Jesse Owens poses with his four gold medals, awards, trophies and photos, 1972

During Black History Month, we celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of African American heroes throughout American history. We honor these legends whose contributions have gone unnoticed yet have had a profound impact on our country.

JESSE OWENS (1913-1980), American Athlete, Gold Medalist
Owens was a track-and-field athlete who set a world record in the long jump at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin—and went unrivaled for 25 years. He won four gold medals at the Olympics that year in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, along with the 100-meter relay and other events off the track. In 1976, Owens received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1990.