Joe Louis America's Hero Analysis

Joe Louis America’s Hero… Betrayed by Joe Lavine is a sports documentary filled with propaganda from beginning to finish. Joe Louis was an African-American born on May 13th of 1914 in Lafayette Alabama. Also, as a black male, his ancestors came from generations of slavery until his great-grandfather. Louis was the eighth child of Munn and Lilly Barrow. Concluding there would be financial issues to support the family. Joe had to take on several jobs at a young age; however it was the only way to survive. Eventually the family moved to Detroit, where Louis started working at the River Rouge plant of the Ford Motor Company (Joe Bio). As a teenager, Louis’s grandmother would pay him 25 cents to take violin lessons; nevertheless he then discovered
When Louis became a Pro he won his 12 fights and 10 by knockout. During this time newspapers were making Louis seem as the best fighter of his weight class. Newspapers headlines were being titled “Watch Mr. Louis if you want to see a champion.” This provided more viewers to be aware of whom Joe Louis was and that they should come watch him. By 1935 Louis had won 22 fights without a loss but had little to no chance of becoming a champion. Louis promoter named Mike Jacobs arranges a fight at Madison Square Garden against the 6’6 265lbs Primo Carnera. After, Louis defeats Carnera; he became the epitome of racial pride for blacks. In conclusion an article on the film said that “Joe Louis should never be a champion.” This is another form of propaganda because they believe Louis will participate in race riots and disturb the structure of the United States
The media criticized him for doing so as “tarnishing the image of pro wrestling.” After being a heavyweight champion in boxing. The IRS immediately took his money and now everything that Louis had done for the country during the war and his patriotism was not remembered when the IRS came looking for his money (film).
The greatest tragedy that happened to Louis is that Coca Cola decided to hire Max Schmeling a German with Nazi association was hired and made him a millionaire while Joe Louis a symbol for democracy and bravery would wind up with nothing. Louis was a hero to African-Americans and a very quiet, soft spoken person. Louis then became a drug addict, an alcoholic and suffered from depression. After being hospitalized for seven months Louis then died at the age of 67 in Las Vegas, Nevada