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Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: The Untold Story of 18 African Americans Who Defied Jim Crow and Adolf Hitler to Compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Discover the astonishing, inspirational, and largely unknown true story of the eighteen African American athletes who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, defying the racism of both Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South.
Set against the turbulent backdrop of a segregated United States, sixteen black men and two black women were torn between boycotting the Olympic Games in Nazi Germany or participating. After all, they were representing a country that considered them second-class citizens and would compete in a country amidst a strong undercurrent of Aryan superiority and anti-Semitism.
Jesse Owens is the most recognized of the group for winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics. Other winners include Jackie Robinson’s brother Mack who won silver for the 200-meter race, and Cornelius Johnson, who led an American sweep in the high jump.
As a companion piece to the brilliant documentary Olympic Pride, American Prejudice this book draws on over forty hours of interviews and extensive research the filmmakers obtained which did not make the final film cut. It explores key elements of the story and provides fuller context on the prospect of an Olympic boycott, the relationships between the president of the International Olympic Committee and the Nazis, the different perspectives of Jewish athletes, the NAACP and black newspapers, and details about the actual lives of the eighteen Olympians from family members’ testimonials.
Capturing a powerful and untold piece of history, The Black Auxiliary is also a celebration of the courage, commitment, and accomplishments of these talented athletes.
Set against the turbulent backdrop of a segregated United States, sixteen black men and two black women were torn between boycotting the Olympic Games in Nazi Germany or participating. After all, they were representing a country that considered them second-class citizens and would compete in a country amidst a strong undercurrent of Aryan superiority and anti-Semitism.
Jesse Owens is the most recognized of the group for winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics. Other winners include Jackie Robinson’s brother Mack who won silver for the 200-meter race, and Cornelius Johnson, who led an American sweep in the high jump.
As a companion piece to the brilliant documentary Olympic Pride, American Prejudice this book draws on over forty hours of interviews and extensive research the filmmakers obtained which did not make the final film cut. It explores key elements of the story and provides fuller context on the prospect of an Olympic boycott, the relationships between the president of the International Olympic Committee and the Nazis, the different perspectives of Jewish athletes, the NAACP and black newspapers, and details about the actual lives of the eighteen Olympians from family members’ testimonials.
Capturing a powerful and untold piece of history, The Black Auxiliary is also a celebration of the courage, commitment, and accomplishments of these talented athletes.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 27, 2018
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1473 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 27, 2020
This book was a great break from the more serious books I've been reading.
The book is about the 18 African Americans who participated in the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin.
The stories of these athletes is fun and interesting. Draper does an excellent job with covering the competitions and making them come to life. Some of these athletes were discovered by pure happenstance while others were destined to compete. Most of the black athletes competed in Track and Field events. There were also 3 boxers, a rower, and a weightlifter. Some of my favorites were:
Tidye Pickette's story was one of my favorites. She discovered the love of running at local fairs, where she consistently won races despite her petite size.
Mack Robinson, Jackie Robinson's older brother, broke the world record but had to settle for a silver medal (Jessie Owens beat him.)
John Woodruff one of the youngest athletes was had virtually no experience racing. The Olympics was his 5 competition!
While Jessie Owens is included in the book, Draper makes a conscious decision to focus on the other black racers. In the introduction, she mentions that there are scores of books on Owens, but the other 17 racers are often forgotten. So while she does give Owen's coverage, it is not the focus of the book.
Similarly, while these atheletes had unique stories due to their race, these stories are supplemental to their being world class athletes. Yes, there were clear injustices---some of which were egregious (e.g. decisions that affected who participated and even won certain competitions.) While these stories are told, they are not the focus of the story.
The book is about the 18 African Americans who participated in the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin.
The stories of these athletes is fun and interesting. Draper does an excellent job with covering the competitions and making them come to life. Some of these athletes were discovered by pure happenstance while others were destined to compete. Most of the black athletes competed in Track and Field events. There were also 3 boxers, a rower, and a weightlifter. Some of my favorites were:
Tidye Pickette's story was one of my favorites. She discovered the love of running at local fairs, where she consistently won races despite her petite size.
Mack Robinson, Jackie Robinson's older brother, broke the world record but had to settle for a silver medal (Jessie Owens beat him.)
John Woodruff one of the youngest athletes was had virtually no experience racing. The Olympics was his 5 competition!
While Jessie Owens is included in the book, Draper makes a conscious decision to focus on the other black racers. In the introduction, she mentions that there are scores of books on Owens, but the other 17 racers are often forgotten. So while she does give Owen's coverage, it is not the focus of the book.
Similarly, while these atheletes had unique stories due to their race, these stories are supplemental to their being world class athletes. Yes, there were clear injustices---some of which were egregious (e.g. decisions that affected who participated and even won certain competitions.) While these stories are told, they are not the focus of the story.
September 14, 2020
A little dry at times, but overall, this well-researched book was an engrossing look at a difficult period in U.S. / World History.
Let’s start by naming the 18 reasons why this book (and documentary) exists (order set by the authors): Cornelius “Corny” Johnson, David Albritton, Jesse Owens, Mack Robinson, John Brooks, Archie Williams, Jimmy Luvalle, Ralph Metcalfe aka the Fastest Man Alive and also a member of the 1932 Olympic team, Fritz Pollard, Jr, John Woodruff, - Boxers – Jackie Wilson, Howell King, Jimmy Clark, Oliver Willis Johnson – This is the first time in the history of the games that “Negroes” (their term) are allowed to compete on an American Boxing team – John Terry, and Misses Tidye Pickett (first name spelled wrong on p. 194) and Louise Stokes, both of whom were also on the 1932 team.
These athletes were not afraid of hard work – many of their ancestors were slaves / sharecroppers in the south who then came north seeking a better life, but make no mistake, life was just as challenging north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Some interesting things that really caught my eye:
From Ralph Metcalfe: His coach told him, “You have to put daylight between you and your nearest competitor.” Reason: If the race came down to Metcalfe and a white runner, the judges would give the Gold to the white guy.
1932 was the first time in Olympic history that athletes lived together in a special area known as Olympic Village, a tradition that still continues to this day, but back then, it was for males, only.
In each chapter, there is a brief 2-3 page history about what was going on in the U.S. / World during this time period. Drawing my own conclusions, it seems like FDR’s US, with regards to how black people were treated (lynching), was no better than Hitler’s Germany (Holocaust).
Also, people think politics are ugly, today. Back in 1933, FDR stated [to Eleanor and Walter White, the leader of the NAACP], “If I come out for an anti-lynching bill now, they will block every bill I ask Congress to pass to keep America from collapsing. I just can’t take the risk.” Later in the book, FDR again backed away from this issue and didn’t want to act because the midterm elections were approaching and the Southern Democrats were critical to his win. It seems to me that Black people (more so than the rest of us?) are a political hot potato that continue to get hit back and forth between the two major parties, like a tennis ball, depending on how this segment of our overall population can most help each political party.
