Joe Louis contributions to Black History – Pt 1

By Boxing News - 02/05/2012 - Comments

Image: Joe Louis contributions to Black History - Pt 1By John F. McKenna (McJack): Joe Louis’ accomplishments in the boxing ring are well known and the fact that he is considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest heavyweights of all time is undisputed. Louis was born on May 13, 1914 in rural Chambers County, Alabama.

Joe’s family joined what has been referred to as the Great Migration from the rural south to Detroit in the dream of finding a better life.

Louis had to live by a strict code of conduct in order for him to be successful as a fighter. The United States was still largely a racist country when Joe began his illustrious boxing carrer in the mid 1930’s. After Jack Johnson’s controversial reign as heavyweight champion ended in 1915, no African American was able to fight for the heavyweight championship for twenty two years until Joe Louis got his shot on June 22, 1937.

Louis’ early career was heavily influenced by a black businessman named John Roxborough. Roxborough was well aware that as a black fighter Louis had little chance to succeed in the corrupt world of boxing. Promoters were not interested in seeing a young black fighter make it in boxing during the depression years of the 1930’s. For that reason Roxbrough sought the help of a black promoter named Julian Black.

Roxborough spoke to Louis about “Black Power” long before people knew what the words meant. He told Joe that he would never make it in boxing with a white manager and a white promoter. Once Julian Black joined the management team he solicited the help of trainer Jake “Chappie” Blackburn, who was a great black featherweight fighter in his own right in the earl years of the 20th century. “Chappie” as Louis would later call Blacburn was reluctant take on a black fighter to train because ot the racial prejudice that existed at the time against black fighters. He thought it was useless to waste time on a fighter who had no chance of going anywhere.

Eventually Blackburn came around when he saw how serious young Louis was and the promise that he had as a fighter. Blackburn and Louis went on to became one of the greatest trainer – fighers combos in the history of the ring.

Roxborough and his management team drafted what they referred to as
“Commandments” for Louis to follow which they felt were essential for him to be successful. Those “Commandments” were:

• Never be photographed with a white woman
• Never gloat over a fallen opponent
• Never engage in fixed fights
• Always fight clean
• Live a clean life



Comments are closed.