A vision from the past:

[formercia]

People need to be reminded of the dark forces we face today, just as we did many years ago.

http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/sports2000/moments/140271.html

--snip--

It went less than one. In two minutes and four seconds, Louis knocked out Schmeling.

While Hitler sent a telegram of condolences, most German reports downplayed the defeat as meaningless to the nation's prestige, some claiming Louis had fouled Schmeling with a paralyzing kidney punch. Americans cheered giddily, as in the boxing magazine, Ring: "The World's heavyweight boxing title stayed American and non-Aryan when, in 2 min. 4 sec. on the muggy night of June 22, Joe Louis, Negro champion, knocked out Max Schmeling, the white hope of Germany . . . The German press fulminated, blaming their hero's defeat on American machinations. But anti-Nazis gloated."

Perhaps the most solidly grounded perspective came from the American sportswriter Heywood Broun in the New York World-Telegram: "One hundred years from now some historian may theorize, in a footnote at least, that the decline of Nazi prestige began with a left hook delivered by a former unskilled automotive worker who had never studied the policies of Neville Chamberlain and had no opinion whatever in regard to the situation in Czechoslovakia . . .

"And possibly there could be a further footnote. It was known that Schmeling regarded himself as a Nazi symbol. It is not known whether Joe Louis consciously regards himself as a representative of his race and as one under dedication to advance its prestige. I can't remember that he has ever said anything about it. But that may have been in his heart when he exploded the Nordic myth with a bombing glove."

[H2O Man]

1. Nominated.

In many ways that today's generation of progressive/liberal democrats may not be aware, the great Joe Louis played a significant role on bringing about positive social changes. He did this both inside and outside the ring.

Max Schmeling was a good man, who was being used by the dark force of Nazism. Louis was a good man, who was confronting the racial prejudices that were so destructive in this land. In this, their second match, the western world was watching with great anticipation ..... would Hitler's mad theories gain support in the most important weight division in the most important sport in the world? Or with the young black Heavyweight Champion avenge his earlier loss to the ex-champion Schmeling, and serve as a symbol of America's military power?

One of my brothers had, in mint condition, a great collection of east coast newspapers from before and after this fight. They were lost in the flood of '06. I wish I had them, because there were the most fascinating articles in them, that I think folks here would enjoy. However, I can say that no one other than Joe Louis thought the fight would end in the first round. The punch that Louis landed to the body, causing Schmeling to literally scream (which was heard quite a few rows back), actually caused a fracture in one of Max's bones. (If you watch the film, you'll see Max's legs stop functioning properly after that.)

Louis was one of the most important advocates of desegregating the military. Some day, I'll tell the story about how his actions, which kept the more hot-tempered Sugar Ray Robinson out of big trouble, advanced the positions of black Americans in the military, fighting for a country that treated them like 3rd class citizens at home.

I agree that Barack Obama is fighting that same fight today. He's not fighting foreign Nazis, and his efforts are not for any one group. But the Good Fight is the Good Fight: it was yesterday, it is today, and it will be tomorrow.

[formercia]

2. Thank you for your insight.

My friend.

[Hekate]

3. KnR for both your posts, formercia and H2Oman

Well said.

Hekate