We are all guilty of sometimes turning on Netflix to watch movies or brand-new series, and sometimes they’re good, while other times they can be a snooze fest. I was watching God knows-what on Netflix one Saturday in the late afternoon, and when I decided to wake from my old man nap, I noticed that whatever was playing caught my eye. It was a skinny Black man running and looking for his clothes, with a setting that looked like the 1920s or 1930s. Intrigued, I sat there as my eyes and brain started to focus on the screen and realized someone was yelling, “Jesse, you’re going to be late!” The next scene showed Jesse running after a bus that was leaving him behind, trying to catch up to it.
Then it dawned on me that this might be the Jesse Owens biopic.
I quickly grabbed the remote and saw that it was, and for whatever reason, this made me excited.
Film Review | Jesse Owens, the Movie “RACE” and the Impact on the 2024 Olympic Games
My mother ran track when she was in high school, so we would tune into the world trials and the Olympics every year growing up if they were on TV. My curiosity kept me watching because we all learned about the Jesse Owens story and the iconic picture of him saluting on the podium after he won 4 gold medals in the Berlin 1936 Olympic trials. However, I was curious to see if I would learn anything new about his story and journey and what adversity he had to overcome to even qualify for the Olympics during that time.
Jesse Owens was an African American track athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
His story is significant because, in 1936, Europe was on the brink of World War II. Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, hosted the Berlin Olympics with the intent of showcasing its ideology of Aryan racial superiority. However, the Games became notable for challenging this propaganda. Jesse Owens’ victories directly contradicted Nazi racial theories and highlighted the absurdity of racial discrimination. His triumphs not only symbolized athletic excellence but also served as a powerful statement against oppression and prejudice during a time of rising global tensions. Furthermore, Owens’ success challenged racial segregation back home in the United States, where Black people were still oppressed by white supremacy. Owens set a new standard for an Olympic athlete.
Film Review | Jesse Owens, the Movie “RACE” and the Impact on the 2024 Olympic Games
The movie Race tells the story of the adversity Jesse Owens had to overcome leading up to the Berlin Olympic trials and his journey in track and field as a Black athlete.
During that time in the United States, the oppression of Black people was still enforced through segregation, and they weren’t allowed to participate in many activities. However, Jesse was so talented that he ended up being recruited to attend Ohio State University to run for Larry Snyder, who became Jesse’s coach and helped him train for the Olympics. Despite being a star athlete, Jesse was treated as an outcast and faced extreme prejudice at Ohio State University. In one scene, he is called a racial slur by the football team and told he can’t use the showers or locker room until they were finished. It didn’t matter that he was a top recruit; being Black was all they focused on, constantly reminding Jesse of his race during his time in college as he trained and competed for the Olympics.
Film Review | Jesse Owens, the Movie “RACE” and the Impact on the 2024 Olympic Games
As the film progresses, we see the story of Jesse Owens’ love life with his wife, Minnie Ruth Solomon.
From high school sweethearts to starting a family together, their journey is beautifully portrayed. Being Black, Jesse was approached by the NAACP to withdraw from participating in the Olympics to protest and show solidarity with the Jewish community, as the oppression Black people faced in the United States was akin to the atrocities Adolf Hitler was committing against Jewish people. However, Jesse decided to compete, not only to shatter the myth of Aryan superiority, but to prove that Black athletes were top performers, capable of excelling just as well, if not better, than anyone else. Alongside Jesse at the Berlin Olympic trials were 18 other Black athletes, including the legendary Mack Robinson from Pasadena, CA.
The film has a strong cast. Jesse Owens is played by Stephan James, with Jason Sudeikis portraying his coach, Larry Snyder.
Ruth Solomon is brought to life by Shanice Banton. Jeremy Irons takes on the role of Avery Brundage, whose subplot shows his controversial collaboration with the Nazi party to ensure the US Olympic team’s participation in the Berlin trials. Brundage worked with Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany, who played a crucial role in promoting Nazi ideology and orchestrating the regime’s propaganda campaigns. A scene that stood out is when Jesse Owens wins his first gold medal; it was customary for the leaders of other countries to meet with the winners, but Hitler and Goebbels refused to shake Jesse’s hand because he was Black and referred to him as “that thing”.