Do you believe all Germans were Nazis? I’ve read enough history to know better, but just as an FYI, in 1933, Hitler and his buddies, implemented a policy called “Aryans only.” This collectively ended the careers of many of the country’s top athletes, including Helene Mayer, who was considered the most gifted female fencer in the world! All because her father was Jewish. Some athletes found “solace” competing for other countries, yet many remained banished from the pages of history, forever.
By 1934, the Nazis forbade Jews from accessing health insurance and banned them from the labor front. Think this didn’t happen in the U.S.? After the Olympics, one of these athletes got a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but wasn’t allowed to work in this field, but I digress.
Fritz Pollard, Jr. was a hurdler, but what he really wanted to do was compete in the decathlon, but at this time, Black people were not allowed to participate.
On an intriguing note, both Fritz Pollard, Jr. and Mack Robinson have some mighty famous relatives, but you’ll have to read the book to learn more.
Only 22 miles north of Berlin, work began on the Sachsenhauan Concentration Camp. According to this book, “Starting in 1936 and operating for eight years, more than 200,000 people are imprisoned in Sachsenhausen, and before the Soviet Army liberates this camp, an estimated 30,000-35,000 prisoners die at Sachsenhausen.”
Berlin did an adequate job of masking what was really happening in this city and the rest of the country, but the U.S. was equally good at masking what they were doing. If you look at the pictures of these athletes at the Olympics, one might assume that all was well and these black athletes were always treated the same as everyone else, but you’d be wrong!
Tidye Pickett is the first black female to ever compete for the United States.
Reading about the victories and accomplishments of our athletes, who had worked so hard for all they had and to get to Berlin was exciting! For a country that puts such a huge emphasis on sports and competing, we owe these athletes a great deal! Unfortunately, as Jimmy Luvalle knew, “Just because we’ve won some medals doesn’t mean racism in the United States has gone away.” Everyone wanted to slap these athletes on the back and give them a parade, but very few people wanted to offer any of them a job.
After: Black newspapers sang the praises of ALL 18 black athletes, but the mainstream press focused all of their [collective] attention on Jesse Owens. To this day, when most people think of the ’36 Olympics, they think only of Jesse Owens.
I loved seeing what happened to these ladies and gentlemen after the Olympics – good and bad, because it showed their perseverance in the face of adversity!
Well-Done!
Let’s start by naming the 18 reasons why this book (and documentary) exists (order set by the authors): Cornelius “Corny” Johnson, David Albritton, Jesse Owens, Mack Robinson, John Brooks, Archie Williams, Jimmy Luvalle, Ralph Metcalfe aka the Fastest Man Alive and also a member of the 1932 Olympic team, Fritz Pollard, Jr, John Woodruff, - Boxers – Jackie Wilson, Howell King, Jimmy Clark, Oliver Willis Johnson – This is the first time in the history of the games that “Negroes” (their term) are allowed to compete on an American Boxing team – John Terry, and Misses Tidye Pickett (first name spelled wrong on p. 194) and Louise Stokes, both of whom were also on the 1932 team.
These athletes were not afraid of hard work – many of their ancestors were slaves / sharecroppers in the south who then came north seeking a better life, but make no mistake, life was just as challenging north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Some interesting things that really caught my eye:
From Ralph Metcalfe: His coach told him, “You have to put daylight between you and your nearest competitor.” Reason: If the race came down to Metcalfe and a white runner, the judges would give the Gold to the white guy.
1932 was the first time in Olympic history that athletes lived together in a special area known as Olympic Village, a tradition that still continues to this day, but back then, it was for males, only.
In each chapter, there is a brief 2-3 page history about what was going on in the U.S. / World during this time period. Drawing my own conclusions, it seems like FDR’s US, with regards to how black people were treated (lynching), was no better than Hitler’s Germany (Holocaust).
Also, people think politics are ugly, today. Back in 1933, FDR stated [to Eleanor and Walter White, the leader of the NAACP], “If I come out for an anti-lynching bill now, they will block every bill I ask Congress to pass to keep America from collapsing. I just can’t take the risk.” Later in the book, FDR again backed away from this issue and didn’t want to act because the midterm elections were approaching and the Southern Democrats were critical to his win. It seems to me that Black people (more so than the rest of us?) are a political hot potato that continue to get hit back and forth between the two major parties, like a tennis ball, depending on how this segment of our overall population can most help each political party.
Do you believe all Germans were Nazis? I’ve read enough history to know better, but just as an FYI, in 1933, Hitler and his buddies, implemented a policy called “Aryans only.” This collectively ended the careers of many of the country’s top athletes, including Helene Mayer, who was considered the most gifted female fencer in the world! All because her father was Jewish. Some athletes found “solace” competing for other countries, yet many remained banished from the pages of history, forever.
By 1934, the Nazis forbade Jews from accessing health insurance and banned them from the labor front. Think this didn’t happen in the U.S.? After the Olympics, one of these athletes got a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but wasn’t allowed to work in this field, but I digress.
Fritz Pollard, Jr. was a hurdler, but what he really wanted to do was compete in the decathlon, but at this time, Black people were not allowed to participate.
On an intriguing note, both Fritz Pollard, Jr. and Mack Robinson have some mighty famous relatives, but you’ll have to read the book to learn more.
Only 22 miles north of Berlin, work began on the Sachsenhauan Concentration Camp. According to this book, “Starting in 1936 and operating for eight years, more than 200,000 people are imprisoned in Sachsenhausen, and before the Soviet Army liberates this camp, an estimated 30,000-35,000 prisoners die at Sachsenhausen.”
Berlin did an adequate job of masking what was really happening in this city and the rest of the country, but the U.S. was equally good at masking what they were doing. If you look at the pictures of these athletes at the Olympics, one might assume that all was well and these black athletes were always treated the same as everyone else, but you’d be wrong!
Tidye Pickett is the first black female to ever compete for the United States.
Reading about the victories and accomplishments of our athletes, who had worked so hard for all they had and to get to Berlin was exciting! For a country that puts such a huge emphasis on sports and competing, we owe these athletes a great deal! Unfortunately, as Jimmy Luvalle knew, “Just because we’ve won some medals doesn’t mean racism in the United States has gone away.” Everyone wanted to slap these athletes on the back and give them a parade, but very few people wanted to offer any of them a job.
After: Black newspapers sang the praises of ALL 18 black athletes, but the mainstream press focused all of their [collective] attention on Jesse Owens. To this day, when most people think of the ’36 Olympics, they think only of Jesse Owens.
I loved seeing what happened to these ladies and gentlemen after the Olympics – good and bad, because it showed their perseverance in the face of adversity!
