It's sad that Joe Louis' contributions to his country are somewhat forgotten

[BKM-2010]

I've been watching some docu's and reading about the man and it is fair to say that he was an important figure in America's history and contributed so much to the civil rights history and he had probably the most effect an athlete could have on a war(let alone a world war). Of cource he's not completely forgotten, but he should have a longer lasting and known legacy outside of the boxing community. The way people look at Jackie Robinson's impact people should know about Joe Louis even more so IMO. What are your thoughts and what do you think is the cause for this?

[Ray Corso]

Boxing as a sport and livelihood has been diminishing for years now in the States. If his life's ambitions are forgotten he will be too as new generations go by. The Plymouth, Pontiac and many other auto companies have gone from Detroit and the Detroit Brown Bomber has gone now also.
Time rolls on and it doesn't even pause let alone stop to visit the past, it's to bad most of todays fast actions and thoughts are predicated on the easy way of doing things. Joe Louis's beginnings were anything but easy yet he became the Best Heavyweight of all time.
Jesse Owens is another forgotten great, fastest man in the world!
Two of Hitlers favorite Black Americans!!!!

[creekrat77]

I think the cause is from the over saturation of sport heroes through the years. It also has to do with the sport of boxing, how each generation the "cash cow" is more fantastical and better in ways of drawing in a larger audience. The sad thing is he wasn't out to capture everyone's attention in the way that Ali was. He and Jack Johnson along with Ray Robinson did get the ball moving for black's recognition as supreme athletes. FDR personally told Joe before his second fight with Max Schmeling that he needs to knock him out for America and to stand up against the **** regime.

[SlySlickSmooth]

I'm thinking of a topic to choose for my public speaking class. Right now Muhammad Ali and net neutrality are on my list. Maybe I'll have to dig up some more info on Joe Louis.

[bender2000]

America should be ashamed at how Louis was treated the whole tax issues thing after he donated purses to navy and army was a disgrace, its so sad a true national hero ended up broke.

[Scott9945]

America should be ashamed at how Louis was treated the whole tax issues thing after he donated purses to navy and army was a disgrace, its so sad a true national hero ended up broke.

I agree. The IRS is still horrible and needs to be gutted and rebuilt.

[Weltschmerz]

The popularity of the sport declined after Dempsey's era and didn't really revive until Ali. Louis was in an era were the public generally didn't care for boxing and many called for the sport to be banned too, due to several ring deaths and it was viewed as a too brutal sport.

[Suckmedry]

The popularity of the sport declined after Dempsey's era and didn't really revive until Ali. Louis was in an era were the public generally didn't care for boxing and many called for the sport to be banned too, due to several ring deaths and it was viewed as a too brutal sport.

I'm fairly sure thats a pretty dubious statement. From an extremely dubious poster. Boxing was still huge in the 30s and 40s as far as i know.

[LacedUp]

The popularity of the sport declined after Dempsey's era and didn't really revive until Ali. Louis was in an era were the public generally didn't care for boxing and many called for the sport to be banned too, due to several ring deaths and it was viewed as a too brutal sport.

Louis was a popular fighter and was involved in probably the biggest fight ever at that stage. His career earnings also surpassed the likes of Jack Dempsey and Jack Johnson, and even Marciano's I believe despite him fighting the majority of his career in the greatest depression America ever saw.

What happened though, was that he was taken for a ride by his managers and the IRS and was left with comparably little to himself.

It took a class act from then 100 millionaire and former foe, Max Schmeling, to find Louis in Harlem and get him on his feet. Really a sad story, but at the same time, a compelling story about how two former enemies turned out to be great friends and reunited in their life's autumn.

[billeau2]

I agree. The IRS is still horrible and needs to be gutted and rebuilt.

Its a conspiracy really and athletes fall right into it hook line and sinker. The reason why guys like Louis got in so much trouble is partially that they had no way of comprehending how much the IRS takes from earned income.