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An American story. Traces the
career of Joe Louis (1914-1981) within the context of American racial
consciousness: his difficulty getting big fights early in his career, the pride
of African-Americans in his prowess, the shift of White sentiment toward Louis
as Hitler came to power, Louis’s patriotism during World War II, and the
hounding of Louis by the IRS for the following 15 years. In his last years, he’s
a casino greeter, a drug user, and the occasional object of scorn for young
Turks like Muhammad Ali. Appreciative comment comes from boxing scholars,
Louis’s son Joe Jr., friends, and icons like Maya Angelou, Dick Gregory, and
Bill Cosby. |