Well-Done!
January 13, 2020
This is a book I added to my (off-site) must-read list as soon as I heard about it. I had an opportunity to watch the documentary, but at 90 minutes the documentary wasn't able to go into the depth that the book accomplished.
I found myself wanting to cheer with each victory and was saddened when hard-earned opportunities were taken away (particularly Tidye Pickett's and Louise Stokes' positions on the 1932 Olympic 4x100m relay team, where they were allowed to travel to the games and then were replaced right before the competition) or the final results were adjusted so that the Black athletes weren't properly awarded honors for their efforts.
Upon release, a copy of this book will be on my bookshelf. Highly recommended!
I received a copy from Atria Books/Simon & Schuster through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I found myself wanting to cheer with each victory and was saddened when hard-earned opportunities were taken away (particularly Tidye Pickett's and Louise Stokes' positions on the 1932 Olympic 4x100m relay team, where they were allowed to travel to the games and then were replaced right before the competition) or the final results were adjusted so that the Black athletes weren't properly awarded honors for their efforts.
Upon release, a copy of this book will be on my bookshelf. Highly recommended!
I received a copy from Atria Books/Simon & Schuster through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 7, 2021
Detailing the personal history of the black athletes that made the trek to the 1936 Olympic in Berlin and the extreme racism they encountered in their lives. It was a joy reading about the other athletes besides Jesse Owens that made a mark in helping America achieve athletic success in those Olympics led by Hitler’s Aryan athletes.
July 15, 2020
You remember back in high school or college when you were given a writing assignment and you waited until the night before to write it so you can say you completed it, but it lacks any real passion? That's how I felt the authors undertook this project - it was like they thought "hey, this is something important to let the world know about." So they compiled a bunch of biographical facts about the athletes and then when the deadline was fast approaching they put a bunch of words on the page that lacked any soul. When you're writing about athletes, even what can appear to be the most boring of sports, there should still exist an element of thrill and excitement when reading about the races that was sorely lacking here. Take "The Boys in the Boat" as a prime example. Not many people outside of the rowing or crew world would find that a captivating topic, but the author did such a good job immersing the reader in each race. Or "Seabiscuit." Many people find horse racing to be extremely boring, but for me, each race or training session had me at the edge of my seat. I felt like the decision to write this chronologically as opposed to focusing on the individual athletes made it tough to follow.
I also felt like the obvious scenes of prejudice and discrimination that this book was designed to highlight given the title and the introduction were glossed over too quickly. It's as if the authors tried to contain the book to a certain number of pages and were rushing to tell things without really extrapolating on how people felt about these blatant and overt acts.
Speaking of titles, it's called "The Untold Story of 18 African Americans ..." For the most part, their respective stories are still untold because the majority of this book focuses on only 6 of these athletes: Ralph Metcalfe, Tidye Pickett, Mack Robinson, Louise Stokes, Archie Williams, and James LuValle. The 5 boxers are completely overlooked and get only a small reference - mind you that one, Jack WIlson, won a silver medal! John Terry, the weightlifter, gets a small comment in the Epilogue - wtf? This book tries not to focus on Jesse Owens and writes about him as more of a peripheral figure. Cornelius Johnson who easily won a gold medal and Dave Albritton who won a silver medal in the high jump get one small chapter devoted to them in the latter part of the book. John Woodruff who won a gold medal in the 800m didn't get mentioned until the second half of the book; the same is true for Fritz Pollard who won bronze in the 110m hurdles John Brooks (broad jump) is mentioned mostly in terms of helping Tidye Pickett with her training. I understand that the general public is more intrigued and captivated by the races than boxing, weightlifting, or the high jump, but if the premise of the book is to tell about all these overlooked athletes then the authors should give them their due and tell all the stories instead of cherry picking the ones they found most intriguing.
And a good chunk of the book seems to be building up to the 100m race between Ralph Metcalfe and Jesse Owens. I looked over the final chapters multiple times and I couldn't find it. Nothing! As I type this I'm still going back to make sure I didn't miss it because it's inconceivable that this was not written about or edited out. (Here is the order of chapters once the Games start: Johnson and Albritton in the high jump, Woodruff running the 800m (with a small blurb about some boxers at the end), Robinson in the 200m, Tidye Pickett, Pollard running the 110m hurdles, Williams and Luvalle in the 400m, the men's 4x100 relay, the men's 4x400 relay, the women's 4x100 relay, medal synopsis). I'm so confused.
This is just a snippet of what was wrong with this book. Poor job.
I also felt like the obvious scenes of prejudice and discrimination that this book was designed to highlight given the title and the introduction were glossed over too quickly. It's as if the authors tried to contain the book to a certain number of pages and were rushing to tell things without really extrapolating on how people felt about these blatant and overt acts.
Speaking of titles, it's called "The Untold Story of 18 African Americans ..." For the most part, their respective stories are still untold because the majority of this book focuses on only 6 of these athletes: Ralph Metcalfe, Tidye Pickett, Mack Robinson, Louise Stokes, Archie Williams, and James LuValle. The 5 boxers are completely overlooked and get only a small reference - mind you that one, Jack WIlson, won a silver medal! John Terry, the weightlifter, gets a small comment in the Epilogue - wtf? This book tries not to focus on Jesse Owens and writes about him as more of a peripheral figure. Cornelius Johnson who easily won a gold medal and Dave Albritton who won a silver medal in the high jump get one small chapter devoted to them in the latter part of the book. John Woodruff who won a gold medal in the 800m didn't get mentioned until the second half of the book; the same is true for Fritz Pollard who won bronze in the 110m hurdles John Brooks (broad jump) is mentioned mostly in terms of helping Tidye Pickett with her training. I understand that the general public is more intrigued and captivated by the races than boxing, weightlifting, or the high jump, but if the premise of the book is to tell about all these overlooked athletes then the authors should give them their due and tell all the stories instead of cherry picking the ones they found most intriguing.
And a good chunk of the book seems to be building up to the 100m race between Ralph Metcalfe and Jesse Owens. I looked over the final chapters multiple times and I couldn't find it. Nothing! As I type this I'm still going back to make sure I didn't miss it because it's inconceivable that this was not written about or edited out. (Here is the order of chapters once the Games start: Johnson and Albritton in the high jump, Woodruff running the 800m (with a small blurb about some boxers at the end), Robinson in the 200m, Tidye Pickett, Pollard running the 110m hurdles, Williams and Luvalle in the 400m, the men's 4x100 relay, the men's 4x400 relay, the women's 4x100 relay, medal synopsis). I'm so confused.
This is just a snippet of what was wrong with this book. Poor job.
