REVIEW OF “TRIUMPH” A
BIOGRAPHY OF JESSE OWENS
AND THE 1936 OLYMPICS
PRESENTED ON THE HISTORY
CHANNEL,
19 JUNE 2024 –
JUNETEENTHE DAY
This new documentary of the
life of Jesse Owens includes some interesting material from the early
days of television, - clips for “This is Your Life,” a program
hosted by Ralph Edwards, and introducing the guest to folks from his
past, some of whom he had not seen in years. It ran from 1952-1961
on NBC. Like early tv, much of this new documentary is in black and
white. The documentary shows the adult Jesse responding on how he
acquired his name, which was James Cleveland Owens, but when he
arrived from the South into his first integrated public school in
Ohio, his teacher asked his name. He replied, “J C”, and she
noted it as Jesse.
The young Jesse began to
excel in track in high school and college, and with a white coach,
won races for his team in the amateur competitions in Ohio.
Traveling with the team, he might not be allowed in the front door
here or there, but he was good-natured and still won contests.
Eventually, he had girl friend, and with her, a child. As he became
famous, he even had a well-off black woman seeking his favors. But
in the end, he rejects her to return to his steady, Minnie Solomon,
and marries her.
In May 1931, the
International Olympic Committee, believing that Germany was no longer
a rogue nation, awarded the 1936 Olympics to Berlin. The economic
depression, that began in 1929 continued, and grew worse. Germany,
which had suffered from inflation on a scale seldom seen in 1923, was
suddenly enduring another major economic crisis. In America, the
unemployment rate was not as high as Germany's, but everyone who
lived through that era had heard of Hoovervilles, even if they
themselves had not been thrust into one by circumstances. The solid
ground of a good job, a decent home, a happy, prosperous family, had
become altered by the Dust Bowl, drought, businesses closing,
unemployment, hunger. People everywhere sought new help.
On January 30, 1933 German
President von Hindenburg appoints Adolf Hitler Kanzler of that
nation. On February 15, 1933, a man in Miami shouted “Too many
people are starving,” pulled his weapong, shot at president-elect
Franklin Roosevelt, wounded 5 and killed the Mayor of Chicago, who
was visiting. Roosevelt was unhurt. On February 27, 1933, a
communist set fire to the Reichstag building in Berlin, making the
parliament building useless. The new Kanzler responded by asking for
new legislation, an Empowering Act, giving him emergency powers to
cope with the emergency. He pushed the outlawing of the powerful
KPD, the Communist Party of Germany. With that, and their expulsion
from the parliament, the minority Nazi Party, would then have a
majority in the legislative body. March 4, 1933, Franklin Roosevelt
is inaugurated as President in Washington, assuring the American
people that the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.
Both Hitler and Roosevelt
had much to do, trying to cope with a deep depression. Hitler was
soon rounding up communists, building Dachau, the first of the Kzs,
concentration camps, boycotting Jewish stores, and firing Jews from
the civil service. FDR had to close all banks (some would re-open),
forbid ownership of gold, and begin to build the federal bureaucracy.
The History Channel
documentary gives the illusion that Hitler was quite anxious to get
the Olympics in Berlin. Was he? There was opposition to hosting the
Olympics, especially be leaders of German traditional sports, the
Turners. The Turners had been organized and important around 1800,
during the Napoleonic Wars. In one, the French won, and demanded
that Prussia reduce the size of its army. Aware that this would make
Prussia weaker in case of new wars (which were coming), so Prussian
had to agree, but also encouraged growth of the Turner organization,
a gymnastic sport group that encouraged physical development, health,
strength. Fathern Jahn, leader of the group developed the 4 Fs,
frisch, fromm, froehlich, frei – fresh, pious, joyous, free. The
Turners helped supply the Prussian army when needed. Napoleon was
finally defeated in 1815, and Prussia gained land. In the general
rebellions of 1848 in Europe, the Turners split between those who
supported the old regimes, and those who supported the left. The
radicals lost, snd some like Karl Marx left for Britain; others, like
Turners sailed to the US. When the Turners emerged in Milwaukee,
they kept only 2 Fs, now it was Frish. Frei, Stark, und Treu –
fresh, free, strong, and ture. The religious connotations removed,
as the Free Thinker views came to the left. The Turners that
remained in Germany tended to be more on the right politically, and
they were quite nationalist. Why waste money on international sport
like the Olympics, when Germany has its own sport, the Turners argued (today
there are Scottish Games for traditional sports of the Scots, and
same for the Irish, and probably various nations). Worse,
international sport was Jewish sport, said some. Avoid the Olympic
Movement, and stick to German sport, pressed the Turners.
