Can you imagine embarrassing the infamous Adolf Hitler in front of the whole world? Jesse Owens did it at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It wasn't an easy road for him to get there, but he did it with enough effort and hard work. Jesse Owens was able to overcome racial judgment by surviving a poverty-stricken childhood, training hard in school, and winning the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Jesse Owens' childhood was unlike that of any other child for how hard it was. His parents struggled to feed all of his family members as their family consisted of twelve people ("Jesse Owens"). Many of his siblings were too busy to help their parents due to school. Jesse Owens was still too young for school, which led to Owens having to help his parents by earning money and buying food. This was a huge responsibility for such a young child, especially with such a large family. What topped it all off was that he was an African American and in that time period African Americans were judged a lot. Owens was deprived of many opportunities to become African American, but that didn't stop him as he still found ways to help his family in any way he could. Owens was forced to become a man at an early age and it made him mature very quickly. Owens was even employed at the age of twelve to help his family. He worked three different jobs. He ran an elevator, waited tables and worked in a school library. Most people can't handle three jobs, so it must have been crazy for a 12-year-old to do it (Owens and Neimark 13-14). He knew that in the end everything would be fine because his family would be able to eat (Owens and Neimark 20). He says the reason he was able to get some work was because he could handle a... half a job... at the Olympics. He will forever be one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, despite all the racism that stood in his way. Works quoted "Jesse Owens". Notable sports figures. Ed. Dana R. Barnes, Detroit: Gale, 2004. Biography in context. Network. March 21, 2014.Owens, Jesse, with Paul Neimark. Blackthink: “My life as a black man and a white man.” New York: William Morrow and Company, 1970. Print.Reed, William F. “Owens, Jesse.” Student of the world book. Book of the World, 2014. Web. March 21, 2014.PR, Newswire. "Usain Bolt, Lebron James, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps and Lionel Messi Amony finalists for the prestigious Jesse Owens International Athlete Trophy." PR Newswire USA. January 29, 2014: McClatchy – Trubune Collection. Network. March 30, 2014. Reed, William F. "Owens, Jesse." Student of the world book. Book of the World, 2014. Web. 21 March 2014.