September 1, 2022
Everyone knows the story of Hitler's famous snub of Jesse Owens after his gold medal win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. What most people do not know is that there were 17 other Black athletes who competed for the United States in those same Olympics winning a total of 14 medals, nearly one-fourth of the US total. Draper's book is well-researched and she does an amazingly good job tackling a huge subject with many layers; what keeps this from being a five star book (in my opinion) is that it is far too short to adequately cover all the material. Just focusing on the 18 athletes alone would have been a yeoman's task. Draper also chooses to focus on the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, the debate over whether to boycott the Olympics, racial injustice here in the United States (including many references to the continued lynchings), the warm welcome the athletes received by the German citizens themselves, and much more. In her defense, with all those threads, she can't help but give short shrift to some. Among the many shocking and disturbing facts Draper presents include the shabby treatment of the the Black athletes by the Olympic committee here in the United States. The irony is powerful in light of their concern over the treatment of Jews in Germany, and not even touching on the rampant anti-Semitism which was present here in the US. That two Jewish athletes on the US team were not allowed by their own coaches to compete is disgraceful and not given adequate explanation or follow-up. There is just too much to discuss. Draper gives a brief concluding passage on each athlete, explaining what they did after the Olympics and how some won long overdue honors before their deaths (or posthumously.) One of the many shockers for me is that Ralph Metcalfe, a name well-known in Chicago politics, was a member of that 1936 team. I applaud Draper for taking on this topic and shedding light on a subject on which appallingly little is known by the average citizen. My hope is that other authors will pick up the torch where she left off and fill in the many blanks about these brave and undervalued athletes.
January 12, 2024
Been wanting to read this for a while now. My only issue was that I was listening to the audiobook (probably a bit too fast) and had trouble keeping track of who was who when fast forwarding through time, but it still felt understandable.
It’s interesting to see how the Germans (and Americans) treated Jesse Owens vs all the other black olympians during and after the Olympics (especially the women). I also liked the epilogue and how it cemented the fact that most of them didn’t just want to be athletes and had these other careers that aren’t often discussed. And how even Jesse Owens who was THE American Olympian also had issues with being taken seriously regarding employment.
It’s interesting to see how the Germans (and Americans) treated Jesse Owens vs all the other black olympians during and after the Olympics (especially the women). I also liked the epilogue and how it cemented the fact that most of them didn’t just want to be athletes and had these other careers that aren’t often discussed. And how even Jesse Owens who was THE American Olympian also had issues with being taken seriously regarding employment.
February 22, 2021
Wow, just wow. I was told to read this book for a class I am currently taking at university and I could honestly say it has been a very enlightening read. I was able to contextualize a lot of historical events and learn a lot about the details that are not taught in regular history classes. This was an amazing read and truly enjoyed reading each of the athletes life stories and how they went through life not letting limitations stop them. Honestly truly inspiring.
August 10, 2021
Awesome book. The story was well written. I listened to the audio version. After reading I was inspired to look up the 1936 Olympics to watch some of the events. The two in party were the 800m men’s and the 4x100 men’s relay. I am going to read “The Boys in the Boat” the rowing team from University of Washington that also competed in the 1936 Olympics.
April 18, 2022
I am obsessed with the Olympics and I'm doing my best to learn the good with the bad. I just recently read fire on the track where I thought I had a good perspective of the 1936 Olympics female track stars but this book expanded my knowledge of the incredibly poor treatment of two female athletes of color who should have had an opportunity to compete in their track and field events.
January 16, 2021
I needed to read a book on the Olympics for my 2021 Challenge, and couldn't imagine finding one that would interest me, but this one surely did.
December 19, 2021
“Olympic Pride, American Prejudice,” by Deborah Riley Draper and Travis Thrasher, is a meticulous gathering of information about the 17 other African American Olympian athletes (other than Jesse Owens) that competed in the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. The book gives the important back stories of how these Young, Gifted & Black track stars navigated notoriety, disappointment, and success in defiance of “Jim Crow” America and racial animosity around the world. Great book!
August 22, 2020
Whenever the name Jesse Owens is mentioned, the first thing everyone says is that he "beat" Hitler. A compelling story of courage, heroism, dignity and humility. Incredibly well written and researched. We learn of the experiences of 17 other African American athletes who also competed against Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany, during the time of the Nazi invasion. These extraordinary individuals held up under the pressure of racism from both the Nazis and when they got back home to America. I highly recommend this book as a "must read" for everyone, young and old. I hope they also publish a young readers version.
August 4, 2021
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Five years ago, I was watching Ken Burns’ documentary on baseball great Jackie Robinson, and it was mentioned his older brother Mack competed and won a silver medal at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Wow, I thought, how come I didn’t know, lover of the modern Olympics that I am? Because until recently, the story of the 1936 Olympics was about Jesse Owens’ four gold medals, giving Adolf Hitler a metaphorical middle finger. Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: The Untold Story of 18 African Americans Who Defied Jim Crow and Adolf Hitler to Compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics reveals the stories of 17 other black athletes, including two women, who competed at the games.
"As a companion piece to the brilliant documentary Olympic Pride, American Prejudice (Stream for FREE with Amazon Prime) this book draws on over forty hours of interviews and extensive research the filmmakers obtained which did not make the final film cut. It explores key elements of the story and provides fuller context on the prospect of an Olympic boycott, the relationships between the president of the International Olympic Committee and the Nazis, the different perspectives of Jewish athletes, the NAACP and black newspapers, and details about the actual lives of the eighteen Olympians from family members’ testimonials.”
The athletes were Jesse Owens, obviously, Mack Robinson, Jimmy LuValle, Ralph Metcalfe, Cornelius Johnson, David Albritton, John Brooks, Archie Williams, Jimmy Luvalle, Ralph Metcalfe, Fritz Pollard, Jr, John Woodruff, Jackie Wilson, Howell King, Jimmy Clark, Oliver Willis Johnson, John Terry, and for the women, Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes.
The story of the athletes revolves around the Jim Crow era of the United States, the fascism taking over in Germany, and the athletes fighting to represent a country that treated them like second-class citizens. Why on earth would they want to compete for the United States, who held them back with segregation and poor treatment just because of the color of their skin? Many of them thought winning a medal would help change society when they got back home. Sadly, this was not the case.
There was a great discussion among the United States Olympic committee on whether to even send a team to Germany because even in 1935, stories out of Germany’s treatment of Jews was well-known. Really, it was one racist country determining whether to compete in another racist country to see who was best. Many of the African-American athletes petitioned to compete, saying they would disprove the Germans’ belief of Aryan excellence. Ultimately, it was decided the U.S. would send a team to Berlin by a vote of 58 to 56.
Most of these athletes came home and found no endorsement deals, no better paying jobs. Mack Robinson, who ran the 200m in Berlin faster than anyone else had ever run it, ended up with a silver medal because Jesse Owens also ran the 200m and beat him. When Robinson returned home, the only work he could find was as a street sweeper, wearing his Olympic jacket while doing so. Even Jesse Owens had a hard time making it after returning home.