While some favored a
rejection of the Olympic Committee's offer to stage the 1936 games,
others argued Germany should accept, for it would indicate Germany's
return to a legitimate status among the other nations. And after the
chaos and street battles of the Weimar era, fights between Storm
Troopers, Red Front, and various other political party militias,
and even with more confusion as leading communists, labor leaders,
socialists, and other opponents were rounded up, or intimidated into
silence, suddenly Germany was appearing as a law-abiding, peaceful
society. By hosting the Olympics, advisors like Dr. Goebbels argued,
the Nazis could show-case to the world their success in a new,
prosperous, and peaceful society. Hitler decided to host the
Olympics. And invest in it and and sports clubs and other things to
promote healthy youth and the event.
One of my professors at Tulane U. decades ago, had been a youngster growing up in Hamburg.
He noted that there were billboards announcing, unemployment in
Germany down so much this month. Abd each month. One summer day, off he went to the swimming
pool, and as he was about to enter as usual, he read the sign that Jews were
undesired there. Soon he had to leave the public school and attend a
Jewish one. He and his family were lucky to get out in 1939. But
Germany, which suffered a massive inflation in the 1920s, and a
deeper depression than in the US, was growing economically under the
Nazis. Building up the military, the Autobahn, steel, most items,
the economy kept perking upward. Jews, dissidents, and some others
suffered, but most could do well if they “got into gear” with the
new system. True, a one-party system, but certainly freer than the
Soviet's. Even after only one year and a half in power, the German
people voted nearly 90% in favor of combining the offices of
President and Kanzler, a post Hitler assumed. True, Stalin usually
received about 99%, but there was little doubt in Germany that Hitler
was popular in Germany.
Franklin Roosevelt began in
power a month after Hitler. FDR had to close the banks for a time,
as many were already bankrupt. He brought in new advisors, enlarged
the federal bureaucracy, experimented. Roosevelt was a Democrat, and
continued the segregation policies of Democrat Pres. Wilson even as
he expanded government employment. In addition to the Great
Depression, FDR had to endure problems of the dust bowl, the land
that had dried up, and lack of irrigation. (Enjoy another look at
the film, "The Grapes of Wrath” for a taste of the era). His
Administration instituted “red lining” to prevent investment in
black neighborhoods of cities. But there was economic growth, and in the
1936 election, FDR was re-elected with theh largest majority of over
11 million votes over his Republican opponent, receiving over 60% of the total, and Roosevelt carried all but 2
small states.
By mid-1936 the world was
also emerging from the world-wide depression. People could afford to
travel, and why not have them come to the Olympics in Berlin? They
might also stay and see other parts of the new Germany. To promote
the Olympics, some went to Greece to start the still used tradition
of lighting a torch from ancient areas, and then have someone carry it
– in that case from Greece through the Balkans, en route to Berlin.
German radio carried daily reports on the progress of the journey. A new
stadium, new housing for the athletes. And most important for the
future, Hitler's friend, Leni Riefenstahl was given a huge budget to
create a film of the event.
The History Channel is
clearly no fan of Riefenstahl, but they allow their hatred of her
politics to distort her film project. The History Channel shows some
of examples from the film of what the HC call the glorification of
the Aryan bodies, as the near naked athletes display their muscles in
action. This distorts. The modern athletes were posing like the
statue of the discus thrower, like the statues of other ancient
athletes from Greece. The film is trying to make a connection between
the ancient and modern Olympics. Were the ancient Greeks Aryans?
