The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1939-07-21

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tory, and Joe Louis is SLlii monarch
of all he surveys, and his right
there is none to dispute. It took
him four rounds to put away this
fellow Galento, who was not so bad
after all. / was mighty glad to see
Joe Louis foored. That is good for
Joe and good for the game, and
good for the Negro race. Too many
Negroes believe that just because
Joe is q Negro, he can beat any
bodv in the world. That is bad for
the Negro, and for race relations.
just as Something's Knockout
proved a blessing to Joe and the
game. the knock-down by Galento is
going to do worlds of good, and it is
going to make Joe oetter fighter.
Moreover, there is somewhere in this
country some white man who is 60
ing not only to knock him out for
who is going to knock him out for
keers. This will also be good for
the game and for the Negro race.
ssSure thingsy in sports are the
worst things for sports, even though
those "sure things" are Negroes
and they are just as bad for the
whites. After all, Joe is human,
and things human can stand only so
much, and then they decline. Joe
will decline, but not until he has
lifted the boxing profession to one
Of the highest planes it has known
He will eventually get knocked out
or will give way to some white
heavyweight.
The Negro race and the sporting
world as well as the world of race
relations will be forever in the debt
Of this young Negro from the cot
ton fields of Alabama. When we
are admiring and idolizing Joe Louis,
let us not forget those three Ne
groes who have made Joe Louis pos
sible: blackburn, Black and Rox-
borough are common sense brokers
the like Of which this world has not
known. Joe in the right without
Blackburn "in the corner,' perhaps
would not be so hot. But with Black
burn in the corner, he becomes
4tan terror" If, as the historians
say, the battle of Waterloo was won
on the athletic fields of Eton, then
the Louis -Galento fight was won in
Louisss corner where Jack Black
burn was presiding. When Louis ran
into one of Galento's deadly lefts
things looked bad for while, and
we could sympathize with the fel-
low who dropped dead after Louis
had been hoored but; canny Old
Jack soon had Joe straight again,
and experts declare that the finest
ring strategy ever shown was mani
fest when Joe elected to stay away
from Tony until his wits could once
again be gathered. He did not grow
desparate after he was struck, he
took his time and how wise was the
counsel history now knows.
The fight as won in Joe's corner
by the skill Of Jack Blackburn
counled with the trip-hammer fists
of Joe. 1t is true there is need Of
strength in the ring, but there must
be strategy "in the corner" ] often
think not enough is made of these
three colored men who handle Joe.
At commencement time, thousands
Of young graduates strut across the
platforms Of our colleges with flow
ing robes and gowns to receive their
degrees. AS a matter Of fact, the
deafening applause which rings IN
their ears is inspiring. But sober
second thought recalls those mothers
and fathers who have suffered TO
make that graduation day possible,
and it is rather they who should be
receiving the plaudits of themultl-
tudes.
Too often we forget the man out
of sight. Behind each hero is some
maker. Some years ago, ] stooa
on the pier in Liverpool and waited
for liner from this country to
come In. Slowly she moved nearer
and nearer, but noticed that the
engines were not working, but nearer
she came. Methought that the wind
was driving it in, but the wind was
blowing at right angles, but on she
came. Again / thought the tide was
bearing the liner in, but the tide |
later noticed was moving out, but on
the liner came into harbor. When
the ship was close enough, found
a little tug boat that could not
see until the ship was almost in har-
Dor was bringing the great liner in.
A little gut boat!
The fathers and mothers who sac
rifice and suffer are doing tug-boat
duty to get their children into the
harbor Of graduation, but oftimes
they are not seen at all. Joe comes
into the harbor of fame and fortune,
but we must not forget Black, Black
burn and Roxborough--the three