The legendary coach Charles Riley uttered these words to ever famous Jesse Owens, who broke Hitler’s theory of Aryan Supremacy. Jesse Owens, grandson of a slave imported to US for the benefit of the white man, disproved the racists that merit eliminates everything and anything. Owens won an unprecedented four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4X100m relay and long jump. His stunning achievement came when the New world (US) was reeling under the racist discrimination and India fighting for the rights of the untouchables.
69 years have passed since and much has changed in the United States. An Afro-American has been selected as a President whereas India is still to find a PM from the socially deprived Dalit Community. Parts of India are still reeling under racist discrimination in the name of caste. Both India and US were colonies of Britain and faced discrimination by the crown. One country rose to be the “world super power” and the other to be “poorest of the poor”.
Today whether the Afro Americans or the backward castes in India lack is nothing but the will to win over oneself. The burgeoning middle class in India does not seem to understand that there is so much of poverty and discrimination in their streets but have to compete for whatever is available to grab.
Owens humiliation under the Americans was much worse than what Hitler did to him. Though he created history in the Olympics, he was neither appreciated nor invited to the White House by the then US president Franklin D Roosevelt or Harry S Truman. The worst came when he was asked to use the freight elevator to attend his own reception at the Waldorf-Astoria. On the other hand one lakh Germans cheered him and sought his autograph. He was also allowed to stay in the same hotels as any other white man.
May his light shine forever as a symbol
for all who run for the freedom of sport,
for the spirit of humanity,
for the memory of Jesse Owens. – Charles Ghigna.
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