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cOne Nation, Two Faces

Professional sports and its role within society has had a significant influence
upon our society far longer than we like to think. The coverage of sports and top
athletes is at a new precedent with the age of social media and our 24 hour sports
news and media. Presently we have never had greater instant access to athletes
and sporting events making them more visible for us {for a daily consumption}/ in
many of our daily lives. But, many of us have contrary viewings points on the role
sports and its purpose. Some may see sporting events as a way of escapism or
feeling a part of a community, while others may view it as a complete separate
entity in a vacuum away for the public sphere/square/influence. Our coverage and
obsession for sports has grown but the role of sports being a microcosm of a given
society has stayed the same. Sports have always been used as platform for which
challenged or question the societal norm/establishment. Joe Louis the great boxer,
who is known but not as universally recognized among the general public of one of
the top athletes in history. Joe Louis dominance in boxing beginning in the mid
1930s and lasting more than a decade, happened during a critical time in American
history. By being a boxer, Joe Louis was able to not only become a symbol and icon
for African Americans, but he even gained the status as an American symbol & icon.
As complementary as these two faces were, there is also a clear distinction between
the, as each attempted to portray contradicting descriptions.
Humble beginnings to a Black Symbol (1914-1936)
Joes Louis, was born in Alabama in 1914, being the one of 6 siblings. Living in
Alabama and working on a farm as share croppers until 1922 when his family would
relocate to Detroit, during the First Great Migration North. His life in Detroit would
lead him to boxing, and after fighting through the amateur ranks becomes a
professional in 1934.1 Once becoming a professional one of just the many obstacles
1 This period in boxing history, there was a talent depression similar to the state of
the nations economy. Louis would in turn become known as a savior for the sport.

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he faced inn achieving his goal as champion was to overcome the negative
stigma/stereotype labeled upon black boxers by the reign of Jack Johnson. 2 Not only
would Joe Louis need to be 2X the better boxer then his opponents, he needed to
construct the correct image. In turning pro Louis began his career at a sparkling
rate, winning his first 24 fights. As he began racking up victories he slowly was
beginning to be recognized as a symbol for the African American community during
this period. There was no other person like Joe Louis for coverage by the black
newspapers, and became a surreal black figure by 1935. Coverage of Louis began
being not only picked up by Black newspapers, but in time coverage was in the
sports sections of the NY Times. Louis initial victories and his demeanor and image
both inside and outside the ring, enabled him to be selected to symbolize blacks in
America as a whole. His image was carefully constructed and handled as he rose
among the top challengers in the weight class. 3 Whether knowingly or unknowingly
Joe Louis would over the years 1934-1936 be established as one of the, if not the
most recognizable black American. By using boxing, Joe Louis was able to provide a
way for African Americans to challenge the societal establishment. He was to be the
instrument to challenge and defeat Jim Crow, and knockout the notion of white
hope. The major bouts which had more than a sporting significance was the fight
against ex-champ Primo and versus Max Baer. His knock out of the giant Italian
provided a significant symbol for not only blacks in Americans, but a reflection of
symbolism of the Italian-Ethiopian War.4 Following Primo, he KOd Max Baer, and his
victory brought an explosion of enjoyment within African American communities into
the streets. These victories over former champs showed too many blacks, that if
given a fair and level playing field and they could compete with anyone. Heading
into the bout against Schmelling in 1936, Joe Louis as the firmly established himself
as the symbol for the African American community, not only was becoming rich but
got married bring forward black domestic life. 5 In establishing himself as a symbol
for black America, he was a source of pride as for what he had accomplished and he
was everything one wanted in the impitamy of racial pride, as contrary his public
2 Jack Johnson, was the first African American heavyweight champion from 19151919. He pissed off white society by gloating over his defeated opponents, flaunting
his wealth, but more importantly dated and married white woman.
3 Louis handlers set up rules that needed to be followed to convey the right image
for Louis. Some rules he could not break was not to have a picture taken with a
white women, be humble at all times and never be seen smiling or gloating over an
opponent.
4 Benito Mussolini, the fascist Italian dictator, envisioned a new modern day roman
Empire and begin this quest with the invasion of the independent nation of Ethiopia
in 1935. The Italians would be victorious.
5 Louis marriage broke the hearts of all the colored woman, but more significantly
enabled to perceive a positive image of a bliss domestic life. While Louis was rich,
he was extremely generous and haring it.

