Tuesday, November 20, 2018
The Fight of the Century
In 1938, America was still trying to pull itself out of the Great Depression. It was not a time of great economic strength in America, and the last thing that was needed was a fascist Nazi leading Germany to world domination. Americans saw Hitler and his values as anti-American, and absolutely detested everything he stood for. Hitler, on the other hand, had instilled his beliefs in most of the German population. Not only was this a threat to America, but also to France and Britain. The Treaty of Versailles from World War I firmly prohibited Germany from rearmament, and the fast-growing strength and size of the army were alarming to the Allies. Although the fight between Joe Louis, a black American man, and Max Schmeling, a Nazi favorite, was not a political event, it was politically charged. The American people saw the fight as their potential victory against the Nazis, a win that they desperately needed to feel powerful in this time of unknown outcomes. Over an estimated half of the American population was listening to every word of the fight on their radios, and Joe Louis' win was a national victory, showing Americans that they were not as weak as they felt. The fight captivated the country and reinstated a faith in the American people that was previously diminishing, convincing them that they could stand for something.
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5 comments:
I think it's fascinating how powerful sporting events have become in the past century or so. Although many of us are reminded from a young age that the sports we play are "just a game," they become so much more at higher levels. The "Fight of the Century" is a prime example, as you explain in your post - it was very politically charged, and was able to inspire the American people.
Great job capturing what we discussed in class the other day. Having so much be stressed upon a mere boxing match, similarly to Olympic games hosted in Germany, is quite nerve- inducing to say the least.
I think it's amazing to see how an entire nation can feel united and bonded together over something as simple as a boxing match. It highlights the true state of depression and low faith the country was in. This boxing match, in my perspective, was something that Americans desperately needed to get their spirits up and feel like they were still significant and relevant in the eyes of others. It is also hard to imagine the amount of stress that was put on Louis. In his perspective, he was just going into a boxing match with an opponent, and their nationality didn't matter to him. When people made Schmeling's nationality a big deal, the pressure on him would have been incredible. His win made the country really proud.
Even though Joe Louis becomes a national hero by beating Max Schmeling, he was still a victim of racism in the US. Before the match, Schmeling was praise by the Nazi party for proving their Aryan superiority. Ironically, Louis never received much praise after the fight was over.
What's Ironic is how although Joe Louis was hailed as a national Hero in the United States and was praised as a reflection of how Americans prioritize diversity, he was still shunned by many Americans, specifically in the south.
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