Asking because I remember he had to follow a certain list of commandments -Never have his picture taken with a white woman -Never gloat over a fallen opponent -Never engage in fixed fights -Live and fight clean With that being said I know that humble kind spirited boxers didn't float over well with the public... Enlighten me please :bbb
He basically won the battle for public opinion. He became accepted by white America, including many people with racist attitudes. Even so, there was always a significant element against him. After Max Schmeling beat him, he received a lot of letters of congratulation from people with racist attitudes.
Some of the newspaper coverage at the time was racially derogatory. Comparing him to an ape etc. It was probably reflective of what society said. I'm sure many of the white fans cheered on his white opponents. But ultimately he forced social acceptance from most. The way the IRS treated him was pretty shocking when you consider they came after him for cheques he signed over to WW2 Charities.
In my work I've worked with quite a few World War II vets...if the conversation comes up sports...then to boxing...Every vet I've spoken to adored Louis, and practically to a man, thought he was the heavyweight GOAT.
Joe Louis was BELOVED by the white public, black, white, etc., My father,....whom in general wasn't too fond of black people, just loved Joe Louis,..and later on,...Floyd Patterson. I think that it was HORRIBLE with what the U.S. Govt. did to him via the IRS....like PP observed, especially when he donated entire purses to the War effort...this was the biggest shame on the U.S.A. But yes, Joe was virtually universally beloved by the American public.
My impression is that Joe Louis was well-liked during his boxing career. Moreover, Louis was a tremendous gate attraction even during the depths of the Great Depression, a time when so many people couldn't afford to attend professional boxing shows. - Chuck Johnston
No the vast amount of Americans did not like Joe Louis, they LOVED Joe Louis. I should know for I was growing up those days and Louis in our eyes became the most LOVED sports figure of the 1930s and 1940s...No fighter of his time and after held his title so long and with as much dignity as most likely the most beloved figure of sports history, my idol Joe Louis. We loved and respected this immortal fighter...
If you've ever seen a documentary, read old media, or spoken to old folks who lived then, you'd get a pretty clear impression that he was adored by most - in a way maybe no other heavyweight champ has been (and that does include the white ones) .