Each week, the library will feature a video or radio interview highlighting a specific African American athlete or athletes who played a pivotal role in breaking barriers.
The Intersection of Sports, Politics and Culture
1936 Olympics and
Jesse Owens
Presented by Dr. Gary Gershman
Each week, the library will feature a video or radio interview (30 to 60 minutes in length) highlighting a specific African American athlete or athletes who played a pivotal role in breaking barriers and challenging societal norms in the United States. The program will examine the broader historical context through the lens of sports and will connect key moments in history with iconic athletes and events.
This session, featuring a documentary from the PBS American Experience series, focuses on the 1936 Olympics. These Games provided the Nazis with a platform to deflect criticism of their regime but also exposed the tension surrounding anti-Semitism, racism, and calls for boycotts. Jesse Owens played a pivotal role in shattering the Nazis' carefully crafted image while simultaneously grappling with racism and the struggle for integration in his own country.
| Mon, Jan 27 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Tue, Jan 28 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Wed, Jan 29 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Thu, Jan 30 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Fri, Jan 31 | 7:00AM to 10:00PM |
| Sat, Feb 01 | 7:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Sun, Feb 02 | 10:00AM to 11:00PM |
