Which statement best expresses the central idea of the text? A Jesse Owens used his platform after his win at the Olympics to bring attention to how white and black athletes are treated differently. B Even after Jesse Owens returned from the Olympics, he continued to better himself as an athlete and compete. C When Jesse Owens returned from the Olympics, he demanded respect and to be treated like the hero he was. D Jesse Owens didn’t allow the racial discrimination he faced at home or abroad to keep him from doing what he loved and succeeding at it.

D. Jesse Owens didn’t allow the racial discrimination he faced at home or abroad to keep him from doing what he loved and succeeding at it.

Explanation:

In the informational essay Jesse Owens by Shelby Ostergaard, the whole essay details how persistent James Cleveland Owens was in his desire to achieve his dream. He did not let the racial discrimination and prejudice deter him from doing what he loves, despite what others may say or treat him.

The main idea of the whole essay seems to be that he did not allow the racial discrimination he faced at home and even at the college or even the treatment he met after winning the Olympics deter his aim. Hitler refused to shake his hand after his win, the racial discrimination back at home did not change even after winning a medal for his country, the country that seems to love him yet not care about him at all. But despite all these, he did not stop doing what he loved, running towards his goals, and which, in his own words, is one thing "you could do by yourself and under your own power".

Thus, the correct answer is option D.