Inscribed first edition of the first autobiography by the legendary Olympic track star and 4-time gold medalist.
Very good plus in very good plus jacket.
Price: $1,000.00
"And remember that the hardest thing for all of us isn't to fight, but to stop and think."
The iconic Jesse Owens, famed for single-handedly undermining Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy with his dominating performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics was, by the time of the writing of this book "perhaps the most renowned athlete in American history." Part memoir, part treatise on race in America, BLACKTHINK sees Owens relaying the stories of his life, including the never-before told story of his broad-jump victory over and subsequent friendship with Hitler's Olympic champion Luz Long, and the indignities that came with being an Olympic Champion forced to race against horses to earn a living upon returning to his home country.
Referring to himself as an "immoderate moderate," Owens situates himself in strong opposition to what he refers to as the growing "Black Militancy" of the time, chastising those who would subscribe to the titular "blackthink" — which he characterizes as counterproductive extremism ("Negro militancy and revolution [...] are simply the biggest of black herring"). Notably, Owens's position on this issue would change significantly — a political evolution that he explores in his 1972 follow-up memoir, I HAVE CHANGED. A clean copy with warm inscription.
First printing. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1970. 8.25'' x 5.5''. Original glossy black cloth, white-lettered spine. In original unclipped ($5.95) black typographic jacket designed by Tony Russell. Tan endpapers. 216 pages. Inscribed by Owens to front fly leaf: "To Felicia / My Best Wishes / for every happiness / Jesse Owens. / 11/8/72." Jacket with minor edgewear and rubbing, faint toning to flaps. Book touches of rubbing, interior crisp and clean.
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