BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : JOE LOUIS " THE RACISM YEARS " AND "SERVING UNCLE SAM "

During the second world war Uncle Sam quickly realized the publicity value of Joe Louis as a front man for recruitment of African American into the United States Military effort. Realizing Louis potential for elevating espirt de crops among troops, the Army placed him in its Special Service Division rather than deploying him into combat. Louis would go on a celebrity tour with other notables including Sugar Ray Robinson, Louis traveled more than 35,000 km  (21,000 miles) and staged 96 boxing exhibitions before two million soldiers. In England during 1944 he was reported to have enlisted  as a player for Liverpool Football Club as a publicity stunt. He was an ace recruitment bill board Celebrity star, a focus for media Recruitment campaign for African American men to enlist in the Armed Services despite the military racial segregation.


The Famous Statement by Joe Louis  in 1944  " We will win the war, because we are on God's side "
Although Louis never saw combat, but during his travel he would often experience blatant racism. On one occasion a Military Police Man (MP) ordered Louis and Sugar Ray to move there seats to a bench at the back.  "We ant moving " said Louis. The MP tried to arrest them, but Louis forcefully argued the pair out of the situation. In an other occasion Louis had to resort to bribery to persuade a Commanding Officer to drop charges against Jackie Robinson for punching a Captain who had called Robinson a "Nigger".