While all the black athletes are featured in this book, there’s little attention to Owens because there’s been so much written about him. Instead, there’s a lot of emphasis on Louise Stokes, Tidye Pickett, Jimmy LuValle and Ralph Metcalfe. Metcalfe was told to run so there was daylight between him and the next runner. He understood that to mean that if it came down to the wire, the white man would be awarded the gold medal unless it was clear he crossed the finish line first. It had happened at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles when Ralph Metcalfe and white Eddie Tolan crossed the finish line at the same time, and the powers that be gave Tolan the medal. If you watch the documentary, there’s no doubt Metcalfe was robbed of the gold.
Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes had made the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. It was the first time African-American females had made the team. On the way to Los Angeles, Babe Didrickson, who many consider the greatest female athlete of her time, poured a pitcher of water over their heads while they slept. Then, shortly before the competition was to begin, the women’s track coach replaced Pickett and Stokes. They were determined to make and compete in the 1936 Olympics.
The work ethic that these athletes displayed in order to get to the Olympics did lead to moderate success for some of the athletes post-Olympics, but none of it had to do with the fact they brought home medals and received the acclaim they deserved.
Five years ago, I was watching Ken Burns’ documentary on baseball great Jackie Robinson, and it was mentioned his older brother Mack competed and won a silver medal at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Wow, I thought, how come I didn’t know, lover of the modern Olympics that I am? Because until recently, the story of the 1936 Olympics was about Jesse Owens’ four gold medals, giving Adolf Hitler a metaphorical middle finger. Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: The Untold Story of 18 African Americans Who Defied Jim Crow and Adolf Hitler to Compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics reveals the stories of 17 other black athletes, including two women, who competed at the games.
"As a companion piece to the brilliant documentary Olympic Pride, American Prejudice (Stream for FREE with Amazon Prime) this book draws on over forty hours of interviews and extensive research the filmmakers obtained which did not make the final film cut. It explores key elements of the story and provides fuller context on the prospect of an Olympic boycott, the relationships between the president of the International Olympic Committee and the Nazis, the different perspectives of Jewish athletes, the NAACP and black newspapers, and details about the actual lives of the eighteen Olympians from family members’ testimonials.”
The athletes were Jesse Owens, obviously, Mack Robinson, Jimmy LuValle, Ralph Metcalfe, Cornelius Johnson, David Albritton, John Brooks, Archie Williams, Jimmy Luvalle, Ralph Metcalfe, Fritz Pollard, Jr, John Woodruff, Jackie Wilson, Howell King, Jimmy Clark, Oliver Willis Johnson, John Terry, and for the women, Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes.
The story of the athletes revolves around the Jim Crow era of the United States, the fascism taking over in Germany, and the athletes fighting to represent a country that treated them like second-class citizens. Why on earth would they want to compete for the United States, who held them back with segregation and poor treatment just because of the color of their skin? Many of them thought winning a medal would help change society when they got back home. Sadly, this was not the case.
There was a great discussion among the United States Olympic committee on whether to even send a team to Germany because even in 1935, stories out of Germany’s treatment of Jews was well-known. Really, it was one racist country determining whether to compete in another racist country to see who was best. Many of the African-American athletes petitioned to compete, saying they would disprove the Germans’ belief of Aryan excellence. Ultimately, it was decided the U.S. would send a team to Berlin by a vote of 58 to 56.
Most of these athletes came home and found no endorsement deals, no better paying jobs. Mack Robinson, who ran the 200m in Berlin faster than anyone else had ever run it, ended up with a silver medal because Jesse Owens also ran the 200m and beat him. When Robinson returned home, the only work he could find was as a street sweeper, wearing his Olympic jacket while doing so. Even Jesse Owens had a hard time making it after returning home.
While all the black athletes are featured in this book, there’s little attention to Owens because there’s been so much written about him. Instead, there’s a lot of emphasis on Louise Stokes, Tidye Pickett, Jimmy LuValle and Ralph Metcalfe. Metcalfe was told to run so there was daylight between him and the next runner. He understood that to mean that if it came down to the wire, the white man would be awarded the gold medal unless it was clear he crossed the finish line first. It had happened at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles when Ralph Metcalfe and white Eddie Tolan crossed the finish line at the same time, and the powers that be gave Tolan the medal. If you watch the documentary, there’s no doubt Metcalfe was robbed of the gold.
Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes had made the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. It was the first time African-American females had made the team. On the way to Los Angeles, Babe Didrickson, who many consider the greatest female athlete of her time, poured a pitcher of water over their heads while they slept. Then, shortly before the competition was to begin, the women’s track coach replaced Pickett and Stokes. They were determined to make and compete in the 1936 Olympics.
The work ethic that these athletes displayed in order to get to the Olympics did lead to moderate success for some of the athletes post-Olympics, but none of it had to do with the fact they brought home medals and received the acclaim they deserved.
July 23, 2020
Title: Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: The Untold Story of 18 African Americans Who Defied Jim Crow and Adolph Hitler to Compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Author: Deborah Riley Draper and Travis Thrasher
Read by: Leon Nixon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: Approximately 9 hours and 8 minutes
Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio. Thank-you!
I was fascinated by the audiobook Olympic Pride, American Prejudice. It is the story of the eighteen African Americans who made the 1936 Olympic team and traveled to Berlin. Like many, the only African American from the 1936 Olympic team that I had heard of was Jesse Owens. This book tells the story of the rest of the African American Olympians from this team. The story was intriging alternating between stories of the individuals and how they made it to the games, the history of how African Americans were treated in the United States at that time and rise of Adolph Hitler to power.
I learned so much in this book. I was particularly intrigued by Ralph Metcalfe. He was a sprinter in both the 1932 and 1936 games and later became a politician in Chicago and helped to pass the bill for Black History month. He was also a helpful older statesman to many of the younger Olympians in 1936 and won the gold medal for the 400-meter relay team that year. He also attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I took a few graduate classes there myself and had no idea about this history. It was so interesting.
I also learned that Jackie Robinson has an older brother, Mack, that was a famous Olympian himself. Mack was a super sprinter that broke the world record for the 200-meter dash at the 1936 Olympics but was still behind Jesse Owens. The book had a sad line that he was overshadowed by Jesse Owens at the Olympics and by his older brother later in life. After returning to the US, he had a hard time finding a job and ended up sweeping the streets in his Olympian jacket.
Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes were the first two African American women to win a spot at the Olympics. Unfortunately, in both 1932 and 1936 they were robbed at their chances to compete. Tidye Pickett did compete in 1936 but broke her leg during the hurdles and was unable to finish. After hearing their story, I can’t think of Babe Dietrich in the same way again.
