Civic leader
Jesse Owens thought that the way to give the black community a good reputation was to work hard. "Life doesn't give you all the practice races you need," Owens said. In 1976, Jesse was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award bestowed upon a civilian, by Gerald R. Ford. Owens was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.
Jesse Owens thought that protesting was meaningless. When Tommy Smith and John Carlos went on the podium and did their famous black fist Owens tried to convince them to apologize. "The black fist is a meaningless symbol. When you open it, you have nothing but fingers – weak, empty fingers." He went on to say, "The only time the black fist has significance is when there's money inside. There's where the power lies."- Jesse Owens on the black fist. Carlos and Smith did not listen to Owens, they were both suspended from the US Olympic Track Team.
(//www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jesse_owens.html#EojOtpQX4z4FhguO.99)
Jesse Owens thought that protesting was meaningless. When Tommy Smith and John Carlos went on the podium and did their famous black fist Owens tried to convince them to apologize. "The black fist is a meaningless symbol. When you open it, you have nothing but fingers – weak, empty fingers." He went on to say, "The only time the black fist has significance is when there's money inside. There's where the power lies."- Jesse Owens on the black fist. Carlos and Smith did not listen to Owens, they were both suspended from the US Olympic Track Team.
(//www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jesse_owens.html#EojOtpQX4z4FhguO.99)