Introduction
In nearly every culture worldwide, sports are involved in some way. No matter the region you lived, there is a high chance that your are a sports fan. At the beginning of the 20th century sports began to become more and more popular. In 1891 the first World Weightlifting Championships were heald, and 5 years later the Ancient Greek Olympic Games were revived. Many of the sports that were once popular slowly grew and are continuing to hold popularity into the 21st century.
Task
Use the following link to answer the following questions. You will need to click on the pictures of the different athletes to find the answers to the questions.
Sports and the African-American Civil Rights Movement
- Why is the website considered valid and reliable?
- Adolph Hitler intended the _____ Berlin Olympics to be a grand statement celebrating "Deutschland Uber Alles." But __________________, a grandson of slaves, heroically interrupted Hitler's intention to make the games a showcase for Aryan supremacy.
- Where did Jesse Owens attend college?
- Why was Muhammad Ali such a "lightening rod" for criticism. Why was this such a big controversy?
- Jack Johnson was refused dinner because of his race in 1946, why was the boxer considered to be controversial? Do you agree with what happened to him? Do you think President Donald Trump had the right to do what he did?
- Explain in your own words the controversy over the filming of the Johnson vs Jefferies fight.
- Jessie Owens grew up in Jim Crow America, a time when there were many anti-black laws in the south.
- After reading the article about the myths and reality of the film "Race," the movie about Jessie Owens, find three descriptive words about how life was like after the 1936 Olympics for Owens.
- Jackie Robinson became the first African American man to play in Major League Baseball. What award did he win while leading the Dodgers to win the National League Pennant?
- Robinson faced many struggles being the only black man to play the game in 1947. However there was an all black league, the Negro League. Why do you think Robinson chose to play in Major League Baseball where he knew he was breaking boundaries?
- What was the importance of Jackie Robinsons crossover to the MLB? Why was this a major jump start to the integration for baseball? Were athletes from other sports allowed to participate in the professional league in their sport?
- Describe why it was so difficult for many of these athletes to thrive in the moment. Why was there so much concern for their own lives while they were so successful? Do you think this was fair and just?
- Describe what you learned during this activity. Explain in 3-5 sentences.
Process
Please use the following link to access the photos from the Smithsonian Museum, and the collection we are going to be exploring to answer the questions.
Sports and the African-American Civil Rights Movement