Owens assisted in the promotion of the exploitation picture Mom and Dad among African American communities. He attempted to earn a life as a sports promoter and performer. He would defeat local sprinters in the 100-yard (91-meter) dash by giving them a ten- or twenty-yard head start. This stunt made him popular with poor blacks across America who enjoyed seeing him run. Owens's influence on black Americans during the Great Depression was important for it showed that even though they were treated badly at times, many white Americans wanted to see them succeed in their sporting events. His influence continued after World War II when many black athletes came together to form powerful unions that helped improve their working conditions. In addition, Owens contributed to black history by breaking down racial barriers in sport. Before his time, there were no black athletes who had any chance of winning a gold medal at the Berlin Games. But he changed this all up when he took part in these games and won four gold medals. His victory also proved that blacks were able only because they used skills that had been built up over years of struggle against oppression. After his victory at the 1936 Olympics, Owens became an international celebrity who visited many countries including Germany, France, and England. He returned home to attend the University of Pennsylvania but dropped out to work full time for the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team.