Whatever Riefenstahl's
politics, her film is NOT a racist film. Probably no one got at much
air time as the winner of the marathon race. Riefenstahl portrays
him running and running and sweating and tiring. He had the
strangest running shoes, - each shoe had a material divider between
the large and the other toes. I assume this was to make it more like
the wooded sandals typical of Asia, with the wooden insert making a
similar division, and useful for walking in them (like the modern
flip-flops). The winner of the marathon was a Korean athlete
representing Japan. Riefenstahl also showed Jesse Owens, a crowd
favorite in the Berlin stadium and winner of 4 gold medals. She may
not have given him as much screen time, but she include the friendly
relation Owens had with German broad jumper and his competitor Lux Long – a spotlighted friendship not something that
would thrill Der Fuehrer. I would contend that Riefenstahl's film is
not merely the best of the Olympic films, but one of the best films
made, pne including so many innovations (see wikipedia) on many
aspects of filming, from underwater, to a rail to move along with the
runners, and many of these techniques are still used today. We
eventually learned to judge the VW beetle as a wonderful cheap auto,
despite its political origin. Too bad the HC cannot do the same for
Riefenstahl and her film.
To make a good impression
on the many foreigners, Propaganda Minister Goebbels took control.
All German newspapers would have to carry the official reportage of
the events of the Olympics. There was to be no denigrating
participants or others because of their race or nationality.
Moreover, in Berlin, all the anti-Jewish signs were to be removed,
and all patrons of all races were to be welcomed at restaurants, etc.
Foreign guests were not to see “Jews and dogs are unwelcome,”
signs. The irony – British travelers may have seen the “No
Chinese and dogs” signs in Hong Kong, and “No Indians and Dogs
Allowed,” in India; while Americans had surely seen “Whites Only”
signs. Germany was certainly NOT the only racist nation in the 1930s. But for the Olympics, Berlin now opened its parks, zoo, and public
spaces, and eateries, etc. to all. In the 2016 film, “Race,”
Jesse Owens and some black American athletes are quite surprised that in
Berlin's Olympic village they are to eat in the cafeteria with all
the other athletes. No segregation?!
Berlin was going to be a
showcase to the world for the short duration of the Olympic Games.
One feature I think is ignored because most American historians,
academics, are Democrats and accept a narrative of the wonders of the
New Deal, Franklin Roosevelt, and the Democrats. There is a
reluctance to grant the achievements of the Germans or other rivals.
The Berlin Olympics were the first to be televised. In the late
1940s in NYC, because of the high cost of the small screen television
pieces of furniture, many watched by going to their local bar.
Berlin created viewing rooms, and used 2 types of television to send
the pictures of the Games. One system was that developed by
American, Philo Farnsworth, who was battling with RCA and NBC's David
Sarnoff. The pictures telecast in Berlin were not as sharp as
today's, but 150,000 people saw some of the Olympic Games on
television in Berlin and Potsdam.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_in_television)
During German occupation of Paris in WWII, German television was
transmitted from the Eiffel Tower. Yet, most Americans believe
television transmission began at the NY World's Fair of 1939 when
RCA/NBC demonstrated its system to Pres. Roosevelt and the general
public.
The HC documentary does
discuss the attempts by the political left and Jewish organizations
to boycott the Nazi Olympics. However, a far more nuanced discussion
occurs in the 2016 film “Race,” in which NAACP leaders put great
pressure on Jesse and the other black athletes. I can only add, if
they had followed the advice of that organization, would anyone have
heard of Jesse Owens today?
Owens and the other
American blacks did make an impression on those in the Olympic
Stadium, and with the Olympia film, a lasting impression. I assume
most of the on the field banter or rhe athletes was among those of their own teams. A
striking exception, one visible because it was exceptional, was the
black/white talking, touching each other, placing an arm round the
should of the other. One can almost imagine Dr. Goebbels shouting at
this outrage, this clear violation of the Aryan ideals. But they did
not hear him. Instead, thousands in the Stadium were openly shouting,
“Oh-vens, Oh-vens!” in approval. (There is no “w” sound in
German.) Broad jumpers Owens (the gold medalist) and German Carl Luz Long who came in
2nd, openly chatted and appeared to be friends before the huge crowd. And with the third place Naoto Tajima of Japan, they composed an interesting picture on the winners; platform.
