Race – A Movie Review

Race – A Movie Review

It’s Black History month so I decided to go see the movie, RACE – the Jesse Owens story. I am of mixed emotions, as usual, when vicariously traveling back in history to witness the outrageous treatment and disrespect of a true “American” sports hero.

Jesse Owens participated and won 4 gold medals in track and field events in the 1936 Olympics in Hitler’s Berlin, Germany.

Jesse experiences a conflict of conscious as he prepares for the 1936 Olympics. He has to contend not only with the racial conflict at home, but also on the international stage as well. The storyline was poignant as is with most stories about sports heroes, their families, and their assortment of challenges.

Yet, viewing this story through the lens of 2016 quickly dissolves the 80 year gap, as if this event was actually yesterday’s headline. The level of racial animosity existing then is the spitting image of the deep, racial hostility that exists in the United States today.

The birthers movement‘s continual debasement of the legitimacy of President Obama’s citizenship status is one of many examples of the unfathomable depths of racism in this nation of ours. We are a nation of immigrants…always has been and, more than likely, always will be.  And, therein lies our greatness…our diverse multicultural democratic society.

Yet, why does one phrase keep resonating in my mind…just because of the color of someone’s skin?  There’s a scene in the film where Jesse Owens, his wife, his coach and his wife are about to enter a hotel to attend a banquet given in his honor. The hotel doorman stops the Owens party to inform Jesse that even though the banquet is being given in his honor, he and his wife had to enter the hotel through the back entrance.  The coach and his wife entered through the main hotel lobby.

And that’s the way it was back in 1936 in America.  Just imagine, a national sports hero relegated to bus boy hotel access in order to attend a banquet, celebrating his patriotic, triumphant, international achievements.

Suffice it to say that the Jesse Owens story is a great history lesson about perseverance, loyalty, achievement, true sportsmanship, and politics.

I recommend the film, RACE, to those who know nothing about Jesse Owens’ historic accomplishments and to those who are just plain sports enthusiasts.

 By Dr. Lana Jackman