My senior project, Running Against the Odds, is a feature length documentary on Ellison “Tarzan” Brown, a Narragansett runner who twice won the Boston Marathon and competed in the 1936 Olympics. Through archival materials, oral histories, and interviews with his descendants and tribal members, the film explores not only his athletic success but also his perseverance, community ties, and the challenges he faced as an Indigenous athlete. Building on my past work with sensitive interviews and historical storytelling, this project aims to honor Brown’s legacy while sparking broader conversations about resilience, representation, and overlooked figures in American history.

Tarzan Brown, born in 1913 on Narragansett land, rose from poverty to twice win the Boston Marathon, create the legend of “Heartbreak Hill,” and compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics as one of the few Native Americans to do so. Running barefoot and uncoached, he trained through labor and survival, yet despite his brilliance, he was denied sponsorships, forced to work as a stonemason and fisherman, and even sold his medals to feed his family. Branded by the media as “wild” rather than disciplined, Brown’s story ended in injustice when his 1975 killing brought no trial, only probation for the driver. This documentary reclaims him as more than a runner, an enduring symbol of resilience, sacrifice, and the strength of his people.