Besides his incredible contributions to boxing Joe Louis should be viewed even more for his contributions to America. From his refusal to fight for segregated troops, to his support and backing to make Jackie Robinson the first black MLB player, to his fight with the PGA to allow blacks to not only have the right to qualify but to play on tour. The fact is, that without Joe Louis the world would have been a much different place for much longer. Integration in baseball probably would have taken at least another decade. Tiger Woods may not have ever been heard about today and who knows how much impact he had for black heavyweights. How else might the world be different without Joe Louis?
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I am conflicted on some of this because of all the flack that Jack Johnson takes. -
With all due respect for Jonson and what he had to overcome, he set black athletes back and did nothing to help the cause of his people. Louis on the other hand was a polar opposite. Completely unselfish and fighting to see others get the same opportunities he had gotten.Originally posted by Chief2ndzOnly! View PostComment
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I look at it different Jab homie. I look at it as Jack, showed not only Black America or Ameriaca, but the entire world what was to come. In a more dangerous time for black folk. He showed that we dont have to abide by a "code for coloreds". Joe set us back(IMO)by showing us we should and had to accept those "codes". Had WWII not happened, and Max Schmelling taken the title from Joe, America would not have pimped Joe the way they did. Jack paved the way IMO. Imagine a Ali that followed in the footsteps of a Joe verses the one who followed the footsteps of Jack.Originally posted by JAB5239 View PostComment
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bingo. I got called racist for saying the same thing on NonStop.Originally posted by JAB5239 View Post
Louis and Roxborough even had a list of rules based around doing the exact opposite of Jack Johnson. Roxborough couldnt stand Johnson, and said just as you did: that Johnson had been holding blacks back with how he acted.
Louis was one of the first black athletes to truly be backed by all of America, against Schmeling. looked at him as an American citizen, and not just a black.
without Louis, things would have been a mess for a lot longer, imo.Comment
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heres a good article.
even Jeanette stated that Jack Johnson 'turned his back on his own race'.Comment
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He did do this, but he did it for selfish reasons. Louis gave opportunities to others of color while Johnson held them back both figuratively and literally.Originally posted by Chief2ndzOnly! View Post
As far as Ali goes.....I think he has helped the world far more by being diplomatic than militant. in other words I believe Louis set a far better example than Johnson.
Nice to see you posting here Chief!Comment
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I look at jack as having to walk a muddied path and the entire time he complained about the mud.Originally posted by Chief2ndzOnly! View Post
Louis heard of this muddy path and said to him self the faster this gets paved the fewer the people that have to walk through the mud.
ali may have followed in johnsons foot steps but the path he walked on was one paved by Louis.Comment
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Thank you for having me here Jab. Joe vs. the PGA was for selfish reasons as well. Most wont dare say it, but it was. The only thing besides giving money away that Joe did unselfishly was refuse to fight for just the entertainment of white Soldiers. I commend Joe for standing up in that aspect. Being more docile in Ali's case would not have helped him IMO, cause thats not who he is/was. In America we should be allowed to be who we are, true? Thats what this country was founded on. No one really liked Ty Cobb, but he didn't have to fear for his life, or be shut down by the Government because of his brashness. This is the point that I am trying to make. No one was saying hey Ty, you cant enjoy the spoils of your victory as it happens. No one told Jim Jefferies that he couldn't raise his hand if he knocked down Corbett or Fitzsimmons. And the certainly didnt tell him he couldn't raise his hand if he KD, KO'd, or TKO'd a Black fighter(Peter Jackson).Originally posted by JAB5239 View Post
Jack showed that if you get to that level, you should enjoy the spoils of your hard labor, just like the white champions do. And Damn anybody whos got to say anything about it. Remember in those days you were the "Baddest" man on earth if you were the HW champ.Comment
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