Joe Louis, “The Brown Bomber,” became an American hero in an era when a black idol was unthinkable, but when the bell has rung and the gloves are off, how is a hero remembered? Joe Louis was much more than a boxer; he was a symbol of democracy in a time of political unrest. His fights weren’t simply viewed as crushing contests between astounding athletes, but as a clash of the titans of a different sort – of nations and ideologies at war. Although he was hailed as a hero, Louis still felt the stinging blows of racism, acting with an unmatched generosity that ultimately became one of his downfalls.