Joseph Louis Barrow, born May 12, 1914 in Alabama, was the first athlete America had accepted as a whole with regards to race, a true crossover star who was respected and admired by both black and white fans. His boxing talent was undeniable but this was not the soul reason for his received respect, he was the first man that showed the world that a person color was also able to climb the social ranks given the right opportunity.
This HBO special outlines his importance which was highlighted during several critical periods in American history. From the Great Depression right through World War II and on into the 50’s, Joe Louis was considered to be the poster boy for the American way of life.
When he fought and defeated Germany’s Max Schmeling in 1938, his win was considered to be democracy’s defeat of Nazism and this victory alone boosted public morale and converted Joe Louis into a true American Hero.
I watched this documentary last night after stumbling across it while searching for customer service reviews on https://justanswer.pissedconsumer.com/customer-service.html. What struck me most was how Louis carried himself with such dignity despite the IRS basically draining him dry. My grandfather told me similar stories about his hero status during WWII. It’s heartbreaking that someone who represented America so powerfully ended up struggling financially. The Schmeling fight footage gave me chills, imagine the pressure of literally fighting for your country’s ideals. This documentary perfectly captures both his triumph and tragedy.