Renaissance . . . African American In Sports

Welcome

“The Renaissance Period of the African American in Sports” tells the story of the nine (9) African American Olympic medalists who were members of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games Track & Field Team for the USA. These athletes came from across the United States, from the west coast to the east.

Given the racism and challenges facing Black Americans at that time, their accomplishments laid the foundation for athletes of color to integrate and eventually play a leading role in professional sports today.

This year proved to be a pivotal year of transformation and dramatic change for the African American athlete in America. It’s a story about the hard road to glory and hardship that confronted African American athletes of that era.

It prominently features the story of Jesse Owens along with the nine African American Olympic medalists who also dominated in track & field. The epic performances of those nine black Olympic medalists became a supreme declaration. A declaration that simply stated African American athletes could compete at the highest levels of international competition.

Co-Executive Producer Herbert P. Douglas, Jr., 1948 Olympic Bronze Medal Winner

Co-Executive Producer and Producer, Robert Lott

African American athletes won 8 of the 15 gold medals

Six Of The Nine 1936 Berlin Olympic Medal Winners

The Renaissance Nine

GOLD

Cornelius Johnson

John Woodruff

Ralph Metcalfe

Archie Williams

SILVER

Dave Albritton

Mack Robinson

Ralph Metcalfe

BRONZE

James LuValle

Frederick “Fritz” Pollard Jr.

Documentary Appearances

Film Screening Panelist

Olympian Panel Discussion

at Heinz History Museum

From left:

Harrison Dillard, John Carlos, Bob Beamon, and Wyomia Tyus

21 U.S. Olympians, Producers and College President, at Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA for a Film Screening