Despite his many accomplishments, Owens was still

considered a second-class citizen. He tried to leverage his

celebrity after the 1936 Olympic Games to take up some
lucrative commercial offers, but he failed, and United
States athletic officials revoked his amateur status,
effectively ending his career. I believe that in the 1930s,
the environment for black people was much more hostile
than it is today, with very few black players having the
opportunity to compete in large sporting events such as
the Olympic Games. Owens was one of those black
players who made history, proving that black players can
play as well as (or even better than) white players.
However, many people believed that white players
dominated the fields and that other races lacked the power
to change that. Owens appeared as a warrior to break up
clichés like that, which caused bias and stereotypes, and
one thing I am certain of is that Owens deserves more
respect than he had when he was alive. Michael Johnson
and Jesse Owens are both exceptional players and
African-Americans who have made significant
contributions not only to the sports they played, but also
to the race to which they belong.