Rising star Stephan James portrays Jesse Owens in the amazing film “Race,” now in theaters. Recently in a phone interview, The Film Strip asked James if it was planned that “Race” run during Black History Month? “It’s great that it’s playing now, but obviously the Jesse Owens story is always timely,” he said.
The Jesse Owens story is not only timely, but deals with a cause for concern in the black community. Often it is said black fathers are irresponsible and not there for their children. Addressing this issue, James told me Owens definitely defied this image. “In terms of who Jesse Owens was as a father, he was an incredible father,” James affirmed. “I mean, if you speak to his daughters, they would tell you that.
“He was a very family oriented individual. It’s too bad that we don’t get to see more of his family life. He has one daughter and she was very young at the time when he went to the Olympics. But we see Jesse did everything he could, everything in his power, numerous jobs to be able to support his daughter and his wife. That’s a testament to the type of man he was.”
While attending Ohio State University in the early 1930’s Jesse Owens became a track and field sensation. In the film, with guidance from coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Owens gains national recognition for breaking numerous records. After heated debates, the United States decided not to boycott the Olympics in Nazi Germany. Overcoming racism at home and abroad, Owens seized the opportunity to show Berlin and the the world that he was the fastest man alive, winning four Gold medals.
After the movie, a white colleague said to me, “Don’t you just hate those Nazis?” and I told him not as much as the racist powers that be in the U.S. One knows what to expect from the Nazis but to think that when Jesse Owens returned to the United States and could not enter the Waldorf Astoria’s front door was dispicable! Owens later mentioned it was the president of the United States that snubbed him and didn’t even send him a telegram. Not to mention, it wasn’t until 1990 that Owens was posthumosly honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.
In the movie “The Book Thief,” based on the Markus Zusak book of the same name, the ten year old blond, blue eyed charactor Rudy (Nicol Liersch) admired Owens so much, he took charcoal and blackend his face. And this was in Nazi Germany!
Directed by Stephen Hopkins, the film also stars Shanice Banton, Jeremy Irons, Eli Goree, and William Hurt.
Syndicated Entertainment journalist Marie Moore reports on film and TV from her New York City base. Contact her at [email protected]
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