how Nazi Germany used the 1936 Olympics as a tool for politics and propaganda. The book explores the international debate over whether to boycott the Games, the Nazi regime’s efforts to shape its image and the athletic performances, including Owens’ four gold medals, that became part of the Games’ complicated legacy.

“Berlin 1936: Sixteen Days in August”

Oliver Hilmes, History, 2018

Hilmes tells the story of the Berlin Olympics through athletes, journalists, diplomats, Nazi officials and others who experienced the Games. Rather than focusing solely on competition, the book provides a broader picture of Berlin during the 16 days when the world’s attention was focused on Nazi Germany.

Bringing Owens’ story to the screen

“Jesse Owens”

PBS’ “American Experience,” Documentary, 2012

The documentary traces Owens’ journey from childhood to Ohio State and ultimately to his four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. It also examines his return to the United States, where he continued to face racial discrimination despite his international success.

“Olympic Pride, American Prejudice”

Directed by Deborah Riley Draper, Documentary, 2016

The documentary expands the story beyond Owens by focusing on the 17 other Black American athletes who competed at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It examines the complicated experience of representing the United States while facing discrimination at home and competing in Nazi Germany.

Hollywood takes on Jesse Owens

“The Jesse Owens Story”

Directed by Richard Irving, Biographical drama, 1984

This two-part television film follows Owens from his early years through his success at the 1936 Olympics and the years that followed. Dorian Harewood portrays Owens in the film, which won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1985.

“Race”

Directed by Stephen Hopkins, Biographical sports drama, 2016

“Race” follows Owens from his time at Ohio State through the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Stephan James portrays Owens, while Jason Sudeikis plays Ohio State track coach Larry Snyder. The film explores Owens’ rise as an athlete alongside the racism he faced and the political tensions surrounding the Berlin Games.

Continuing the conversation

Those interested in learning more about Owens and his legacy can attend “Running Against History: The Enduring Legacy of Jesse Owens” from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Thompson Library.

Additional books, articles and resources about Owens are available through University Libraries’ Jesse Owens bibliography.