Jesse Owens was a gifted athlete, and surprisingly, a gifted writer as well. He is far above the stereotypical "dumb jock," as is evident from the processes of thought he requires you to take in order to keep up with him literarily. As all writers should, Owens had a specific purpose to convey in writing this Open Letter to a Young Negro. If the reader was quick to draw conclusions, he may assume that Owens was writing to tell of his impressive and numerous Olympic attempts and victories. This is not the case. …
