Here’s the True Story Behind the Jesse Owens Biopic Race

2 minute read

Many men and women have taken home gold medals from the Olympic Games, but few have done so under the kind of pressure Jesse Owens faced in the summer of 1936. In Race, out Feb. 19, Stephan James plays Owens in the lead-up to that competition, as broader political forces—the rise of Hitler’s Nazi regime and the United States’ deliberations over how to respond to it—call into question whether he will be afforded a shot at all but certain victory.

In this featurette, James, director Stephen Hopkins, co-star Jeremy Irons and Owens’ real-life daughters discuss the contributions of the track star, whose significance transcends his great feats of athleticism. “Around the time where he was contemplating going to the Olympics, he had a lot of people pulling him from both sides,” explains James, referring to the NAACP’s request that Owens boycott the Games to send a message about Hitler’s policies toward Jews and people of color.

Owens’ ultimate decision is no secret to history: He set three world records and tied another in less than an hour in Berlin, taking home four gold medals. But in Race, the considerations that went into his decision to compete at all—whether to speak volumes with his absence or with total athletic domination—are what give the movie legs.

See the Controversial Drama of Adolf Hitler’s 1936 Summer Olympics

1936 Olympic Games, Berlin, Germany. Five young women take part in a display of the Olympic Rings.
Five young women take part in a display of the Olympic Rings at the 1936 Olympic Games in BerlinPopperfoto—Getty Images
Beginning of the eleventh Olympic Games. August 1,1936.
Beginning of the eleventh Olympic Games. Aug. 1,1936. Imagno—Getty Images
1936 Olympic Games, Berlin, Germany, Men's 100 Metres Final, USA's legendary Jesse Owens on his way to winning one of his four gold medals.
USA's legendary Jesse Owens on his way to winning one of his four gold medals, in the men's 100 meter final at the 1936 Olympic Games in BerlinPopperfoto—Getty Images
The 13-year springboard diver Marjorie Gestring at the Olympic Games in Berlin. August 12, 1936.
The 13-year-old springboard diver Marjorie Gestring at the Olympic Games in Berlin. Aug. 12, 1936. Austrian Archives/Imagno—Getty Images
A German technician checks the Television canon put in the Olympic Stadium, 01 August 1936, a huge electronic camera buildt by Telefunken, which broadcast live for the first time, 8 hours each day, the Berlin Olympics Games show.
A German technician checks the Television canon put in the Olympic Stadium, Aug. 1, 1936. The huge electronic camera build by Telefunken broadcast live for the first time, 8 hours each day, the Berlin Olympics Games show.CORR/AFP—Getty Images
Berlin Olympic Games, Jesse Owens and Helen Stephens, 1936, Germany.
Jesse Owens and Helen Stephens at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936Photo 12/UIG—Getty Images
Gisela Mauermayer, Germany, winner of the gold medal in the Discus event at the 1936 Olympic Games.
Gisela Mauermayer, of Germany, winner of the gold medal in the Discus event at the 1936 Olympic Games.Bob Thomas/Popperfoto—Getty Images
Dr. Joseph Goebbels, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler, Reichs Sports Leader Hans von Tschammer und Osten and Generalfeldmarschall Werner von Blomberg observe the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany in August 1936. (AP Photo) --- Dr. Goebbels, Adolf Hitler, Tschammer und Osten, von Blomberg als Zuschauer bei den Olympischen Spielen in Berlin, im August 1936.
Dr. Joseph Goebbels, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler, Reichs Sports Leader Hans von Tschammer und Osten and Generalfeldmarschall Werner von Blomberg observe the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany in August 1936. AP Photo
Winner of the men's javelin throw event at the Summer Olympic Games, German athlete Gerhard Stoeck in action on August 6, 1936 in Berlin, Germany.
Winner of the men's javelin throw event at the Summer Olympic Games, German athlete Gerhard Stoeck. in action on Aug. 6, 1936 in BerlinAP Photo
1936 Olympic Games, Berlin, Germany. Women's 80 Metres Hurdles, The start of the race which was won by Valle of Italy.
The Women's 80 Meter Hurdles at the 1936 Olympic Games, in BerlinPopperfoto—Getty Images
The Racing Cyclists Robert Charpentier, Guy Lapebie, Jean Goujon And Roger Le Nizerhy Just After Having Won The Team Race At The Olympic Games Of Berlin In August 1936.
The Racing Cyclists Robert Charpentier, Guy Lapebie, Jean Goujon and Roger Le Nizerhy just after having won at the Olympic Games in Berlin in August 1936.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone—Getty Images
1936 Olympic Games, Berlin, Germany. Basketball action between the Philippines and Mexico.
Basketball action between the Philippines and Mexico at the 1936 Olympic Games in BerlinPopperfoto—Getty Images
The German Female Javelin Throwers Tilly Fleischer (Gold Medal) And Luis Kruger (Silver Medal) As Well As The Polish Bronze-Medalist Marja Kwasniewska, Standing On The Podium Of The Olympic Games In Berlin On August 2, 1936.
The German female javelin throwers Tilly Fleischer (Gold Medal) and Luis Kruger (Silver Medal) with Polish bronze-medalist Marja Kwasniewska, on the podium at the Olympic Games In Berlin on Aug. 2, 1936.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone—Getty Images
1936 Olympic Games. Berlin, Germany. Women's Javelin. Germany's Tilly Fleischer who won the gold medal.
Germany's Tilly Fleischer, who won the gold medal in women's javelin, at the 1936 Olympic Games in BerlinPopperfoto—Getty Images
Olympic broad jump medalists salute during the medals ceremony at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. From left on podium are: bronze medalist Jajima of Japan, gold medalist Jesse Owens of the United States and silver medalist Lutz Long of Germany. August 11, 1936.
Olympic broad jump medalists salute during the medals ceremony at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. From left on podium are: bronze medalist Jajima of Japan, gold medalist Jesse Owens of the United States and silver medalist Lutz Long of Germany. Aug. 11, 1936.AP Photo
Olympic winner Gustav 'Gummi' Schaefer, German rower, with the laurel wreath during the Summer Olympics in Berlin-Grünau in August 1936.
Olympic winner Gustav 'Gummi' Schaefer, German rower, with the laurel wreath during the Summer Olympics in Berlin-Grünau in August 1936. Schirner Sportfoto/picture-alliance/dpa—AP Photo
1936 Olympic Games, Berlin, Germany, A stonemason at work records the feat of USA's Jesse Owens, winner of four gold medals in the Games.
A stonemason at work records the feat of USA's Jesse Owens, winner of four gold medals in the Games, in 1936 in BerlinPopperfoto—Getty Images

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