Archie Williams won the 400-meter dash in the 1936 Olympics, but his real dream was to be mechanical engineer. He was discouraged from picking this major as they told him he would not get a job in the field as an African American. They were unfortunately correct, but he went on to get a pilot’s license and became a distinguished pilot. I was really angry about how he was unable to get a job in a field that he loved and was good at due to his race.
I loved track in my younger years and was a sprinter. I loved reading about sprinters and runners in this Olympics. I loved their individual stories and how together they were able to prove Hitler’s racial theories as wrong. I was sad though that as African Americans, they were not treated better in their own homeland. One positive though is that what they showed the world helped to lead to the civil rights movement in the United States.
Narrator Leon Nixon had a deep and wonderful voice for narration. I loved listening to this audiobook.
I somehow missed that this was a documentary that came out a couple of years ago. I watched it on Amazon Prime and I really liked seeing the faces of the people I had read about in the audiobook.
Overall, Olympic Pride, American Prejudice is an important part of our American History and a fascinating look at the 1936 team.
This review was first published on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2020...
Author: Deborah Riley Draper and Travis Thrasher
Read by: Leon Nixon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: Approximately 9 hours and 8 minutes
Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio. Thank-you!
I was fascinated by the audiobook Olympic Pride, American Prejudice. It is the story of the eighteen African Americans who made the 1936 Olympic team and traveled to Berlin. Like many, the only African American from the 1936 Olympic team that I had heard of was Jesse Owens. This book tells the story of the rest of the African American Olympians from this team. The story was intriging alternating between stories of the individuals and how they made it to the games, the history of how African Americans were treated in the United States at that time and rise of Adolph Hitler to power.
I learned so much in this book. I was particularly intrigued by Ralph Metcalfe. He was a sprinter in both the 1932 and 1936 games and later became a politician in Chicago and helped to pass the bill for Black History month. He was also a helpful older statesman to many of the younger Olympians in 1936 and won the gold medal for the 400-meter relay team that year. He also attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I took a few graduate classes there myself and had no idea about this history. It was so interesting.
I also learned that Jackie Robinson has an older brother, Mack, that was a famous Olympian himself. Mack was a super sprinter that broke the world record for the 200-meter dash at the 1936 Olympics but was still behind Jesse Owens. The book had a sad line that he was overshadowed by Jesse Owens at the Olympics and by his older brother later in life. After returning to the US, he had a hard time finding a job and ended up sweeping the streets in his Olympian jacket.
Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes were the first two African American women to win a spot at the Olympics. Unfortunately, in both 1932 and 1936 they were robbed at their chances to compete. Tidye Pickett did compete in 1936 but broke her leg during the hurdles and was unable to finish. After hearing their story, I can’t think of Babe Dietrich in the same way again.
Archie Williams won the 400-meter dash in the 1936 Olympics, but his real dream was to be mechanical engineer. He was discouraged from picking this major as they told him he would not get a job in the field as an African American. They were unfortunately correct, but he went on to get a pilot’s license and became a distinguished pilot. I was really angry about how he was unable to get a job in a field that he loved and was good at due to his race.
I loved track in my younger years and was a sprinter. I loved reading about sprinters and runners in this Olympics. I loved their individual stories and how together they were able to prove Hitler’s racial theories as wrong. I was sad though that as African Americans, they were not treated better in their own homeland. One positive though is that what they showed the world helped to lead to the civil rights movement in the United States.
Narrator Leon Nixon had a deep and wonderful voice for narration. I loved listening to this audiobook.
I somehow missed that this was a documentary that came out a couple of years ago. I watched it on Amazon Prime and I really liked seeing the faces of the people I had read about in the audiobook.
Overall, Olympic Pride, American Prejudice is an important part of our American History and a fascinating look at the 1936 team.
This review was first published on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2020...
February 18, 2020
Most people know about the story of Jesse Owens and his winning four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin during the height of the Nazi party's hold over Germany. However, Owens was not the only African-American athlete who won medals or competed in those Olympics. The stories of what was accomplished by the other 18 African American athletes are told in this very good book by Deborah Riley Draper and Travis Thrasher.
While there isn't extensive information available on every one of these athletes, some of the stories tell of an incredible tale of perseverance and competition. The three athletes whose stories are shared in the most detail – Louise Stokes, Tidye Pickett and Ralph Metcalfe – take different paths but all of them, along with the others, share a common theme. They not only had to wonder what would become of them in Berlin, but also had to fight off prejudice in their home country as well. A good example of this is the writing about how one of the most prolific white female athletes of the era, Babe Didrikson. She did not care for Stokes, Pickett or any of the other African American athletes, and one of them, Jean Shiley, shares this observation in the book.
The most incredible of these stories belongs to Stokes and Pickett who had qualified to run in the 1932 Games, held in Los Angeles. Due to a last minute "technicality", they were not allowed to compete in the Games, instead having to watch white teammates compete. Metcalfe won a gold medal in the 1936 Games in the 4x100 relay (along with Owens), but he too got this spot by a questionable decision – two American Jewish runners were told the day before the race that they would not compete and Metcalfe was one of the replacement runners. Both of this are examples of the prejudicial practices these athletes encounter in American and the authors present these in a manner that is easy to read as well as informative.
All of the other African-American athletes are chronicled as well, but not quite as much as the three mentioned above. Nonetheless, that doesn't diminish their accomplishments and the authors give them as much credit for this if not as much text in the book. This book is one that is well worth the time to read and learn about the hardships and accomplishments of these athletes who are often overlooked in the annals of Olympics history.
I wish to thank Atria Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
While there isn't extensive information available on every one of these athletes, some of the stories tell of an incredible tale of perseverance and competition. The three athletes whose stories are shared in the most detail – Louise Stokes, Tidye Pickett and Ralph Metcalfe – take different paths but all of them, along with the others, share a common theme. They not only had to wonder what would become of them in Berlin, but also had to fight off prejudice in their home country as well. A good example of this is the writing about how one of the most prolific white female athletes of the era, Babe Didrikson. She did not care for Stokes, Pickett or any of the other African American athletes, and one of them, Jean Shiley, shares this observation in the book.
The most incredible of these stories belongs to Stokes and Pickett who had qualified to run in the 1932 Games, held in Los Angeles. Due to a last minute "technicality", they were not allowed to compete in the Games, instead having to watch white teammates compete. Metcalfe won a gold medal in the 1936 Games in the 4x100 relay (along with Owens), but he too got this spot by a questionable decision – two American Jewish runners were told the day before the race that they would not compete and Metcalfe was one of the replacement runners. Both of this are examples of the prejudicial practices these athletes encounter in American and the authors present these in a manner that is easy to read as well as informative.
All of the other African-American athletes are chronicled as well, but not quite as much as the three mentioned above. Nonetheless, that doesn't diminish their accomplishments and the authors give them as much credit for this if not as much text in the book. This book is one that is well worth the time to read and learn about the hardships and accomplishments of these athletes who are often overlooked in the annals of Olympics history.
