Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-03
Joe Louis
Aids Race
With Fight
Calls Nova 90 One Bout
With Pttse Not Split
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON


it received a sympathetic, not 10
say enthusiastic, response. Note
that the letter was written two
days before the Nova fight:
Joe Louis, heavyweight cham
pion of the world
Greenwood Lake, y. Y,
Sept. 81, 1871
"Dear MIR. Baruch:
81 have been reClaSsified by the
selective draft board and ! cN-
pect to be called into the service
of my country. This may cause
me to retire from the ring.
But before I retire, i want To
put up one more fight, the best
of my career, TO help my people.
STINHE hardest fight ever had
Il was against prejudice and
intolerance. My people know
what | mean. They are all fight
iHg their way tip and ! mant 10
open the door of opportunity a
little wider for them.
THE fight | propose to make
viii he staged in an arena
against one particular opponent
but out in the open across the
country.
"If could get gate n big
as I've ever seen i'm the Yankee
Stadium and turn IL over 10 the
department of race relations oi
the federal council of the
churches of Christ in america
for the splendid work that de-
partment is doing on behalf of
the Negro people and better re-
lations with their white neigh
bors, I'd feel like real cham
pion.
81 propose TO start the gate
with my own contribution, and |
want YOU TO subscribe for box,
ringside seat or other reserva-
-TAi--iS-aIin- piir~e-ilhIcA
does not have 10 he shared with
promoters or managers. Every
cent will he used To better the
conditions Of my people and IN
creating better human relations
in America.
will YOU cooperate by send
ing your check or money order,
in any amount payable IA rank
II. Mann, treasurer, and mail II
today? II YOU help me win this
time. I'll feel that I've won the
greatest fight Of my life. Thank
\ YOU. Sincerely yours.
(Signed) Joe Louis
I HAVE no doubt from its con-
Il text that this same letter
went 10 many people and that
I Joe didn't actually compose the
appealing miSsive To me that
doesn't make any difference
Joes conduct over the years
is the most difficult test Of tf-tssf--
age. fortitude, Sportsmanshlp
and plain AmericaniSm that
could be given any man, has
made that letter possible and
4 true.
The able phrasine wouldnt
mean a thing without that and
couldn't be made 10 mean a
thing
Joe Louis never sQuawkcd
Boosted. he'd. faxed lodged q
fight nor tried 10 milk his popu-
larity 10 his personal advantage
He lifted a sport that had
threatened 10 become racket
in the hands of some Of his
white brethren into a cleaner
and more respectable atmQs-
phere.
IN OTHER words. he is not
Il merely an outstanding credit
La--his- pennle- AS be CallS-1hcn-
He is an American asset. Moth
ing emphasizes that more than
his eagerness 10 surrender mis-
fabulous income and prospects
and get into uniform as a pri-
vate soldier.
BY example. he has done
something more in the hard way
than could ever be done in years
OF preachment. He has taken
race-prejudice, as far as he is
concerned at least, out Of the
fight game.
Considering the emotional
nature of that field. this seems
incredible But sitting in At MS
Nova battle il seemed 10 me
that most Sympathics were with
the champion
This was strange, not merely
because there IS a natural wolf
-pack tendency TO wish 10 SEQ the
leader dOWned- DUr Ttyr--r7r-r--------
Lou Nova himself is far above
the average type Of white con-
tender.
I don't know just what Joe
plans as his last fight and the
best" but l hope and believe
that it will have the widest pos
sible support.
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