When the Games ended, US
Olympic Chief Avery Brundage thought he could make money for the
American Committee by having exhibitions of the track stars in
Europe. Jesse Owens was tired and wanted to return to the US. In
declining Brundage's demands, he won his enmity. Jesse returned to a hero's welcome and a massive ticker-tape parade. But when all
returned, Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt invited all the
Olympic athletes to the White House. Opps! No FDR invited all the
white athletes to the White House. No blacks, despite all the gold medals of Jesses, Metcalf, and others. Jesse Owens remarked later that
Hitler had not snubbed him; but Roosevelt did. Oh, the HC documentary
forgot to mention that. Indeed, earlier this year, 2024, a
travelling exhibition on immigration restriction, came to the
Milwaukee Public Library. By chance, I was there when I saw them
assembling the photos, etc. to be shown. One area on the 1936
Olympics displayed a large photo of Owens, and discussion of Hitler's
racism. I suggested to the librarians that they include FDR's
refusal to invite any of the black Olympians to the White House.
They refused to alter the “official” version, the one that also condemned America Firster Charles Lindbergh, but ignores the racism of
FDR. There is now a question about this. Haley Bracken, writing in Britannica asserts the white athletes were invited to the White House, but not the blacks. The White House Historical Assn. has an article by Sarah Fling in which she contends, "Archival documents show that Americans urged Roosevelt to welcome the track and field star at the White House, but that the president did not invite any athletes, regardless of race, to celebrate at the Executive Mansion." I would urge those who can research visitors to the White House, if Brundage had been invited with some athletes to see the President.
The money dried up rather
quickly for Jesse. A vindictive Brundage had enormous power in sports, and used it to cripple Jesse
Owens financially. Owens raced against a horse, got odd jobs, then a
janitor. As years passed, we entered
WWII, and the Allies won. Then a Cold War. Communists declared the
only hope for blacks and colonial people would be through
Communist revolution. The American State Dept. began to seek out
American blacks who would present a different picture to the emerging
world; that there were racial problems in the US, but they were being
solved and things were getting better, for all Americans. Jesse Owens
joined in this effort, along with famous black musicians. Jesse now
had a decent income and renewed prestige, invited to be on tv shows,
etc. Critics called him an Uncle Tom and worse. I have in print
defended another prominent black who got into trouble because he
spoke out in the Cold War, but critical of the US and usually
supporting the Soviet position. Paul Robeson paid a heavy price for
his open defiance of the government's view. He believed it, and I
found him courageous in standing up for what he believed. I feel the same way about Owens; if he thought
the US foreign policy was the best for all Americans and for blacks
too, why not speak up about it? And even get a job doing it? It does not make him a sell out. Sometimes doing the popular thing can take courage too.
The most annoying part of
the History Channel documentary, is its distortion and omission to
make FDR and the Democrats appear as the anti-racist party of the
1930s. Dare we be honest, nearly 80 years after the vanquishing of
Hitler and his allies, that Hitler did accomplish a great deal in his
short time in office. The Berlin Olympics were a success with many
visitors, because the Nazis got the economy going. In newsreels, you
can see the people cheering him. And from the early days of his
regime, one could see government discrimination against Jews;
suppression of other political parties, and even murder (of Aryan
children born with health problems). But compared to the massive
inflation of the 1920s and the severe depression beginning in 1929,
who would want to return to that chaos and starvation of the Weimar Republic? It was because the Hitler regime
was so successful and so popular, that it was such a threat. Time to
recognize its accomplishments and its dangers that grew because of its successes.
We remember Jesse Owens
because he defied the boycott or the political left, and showed that
blacks were human and could out perform others in sports. You can
see him in the great art film by Riefenstahl, which was paid for by
the Nazis, but under Ms. Riefenstahl, did not embody Nazi ideals.
Berlin 1936 allowed a week of anti-racism to free many spirits for
the battles to come.