I wish to thank Atria Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
September 18, 2023
I saw this in an airport bookstore (after making sure my gate existed, of course) and then proceeded to devour it! It’s no secret I’m a track & field fan-girl, and I was a sociology major, so this advertised the perfect conjunction between the two.
Jesse Owen’s story is rightfully famous, but I think the other 17 African American athletes who competed in Berlin in 1936 had impressive stories, as well! I never knew Jackie Robinson’s older brother was a 200m Olympian, nor had I heard of Louise Stokes, Tidye Pickett, or any of these other names. Most surprisingly, I was interested to learn that it was not Jesse Owen’s who was snubbed by Hitler for a handshake but Cornelius Johnson (high jumper).
The book does a beautiful job painting parallels between sports and politics. It does an equally great job of pointing out the American hypocrisy towards racial equality during Hitler’s rise to power. More generally, it so richly and accurately describes the triumphs and devastations of sports in a way that I rarely see. Some of the athletes went to the games and succeeded, while others fell short - some outside of their own control. I feel sad for Louise Stokes never being permitted to run on the Olympic stage, but I think she’d be thrilled that the most decorated track athlete of all time (man or woman) is the amazing Allyson Felix!
Jesse Owen’s story is rightfully famous, but I think the other 17 African American athletes who competed in Berlin in 1936 had impressive stories, as well! I never knew Jackie Robinson’s older brother was a 200m Olympian, nor had I heard of Louise Stokes, Tidye Pickett, or any of these other names. Most surprisingly, I was interested to learn that it was not Jesse Owen’s who was snubbed by Hitler for a handshake but Cornelius Johnson (high jumper).
The book does a beautiful job painting parallels between sports and politics. It does an equally great job of pointing out the American hypocrisy towards racial equality during Hitler’s rise to power. More generally, it so richly and accurately describes the triumphs and devastations of sports in a way that I rarely see. Some of the athletes went to the games and succeeded, while others fell short - some outside of their own control. I feel sad for Louise Stokes never being permitted to run on the Olympic stage, but I think she’d be thrilled that the most decorated track athlete of all time (man or woman) is the amazing Allyson Felix!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2020
Rating: 3.5
In 1936, The U.S. sent 18 African-Americans, the best known of whom is Jesse Owens (with 4 gold medals), to the Berlin Olympics. These athletes battled racial prejudice at home, making getting a place on the team more difficult than their athletic skills would seem to dictate. Once in Germany, they and their coaches faced additional pressures related to Nazi doctrine. Draper and Thrasher concentrate on the stories of the 17 team members (15 men, 2 women) who were not Jesse Owens. The stories are inspiring, particularly since the home-front prejudice with which these athletes had to deal both preceded and continued after their participation in the Games.
Unfortunately, the editing of this book is a disappointment. Some of the writing does not make much sense -- sentences are left out and important words omitted. Additionally some of the "action" writing -- the sports scenes -- just aren't very dynamic. I was sad to see the impact of some terrific performances (the 17 athletes who were not Jesse Owens won 10 medals between them) by language that was without much drama or dynamism.
So: an interesting read, but the book could have had so much more impact!
In 1936, The U.S. sent 18 African-Americans, the best known of whom is Jesse Owens (with 4 gold medals), to the Berlin Olympics. These athletes battled racial prejudice at home, making getting a place on the team more difficult than their athletic skills would seem to dictate. Once in Germany, they and their coaches faced additional pressures related to Nazi doctrine. Draper and Thrasher concentrate on the stories of the 17 team members (15 men, 2 women) who were not Jesse Owens. The stories are inspiring, particularly since the home-front prejudice with which these athletes had to deal both preceded and continued after their participation in the Games.
Unfortunately, the editing of this book is a disappointment. Some of the writing does not make much sense -- sentences are left out and important words omitted. Additionally some of the "action" writing -- the sports scenes -- just aren't very dynamic. I was sad to see the impact of some terrific performances (the 17 athletes who were not Jesse Owens won 10 medals between them) by language that was without much drama or dynamism.
So: an interesting read, but the book could have had so much more impact!
July 5, 2021
The author has done a ton of research, but mostly this book is a tally of who won what race and and what time. That's it, that's the book. I can count on one hand the amount of times race relations was handled. This book was like a high school research paper where the student wastes a lot of time in the weeds looking at numbers and times and race results, but forgets that the subject of the book isn't necessarily about the events that earned them a spot on the team, but about the support (or lack of) that these athletes felt before, during, and even after the Games. Giving the author the benefit of the doubt, I'm sure there aren't a lot of sources to flesh out the individual stories, unless the athletes kept diaries about their experiences. But don't publish a book unless you have enough material.
What should've been a story about people became a summation of race results. Not to mention the absolutely absent editing! Names were left out, sentences in the same paragraph contradict one another, and description is not the author's strongest suit (the Hindenburg was described as "a long, foreboding cylinder"). Don't waste your time.
Got any other recommendations for something about the Olympics?
What should've been a story about people became a summation of race results. Not to mention the absolutely absent editing! Names were left out, sentences in the same paragraph contradict one another, and description is not the author's strongest suit (the Hindenburg was described as "a long, foreboding cylinder"). Don't waste your time.
Got any other recommendations for something about the Olympics?
July 31, 2021
Timely Olympic book review! This is the 2nd book I’ve read this year about the 1936 Olympics. The 1st was The Boys In The Boat, which I’m begging you PLEASE READ! It’s so good. But back to this book: Olympic Pride, American Prejudice.
Set in America and Germany during the 1920s and 30s, this book simultaneosly follows the rise of 18 African American elite athletes and the rise of Hitler and his Nazi party to power in Germany. The authors, Deborah Riley Draper and Travis Thrasher take us to Jim Crow America where these Black athletes were treated as 2nd class citizens by the same country that chose them to represent itself on the Olympic world stage.
Across the ocean we learn about Hitler’s rise to power and his successful attempt to hide what he was actually doing in Germany (stripping the rights of its citizens and building concentration camps) in order to get the 1936 Olympics to Germany.
For me the most interesting and maddening thing to read were the first hand accounts of these elite Black athletes stating that they were treated better by Hitler and the Nazi regime than they were ever treated in America.
Sports can bring out the best and the worst in people (as we see in every Olympics including the current one), and this book is a perfect example. Highly recommend if you like books about sports, U.S. race relations, or Nazi propaganda.
Set in America and Germany during the 1920s and 30s, this book simultaneosly follows the rise of 18 African American elite athletes and the rise of Hitler and his Nazi party to power in Germany. The authors, Deborah Riley Draper and Travis Thrasher take us to Jim Crow America where these Black athletes were treated as 2nd class citizens by the same country that chose them to represent itself on the Olympic world stage.
