Why did the US not treat Joe Louis with more respect he gave his country everything..

I understand that the start of Louis' tax troubles came from 2 bouts, one for the Army relief fund & one for the Navy relief fund (I can't recall who the opponents were, but that's not relevant here). The cheques were made payable to Joe himself, he then signed them over to the respective relief funds. He was subsequently chased for the tax on these and wanted to pay the tax straight off, as I believe he had with previous purses, but his financial advisers advised him not to, on the premise that they could cut a deal with the IRS later on. Louis thought, what the hell, his financial advisors knew best, and followed their advice. After that, his tax situation got worse and worse, as the IRS wouldn't cut a deal.

As I understand the situation, if the cheques for these 2 fights had been made out to the respective relief funds in the first place, Louis would not have been taxable for these purses, and things may likely have turned out differently financially for Joe.

Don't shoot the messenger boy on this one, it's just what I have read!!!

 

Because he was a ****** and irrespective of what he did for America, the War effort and the Morale of the Soldier meant **** all to them, just get the money off that Black *******.

IF he would have been White,

some allowances would have been made... the Person matters not just the Dictate of the Ruling Bodies - ****S!!!

 

How much time have you spent in America paying taxes and dealing with the IRS?

 

over 30 years in Canada, what's that got to do with 'individuals' and/or corporations that get tax breaks or special treatment?

and don't say none do, Joe Louis' colour got in the way and that's the bottom line, allowances could've/should've been made as have been for many others/businesses over the years.

is it wrong to apply this to Joe Louis?

he did wonders for america including vast financial support!

 

Canada isnt the USA.

I dont think corporations OR Joe Louis should get to dodge taxes. It didnt have anything to do with him being black. You think he was the only person the IRS hounded for taxes?

I had the IRS come after me once $600 because I recieved a 1099 late one year and didnt pay taxes on it. If you owe they go after you.

The argument that he was too black, or too ignorant, or too much a "hero" doesnt hold up.

He wasnt too black or too ignorant or too much a "hero" to earn several fortunes in the ring and outside and blow it all.

 

As Lord Tywin said, I don't think you're grasping what marginal tax is just yet, but I knew nothing about it till the other day either, so I can understand that. You DO understand he wasn't expected to pay 90% of his wages to taxes though, right?

At this point though, I guess I don't even understand what you're arguing.........are you mad at the government for:

A. Not forgiving Joe his back taxes

or

B. Charging an unrealistic rate to begin with

..........? It's two different arguments, after all. At the end of the day, the tax rates you provided (which I'll trust at face value for the sake of the argument) were rates paid by all Americans at the time. Somehow, some way, almost every one of them managed to make thier money and get by despite these horrors. Some even became ridiculously wealthy in spite of it. The difference boils down to personal responsibility. It's not hate. Please understand the difference.

 

You are right on target LT.I was once audited 8 years in a row....So.so, easy to bring up "race",when Joe Louis was truly revered by America .
Multitudes of white fighters and other athletes reached the top, only to crash because of poor judgement and lack of financial restraint....Louis was one of them,sadly...

 

i'm understanding the maringal tax rate. i know not all of his earnings are taxed at the highest rate. the rate itself is the highest the us has ever seen, plus louis now owed taxes on money he no longer had. he donated it to the military. no one should be taxed on that money. i'm not sure what's so hard to understand about this. yes, louis' spending ways did not help him and he may have had tax trouble anyway but those donations financially crushed him. he owed taxes on that money and then didn't fight for four years when he was in the army. the irs adds interest during those years and then you have trouble catching up, especially when the marginal tax rate is that high.

 

Artie Shaw was White and contributed a lot to war effort, IRS destroyed him later in his life.

You should know topic before jumping in with racism allegations.
Joe lOuis did not deserve to be treated like that, he deserved break So did many others, IRS sucks, that is problem.

 

The IRS can hounds me all they want if I get to smash Lana Turner and Ava Gardner.

Some dudes just had it too good.

 

Giving away your money does not free you from the tax liability. Nor should it.

 

NO,

but raising huge amounts of money for the war effort, military & troops, stirring up Hope & Patriotism, building Morale and being used as a Public figure for 'their' causes and needs, surely should have allowed foe some sort of sanctions & exemptions...

Some(?).

 

If everybody who did something for the war effort in the USA during WW2 was exempt from paying taxes then there wouldnt have been a government left to fight a war.

There were literally thousands, if not hundreds of thousands or millions, who donated as much or more comparative to their standard of living during the war. Not just money but time, resources, and other contributions as well.

If Joe couldnt afford such donations then he should have been so free with his money, but thats kind of the point isnt it?

 

See, that sounds good, but, no.

There is a process, even, by which to write off donations from your taxes. A process, with paperwork that needs to be supplied when audits occur. I donate six figures a year; It is NOT easy to get that taken off. It's a process, like anything else.

You seem to be arguing for an exception that doesn't exist. No, law does not just decide it doesn't apply to one guy or the other. Would corruption have occurred if he was white? Maybe. But that is speculation. There were ways, even then, for Joe to cover his ass. He did NOT do them.