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image was to the private life. His bout with Schmeling was much anticipated and a
Louis victory was predicted by many in order to obtain a shot at the champ James
Braddock. Unfortunately victory was not guaranteed and in 12 rounds Louis was
KOd along with much hope with the Negro community. The invincibility of Joe Louis
was shattered and his status as the beaconing symbol took a big blow. Louis had let
everyone down but fortunately, a track star by the name of Jesse Owens was able to
take some of the spotlight away from Louis, and provided another source of pride
and symbol for the time being,
From Defeat to American Representative (June 1936 - June 1938)
Following the loss to Schmeling, Louis needed to regain his status not only within
the African American community as their beaconing symbol, but within the boxing
ranks. Louis had to face his public failure and he went on a tour of fights in order to
try and regain his status as #1 contender for the Heavyweight championship. After
several bouts, and the growing international political tension, Joe Louis was able to
get the opportunity in 1937 against Braddock. The Braddock bout went 8 rounds
until finally Louis KOd him and was declared Heavyweight champion of the world.
At this moment in time, being heavy weight champ elevated Louis, from not just a
symbol but an icon. He had on the most recognizable belt and was only the 2 nd
African American champ to hold the belt after 29 years. 6 Cementing himself as an
icon though did not satisfy Louis, as he still felt he wasnt quite truly the champ until
he defeated Schmeling. With the growing tension in global politics, sports had
started to become a quasi-battlefield, an extension of nations to combat/battler for
opposing nations & political philosophies to square off. With the rise of Nazism in
Germany and the growing tension in Europe by 1938, the second Schmeling fight
enabled to Joe Louis to firmly establish himself as not only an icon for Negro
Americans, but a symbol for the public of the United States of America. 7 For Louis he
needed to solidify the belief the notion that blacks could do something of the same
status and stature as whites in something that was held on a pedestal. Even though
most of America accepted him as a emblem for USA and of American democracy,
not all was rooting in a singular voice. The fight had all the hype and excitement for
a sporting event many knew had a larger significance than just a boxing match. No
more than 2 minutes into the 1st round, Joe Louis knocked out Schmeling and was
victorious reclaiming the title as world heavyweight champion but cementing
himself as an American symbol. The fight had a different feeling to it, as it could be

6 The image of Louis KO Braddock, was enjoyed by the Black community with
massive celebration as it signified a black man standing over a defeated white man
and allowed for vindication and belief, that Louis a Negro was now the strongest
man in the world.
7 The symbolism of the fight being a representative of USA vs Nazi Germany was
not lost on the public. It could be argued that at this time was possibly the only time
in which a black man stood as the great white hope for white America.

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herd in the announcers voice. That night Joe Louis went from being viewed not as a
Negro American but in fact America itself.8
Formation as Icon and Symbol (June 1938 December 1941)
The victory over Schmeling truly signaled to the world that no longer was belief in
Aryan or white supremacy. Now being one recognized among all aspects of
American society, following the fast victory over Schmeling, Louis needed to
maintain his status quo. He continued to defend to the title to make sure that there
was no illegitimacy to him being labeled a flaw or not a worthy champion. 9 Post,
Schemlling II all the way until December 1941, Louis defended his title 18 times and
came out victorious in all of them. Louis had gained the distinct honor of not only
being accepted and recognized by all within the boxing community as one of the
great boxers but accepted among America as a whole. Slowly in time Louis begin
being referenced less and less as a Negro American and simply labeled American.
With the outbreak of war erupting in Europe in 1939 and the notion of American
involvement glooming closer and closer, Louis played his as any American and
placed his name for military service. Then with the attacks on Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 1941, sports and society took a drastic change as a whole.

The Creation of an American Icon (Jan.1942 1948 {or should I due

present as he still is an American icon imo)
Americas entry into World War II altered many of the profession sports for
the duration of the conflict. Joe Louis was not exalted like every other able America,
as he joined up to serve his nation. His first fight after declaration of war, was in
January 1942, where he was victorious of Jack sponsored for the Naval relied Fund.
The purse Louis made from the bout was donated to the military branch in support
of the war effort. Throughout the war, Louis would donate his winnings to military
relief funds, to support Americas cause. The military would have Joe go visit bases
and interact with the soldiers. On many occasions he would put on bouts to raiser
moral. The coverage of GI Joes halted Louis into being American icon, no more than
the memorable phrase We are going to win, because we are on Gods side. The
postal imagery and sound bite clippings of Louis in his U.S. military uniform
declaring this message reinforced the nations general understating of itself as a
racially unified nation through its practices were contrarian. Louis was both actively
defending the world heavy weight championship as a member of US military. With VJ
Day and the conclusion of World War II, Louis now in his 30s, was coming to the end
of his supremacy in boxing. He would keep defending the title until he is eventually
8 The lighting quick victory of Schmeling, was a transforming event in African
American history. There was celebration with their community as this was truly a
tremendous time to be black, as Louis had become a hero for all the people but he
was black like me.
9 Louis title defense was grueling, and although his competition was latter dubbed
the Bum of the Months Club by writers as over a 7 month period Louis went 7-0.

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defeated by Rocky in 1950. It is before this point where, we see the shift of
representative for the Negros of America to move from Joe Louis, to a young
baseball player in the name of Jackie Robinson. With Jackie will slowly be over take
Conclusion {needed?}
Joe Louis, was more than just a once in a generation boxer during his reign a
top the heavyweight class. He had slowly developed into become a symbol for both
the black community & for the United States and slowly evolved into a icon for both.
Joe Louis in using boxing as an extension of society, was able to challenge and
refute the accepting societal norms of the era. Louis was a public figure, known by
the majority of the population who was able to bring forward the conflicting nature
which America stood for and what she actually was. Louis was not the only
important black person of the age10, but being the most recognized face during this
period enabled both blacks & whites to help wake the conscious of the nation. Joe
Louis is just one case of demonstrating how sports due in fact play a significant
influence on the public as sports are a visible extension of society during a specific
given time in history.

10 They are a number of significant and vital black figures during this era that had a
significant role for the black community. Joe Louis was not a lone actor, but was
widely covered more than the like of WEB DuBois, Louis Armstrong, & Marcus Gravy
to name a few important names. There is great literature out there on these
important figures.