10 Chapter 9 Life After the Olympics

Chapter 9 Life After the Olympics After the games were over, Jesse sailed home to America. He left ahead of the US team, which went on a tour of other European cities. Jesse had chosen not to join them. In New York City a huge crowd welcomed him when he arrived. He was greeted by his family members, too, who had traveled from Cleveland for the occasion. Even amid the celebration, there were signs of America's continuing racial divide. By

1920, New York was home to more black people than any other northern city. The New York neighborhood known as Harlem—located in uptown Manhattan—was the center of black American life. By 1936, Harlem boasted famous restaurants, churches, nightclubs, businesses, and newspapers, all owned and run by blacks. Downtown Manhattan was a different story. Jesse's parents, Henry and Emma, and his wife, Ruth, were refused service at several hotels downtown before they found one that would allow them to stay.

On his first night in New York, Jesse was taken to dinner at the Harlem home of black entertainer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. A dancer, singer, and actor, Robinson was one of the most famous entertainers in the country. He was also one of few people to offer Jesse work after the Olympics. He invited him to appear in some of his shows and held a special dinner for him, where he

introduced him to other entertainers. Robinson even asked his manager to help the star athlete. Then the Owens family returned to Cleveland for a celebration of his success. A huge crowd watched a parade through the city. Three days later, he was honored in the state capital of Columbus. The governor made a speech and gave Ruth a set of fancy silverware as a gift.

When the rest of the US Olympic team returned from Europe three weeks later, Jesse joined them in New York City for another parade. Jesse again experienced the ups and downs of his fame as a black athlete. He rode in the front car, but he sat with the famous pro boxer Jack Dempsey, who had once said he would never fight a black man. Many black people hated Dempsey. They were uncomfortable that Jesse was sitting with him. Also, many black people were still upset with Jesse for not boycotting the Games. As a result, he was booed when the parade reached Harlem.

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