Across the ocean we learn about Hitler’s rise to power and his successful attempt to hide what he was actually doing in Germany (stripping the rights of its citizens and building concentration camps) in order to get the 1936 Olympics to Germany.
For me the most interesting and maddening thing to read were the first hand accounts of these elite Black athletes stating that they were treated better by Hitler and the Nazi regime than they were ever treated in America.
Sports can bring out the best and the worst in people (as we see in every Olympics including the current one), and this book is a perfect example. Highly recommend if you like books about sports, U.S. race relations, or Nazi propaganda.
March 29, 2021
A very informative and interesting book which tells an important story of the "forgotten" athletes of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. While I found the subject of the book good, the writing is what earned it only 2 stars. Overall the individual stories were quite difficult to keep track of because there were so many athletes and not a very coherent structure. Also, I didn't enjoy the authors' assumptions of what the athletes were thinking at that time, or about their personal observations and opinions, as if they were characters and the narrator could make up thoughts like they were in control of what this person was thinking during that very moment. However, as one of the rather scare resources on this topic I think it is a good read which delves into the journeys of these Athletes, the facts of the events, and sheds a new light on them. (Though the way racism is recognized seems very "Hollywood," so definitely wouldn't recommend as an in-depth analysis or recount of racial tensions and impact during this period, and more of a biography of the athletes with race as a factor of their stories)
April 28, 2022
My commute reading (i.e. audio book) for the past week or so, I was a little familiar with some of the characters. Who hasn't heard of Jesse Owens but I had also 'read' an audio book last year about the female athletes who went to Berlin including Tidye and Louise. It was interesting to read about the story of the all 18 African Americans who went to Berlin (and some of those who were left behind) in the context of 1920's and 1930's America and Germany. I disappeared down a rabbit hole of curiosity on finishing looking for more facts and videos (as I tend to often do). There is apparently also a documentary with the same title which I may try to uncover.
I see someone has posted that some of the names and facts are incorrect, which is a bit disappointing but I guess like so much in terms of history, when you are relying on people's memories and even thinking of the rather random reporting of today and it's bias, there is plenty of room to get things wrong or for people to have different versions of the story.
I see someone has posted that some of the names and facts are incorrect, which is a bit disappointing but I guess like so much in terms of history, when you are relying on people's memories and even thinking of the rather random reporting of today and it's bias, there is plenty of room to get things wrong or for people to have different versions of the story.
March 6, 2020
A truth more interesting than mythology--the untold story of African-American excellence at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. When you ask Americans what they know about the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, many will say "Jesse Owens stood up to Hitler." But there is much more to the story than that--Owens was not alone, he was one of 18 African-American athletes who stood up to Hitler to win glory for the USA. Yet sadly, the story of the other 17 teammates was almost lost. Thankfully, Deborah Riley Draper did extensive research to bring this fascinating, important story back to life as a book and documentary film. Anyone who is interested in sports, civil rights, WWII, or American history needs to learn about this story. And, if you loved "The Boys on the Boat," also about the 1936 Olympics, here's your next great read!
July 18, 2023
This book tells the stories of eighteen gifted athletes who competed alongside Jesse Owens, winning ten medals-some gold. The action moves quickly, setting the stage both in Berlin with Hitler’s rise to power and on many tracks in the United States. The book focuses almost entirely on the track and field athletes because they gained the most success in Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936. A few African American boxers and a weightlifter also competed in Berlin, but did not medal. The epilogue is very satisfying, telling about their later lives. The only criticism I have is a grammatical one: in describing past events, the authors sometimes use the present tense. In all, it is a great book for any Olympics enthusiast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2020
Jesse Owens is a name that most of us recognize, but there were 18 African Americans at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This book (and 2017 movie directed by the author) gives them a voice. The narrative is told in pieces, alternating with details of Hitler's rise to power (this format makes more sense now that I know the book was based on the documentary). Very informative and interesting, well-written, and never dry despite the historical nature of the content. These men and women deserve more than a footnote next to Jesse Owens.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley.
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April 2, 2020Hitler, prejudice against blacks and Jews, running against the odds. very interesting book about those black athletes who participated in the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin. this was supposed to show the better race of blue eyes and blond hair as put forth by Hitler. Americans were proud of the winners, but for some their lives did not change much upon their return to the states. did find out that Hitler make an initial show of superiority at the Winter Olympics. Hitler also started the introduction of the olympic flame into the stadium to highlight Nazi greatness. hats off to both the men and women who participated in these games.
September 15, 2020
It is truly inspiring and beyond serendipity the way these athletes coalesced to dominate the 1936 Olympics. The authors piece together a plethora of trivia about these athletes and even though Jesse Owen is among them they wisely focus primarily on the others. I was particularly captivated by the female track and field athletes, which seldom get the accolades they deserve. My major criticism with the book is it appears to be slapped together like a last-minute book report. In today’s publishing world the editor should have thrown it on the floor and said polish, polish, polish.
Recommended for athletes and coaches.
**This was a review copy supplied by NetGalley for an honest review**
Recommended for athletes and coaches.
**This was a review copy supplied by NetGalley for an honest review**
July 16, 2022
A fascinating story about the African Americans who participated in the games. The author does mention Jessie Owens but really gives a voice to the athletes that sometimes have gotten forgotten over time or like myself I had never really heard of. Like the older brother of Jackie Robinson who came in second to him or the American sweep in the high jump of all African Americans. John Woodruff was one of the youngest competitors. There were boxers, a rower, a weightlifter, and of course track and field. I found this book and the stories to be very enlightening for sure. A very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com
April 21, 2021
Interesting to read about the black athletes and the 1936 Olympics. Disappointing to read that in some ways the athletes were treated better in Germany during the Olympics then they were treated when they got back home. Accommodations were the same for all but back in the States they had to sit in the back of the bus and struggled to get decent jobs. WWII helped some with the employment issue. Many were college and post college graduates which really impressed me and I appreciated the quotes about them from their children - their true legacy.
May 23, 2021
Excellent book... it’s summed up well when it says “Before young African American girls and boys have Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Chuck Cooper, and Althea Gibson to look up to, there are these 18 athletes paving the way.
Not just 1 athlete vs. a dictator, but a group of so-called Black auxiliaries providing symbols of hope. More than an alumni fall on a college campus, a federal building in downtown Chicago, an elementary school, a bronze statue in a park, or a towering tree next to a high school field, the most powerful symbols are the athletes themselves.”
Not just 1 athlete vs. a dictator, but a group of so-called Black auxiliaries providing symbols of hope. More than an alumni fall on a college campus, a federal building in downtown Chicago, an elementary school, a bronze statue in a park, or a towering tree next to a high school field, the most powerful symbols are the athletes themselves.”
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