Jesse Owens (1913–1980)

Owens broke four world records for running and long jump when he was 22 years old.

His four olympic gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games (held in Nazi Germany and intended to glorify Aryan physiology) helped dispel white supremacism across the world – Adolf Hitler refused to shake hands with him.

After retiring from athletics, he devoted himself to community work, especially with young people.

Black People Who Changed the World

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