The characters portrayed by these actors and actresses effectively tell everyone’s stories, adding depth to the film. The film utilizes a combination of close-ups, wide shots, and slow-motion sequences to capture the tension and triumphs of Owens’ journey, highlighting both the hype of the Olympic events and his personal struggles. Directed by Stephen Hopkins and written by Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse, “Race” uses its visual style and narrative pacing to create an engaging and inspirational portrayal of Owens’ achievements and the broader political and social challenges of the time.
Race resonated with me because Track and Field is still a realm where Black athletes shine, particularly in the events that Jesse Owens once dominated – the 100 meters, 200 meters, Long Jump, and 4 × 100 meters relay.
Yet, despite their accomplishments, Black athletes today are still under a microscope, often scrutinized for being themselves and held to unfair standards. Sha’Carri Richardson, one of the fastest women set to compete in the Paris Olympic trials, is a prime example. She’s faced media criticism for her confidence and was harshly judged for testing positive for marijuana in 2021, just before the Tokyo Summer Olympics. It later was found that she used marijuana medicinally to cope with the anxiety following her mother’s death and the immense pressure she faces as a top athlete.
Film Review | Jesse Owens, the Movie “RACE” and the Impact on the 2024 Olympic Games Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Watching Sprint, the new Netflix series, we get a glimpse into the immense mental and physical strain that track and field athletes endure. The series highlights the careers of top Black athletes like Noah Lyles, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, and Elaine Thompson-Herah. It becomes clear that the mental challenges these athletes face are often more daunting than the physical ones. Sadly, many of the struggles that Jesse Owens faced in 1936 are still very much alive today in the sports world.
From the Jesse Owens documentary, what struck me most was the sheer confidence it took for him to compete at a time when racism was so strong.
Traveling to a foreign country where he was likely even more hated for his skin color, Owens displayed an extraordinary level of self-belief and courage. The stakes were incredibly high – not just in terms of athletic performance, but in terms of his personal safety and the possibility of never seeing his family again. Owens stood up against a wall of negative ideals, representing a cause far greater than himself. His story is a powerful testament to the resilience and courage required to break barriers and inspire future generations.
Film Review | Jesse Owens, the Movie “RACE” and the Impact on the 2024 Olympic Games Photo Credit: Noah Lyles / Getty Images
We witness track stars like Noah Lyles, with ultimate confidence, performing at the highest level and winning gold medals.
His success stems largely from his unwavering belief in himself, and the same holds true for Sha’Carri Richardson. It’s one thing to excel in a sport you love, but it’s another to channel negativity and transform it into a driving force, to help empower your self-belief. I observe young athletes in various events, such as Anna Hall dominating the Heptathlon after a knee surgery, or Sidney McLaughlin-Levrone maintaining her record-breaking streak in the 400 Meter Hurdles. Recently, we saw Alaysha Johnson qualify for the Olympics, and Weini Kelati, originally from Eritrea, winning the 10,000m finals to secure her spot for the Paris Olympics. Since moving to the United States in 2014, Weini has become a prominent long-distance runner, showcasing the extraordinary confidence required to perform at such a high level.
Film Review | Jesse Owens, the Movie “RACE” and the Impact on the 2024 Olympic Games Photo Credit: Ben Lonergan-The Registered Guard
Jesse Owens and the 18 other Black track athletes, including Mack Robinson, set a standard for Black athletes competing on the world stage.
Their legacy endures, inspiring generations to come. I highly recommend watching the Jesse Owens biopic Race and the new track and field series Sprint. Additionally, if you haven’t already, check out the USA Men’s basketball documentary The Redeem Team or Simone Biles: Rising docuseries, both on Netflix. Lastly, the documentary Olympic Pride, American Prejudice, available on Amazon Prime and TUBI, is essential viewing to get into the right mindset for the upcoming Paris Olympic Trials.
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