In 1936, at the Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens (1913-1980) won four gold medals in track and field, at that time the most universally acclaimed feat in the history of the games.
When Adolf Hitler, the German Nazi dictator, refused to present him the medals he had won in the various competitions, Owens became even more famous because of the publicity.
On June 22, 1937, Joe Louis (1914-1981) defeated James J. Braddock to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the word. Black America vigorously celebrated this exciting victory, praising Louis as a symbol of black strength and power.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson began his major league baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first black player in organized professional baseball, opening the door for other black baseball players and black athletes in all sports.
