Son of Sharecropper, Joe Louis fought his way through the ranks of amateur and professional boxing and won the title of heavyweight champion of the world, title he held from 1937 to 1949. Louis is perhaps best known for his legendary match against German boxer Max Schmeling. Schmeling defeated Louis in their first fight in 1936, and in 1938 they had a rematch. The press imbued the fight with international political significance, being known for an epic match between Nazi ideology and American democratic ideals (even though Smeling was never a supporter of the Nazis). ). When Louis defeated Schmeling by knockout in the first round, Louis became an American symbol. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayThe son of Alabama sharecroppers, Joe Louis, during his tenure as world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, was a shining symbol of mythical and real American traits like the racial fighter, mental toughness and endless opportunity. Through an extraordinary combination of terrible events, acceptable behavior, elite manipulation, calm media coverage, great boxing talent, America's obsession with sports and goals Part of the heavyweight boxing champion, Louis became the most popular black man in America and one of the most popular of all Americans. Although Louis set an incredible record - he successfully defended 25 times in 12 years (four of which were spent in the army) - what helped immortalize him was the context in which his fights took place. In his 1935 loss to giant former heavyweight champion Primo Carnera, considered Benito Mussolini's sidekick, Louis represented identifying blacks in his fight against intimidation by Italian enemies. By becoming the first black man to hold the heavyweight championship in 22 years with his victory over James J. Braddock in 1937, Louis boosted the morale of black people at the start of the Great Depression. At the same time, he gained white acceptance because of his desire to avoid the bad behavior of the previous black champion, Jack Johnson, who had annoyed white Americans by not "knowing his place." By defeating Germany's Max Schmeling in their second clash in 1938, as Adolf Hitler and the Nazis rose to power, Louis provided assurance that America's best could beat Germany's best. Louis continued to gain the approval of whites after joining the army, although he never saw combat. Aside from his remarkable achievements and wide popularity, Louis may be as important for what he did not accomplish as for what he did. Like many heroes, he is credited with many things he didn't do. Commentators, for example, have exaggerated its impact on racist attitudes and practices. There is little evidence that Louis' success or that of other black athletes translated into acceptance of black people or recommended them for roles outside of sport. Where Louis actually changed attitudes among black people. His position at the top of his sport, his celebrity status, and his public image helped build the confidence of a people whose heroes rarely received the attention or respect of whites. In the difficult times of the war, his decision to cooperate and become the symbol of a government that was far from fair to him and his people offered a constructive, but not so good, course of action. Ultimately, Joe Louis was another edition of the American myth of the self-made man: anyone who is hardworking, patriotic, and moral can..