Famous Black Athletes That Really Changed History

An athlete is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. First, I will be talking about Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Next, is Wilma Glodean Rudolph, is a African-American sprinter who had won a Gold-metal in the Single olympics. Lastly, is James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens, is an African-American track star, who has impacted the world. The remainder of this article will analyze why these athletes are important to honor and will demonstrate the reason why these people are important.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being”

Wilma Glodean Rudolph

Wilma Glodean Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940, in Saint Bethlehem, Clarksville, Tennessee. Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an American sprinter from Clarksville, Tennessee, who became a world-record-holding Olympic champion and international sports icon in track and field following her successes in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s all a matter of discipline. I was determined to discover what life held for me beyond the inner-city streets.”

James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens

Jesse Owens was born on September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama. James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens was an American track and field athlete, and four-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1936 Games. Owens specialized in the sprints and the long jump, and was recognized in his lifetime as “perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history”

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort”.

There are many athletes that are inspiring in the world. According to Jovani Diaz, a football player at Eastside High School, stated that Saquon Barkley has inspired him.

“He has inspired me because he went through a lot in his childhood and if he can overcome his obstacle then I can too.”