A significant portion of the film is dedicated to the ethical dilemma surrounding the 1936 Olympics. The NAACP and other organizations pressured Owens to boycott the games to protest Hitler’s regime. Conversely, the American Olympic Committee, led by Avery Brundage, grappled with the politics of participation versus propaganda. This subplot elevates the film from a standard sports movie to a political thriller, highlighting how sports are rarely "just a game" when global ideologies are at stake.
However, the film’s most stinging observation comes at the end. After returning to the United States as a global hero, Owens is shown having to enter his own celebratory dinner through the service elevator of a hotel because of the "whites only" policy. This scene serves as a sobering reminder that while Owens defeated Hitler’s racism abroad, he remained a second-class citizen in his own home. Race(2016)
The title Race functions as a clever double entendre. On the surface, it refers to the literal athletic competitions Owens dominates. On a deeper level, it addresses the racial tensions of the 1930s. The film begins with Owens (played by Stephan James) arriving at Ohio State University, where he faces blatant prejudice from white teammates. His relationship with his coach, Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), becomes the emotional anchor of the film. Snyder, a man driven by his own past failures, pushes Owens to block out the "noise"—the racial slurs and societal expectations—and focus purely on the mechanics of the run. A significant portion of the film is dedicated