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America's Hero...Betrayed AMERICA’S HERO...BETRAYED Dear Educator: The story of the great American boxer, Joe Louis, is one of triumph and tragedy. He rose from poverty in the Deep South and lived under the cruel inequities of the Jim Crow laws, which not only segregated blacks and whites, but treated blacks as second class citizens or worse. Louis rose above the prejudice to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. In 1936, when Louis suffered a humiliating loss to a German named Max Schmeling, Adolf Hitler seized the opportunity to promote Schmeling as proof of Aryan superiority. When Louis defeated Schmeling soundly in a 1938 rematch, it was Hitler and Nazism that were humiliated. Louis was heralded as a world hero, but the glory did not last. Although he was one of the first black Americans to break the color barrier, he is often overlooked in historical context. This dramatic tale is told in the new HBO film, Joe Louis: America’s Hero...Betrayed premiering on February 23, 2008 at 8 PM Eastern/9 PM Pacific. This study guide, developed by the curriculum specialists at Young Minds Inspired (YMI) and made possible by HBO, is designed to enrich your students’ viewing of Joe Louis: America’s Hero...Betrayed. The study guide features lessons in civics, American history, and English/Language Arts. Activities include writing, group work, research, and discussion. You and your students do not need to see Joe Louis: America’s Hero...Betrayed to use these activities, but viewing the film will enhance student understanding. We urge you to share this exciting program with other teachers in your school. Although the materials are copyrighted, you have permission to reproduce them for educational purposes. And please return the enclosed reply card to let us know your opinion of the program. We depend on your feedback to continue providing free educational programs that make a real difference in the classroom. We are sure these materials will help you explore a compelling individual and period in American history, and serve as a perfect educational vehicle during Black History month. Sincerely, Dr. Dominic Kinsley Editor-in-Chief is the only company developing free, innovative classroom materials that is owned and directed by award- winning former teachers. Visit our website at www.ymiteacher.com to send feedback and download more free programs. For questions contact us at YMI, 1-800-859-8005 or email us at [email protected]. AMERICA’S HERO...BETRAYED How to Use This Resources Program Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling This program has been designed for high and A World on the Brink, by David school English/Language Arts and history Margolick, 2005 classes. Please share it with other teachers Champion – Joe Louis, Black Hero in White as appropriate. America, by Chris Mead, Scriber, 1985 Heroes Without a Country: America’s Betrayal Program Components of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens, ● This teacher’s guide by Donald McRae, Ecco/Harper Collins, 2002 ● Three reproducible student activities Joe Louis: 50 Years an American Hero, ● A colorful wall poster depicting Joe Louis by Joe Louis Barrow and Barbara Munder, ● A reply card for your important feedback McGraw Hill, 1988 Joe Louis: A Champ for All America, Program Objectives by Robert Lipsyte, Harper Collins, 1994 ● To explore the effects of Joe Louis’ life and Joe Louis: American fighter, accomplishments. by David A. Adler, Gulliver Books, 2005 ● To compare and contrast Joe Louis’ life and accomplishments with other Black Joe Louis – My Life, by Joe Louis, American heroes. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1978 ● To gain a clearer understanding of racism The Greatest Fight of Our Generation: Louis and discrimination and how Black vs. Schmeling, by Lewis A. Erenberg, American heroes changed societal views. Oxford University Press, 2005 How to Use The Websites Teacher’s Guide and Interviews, production footage, background, Poster and to download the HBO Films podcast www.hbo.com/films/joelouis ● Review and schedule the three activities into your lesson plans, and photocopy American Experience section of the them for students. PBS website, featuring Joe Louis ● www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/fight/peopleevents/ Photocopy the Resources and Websites list p_louis.html and distribute to aid in students’ research. Article on the 1938 Louis-Schmeling fight ● Display the poster in a prominent location in the Legends and Lore section of the to promote and engage student interest. International Boxing Hall of Fame Standards Alignment www.ibhof.com/ibhfhvy5.htm International Boxing Hall of Fame, Joe Louis This program aligns with English/ biographical information Language arts and history national www.ibhof.com/jlouis.htm standards. For details, please visit www.ymiteacher.com/pdf/joelouis Joe Louis’s Greatest Fights from ESPN standards.pdf. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/ story?id=2449306 The official Joe Louis website, containing biographical information, photos, and quotes www.cmgworldwide.com/sports/louis/ ® © 2008 Home Box index.php Office, Inc. All rights reserved. Joe Louis section on the Congressional HBO© is a service mark of Home Box Medal of Honor website Office, Inc. www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/JoeLouis. © 2008 YMI, Inc. htm The above resources are not affiliated with HBO. Activity One Extensions Extensions Read All About It Have students debate one of the following ● Students should interview their parents, This activity guides students through a topics about the role of sports in the grandparents or older neighbors about sports writing assignment as they political arena: Joe Louis. Assist students as they consider the ● Should sports transcend politics or serve prepare questions for their interview and larger as a forum for political discussion? review the three P’s of good interviewing: implications be polite, be prepared, be poised. You can ● of Louis’ Is there honor in a combative sport, such compile their interviews for the class to defeat of the as boxing? read. German, Max ● How has commercialism affected the role Schmeling, in of today’s athlete in society? a historic Activity Three boxing match Joe Louis: in the Activity Two American Citizen summer of 1938. Introduce this activity by Outliving In this activity, students investigate an leading a class discussion on the global the Legend essential question of civic responsibility — situation just prior to the start of World This activity guides what does it mean to be an American War II. Discuss the following historical students to explore citizen?— in the context of one great man. events: different American In 1982, Joe Louis received the ● Upon the death of German president Paul heroes and their Congressional Gold Medal, the highest and von Hindenberg, Hitler had used his bul- characteristics. most distinguished civilian award in the lying tactics to have himself declared In Activity One, United States. Discuss with students the Fuhrer, or supreme ruler, of Germany. students discovered qualifications and significance of the Congressional Gold Medal. Next, invite ● Hitler built up the German army, how Joe Louis students to work in small groups to threatened the rest of Europe, and defeated Max research Louis and several other recipients stripped German Jews of their rights as Schmeling in the of the award along with the award itself. citizens with the Nuremberg Race Law. rematch of 1938 and how Louis became Students should investigate ● Hitler’s promotion of Aryan (blond, an American hero. who has received the blue-eyed) supremacy was known In this activity, award; how recipients throughout the world. students compare and contrast Joe Louis were chosen; and ● Max Schmeling was an Aryan boxer to Jackie Robinson. Lastly, students com- the variety of whose defeat of Louis in 1936 was used plete an essay in which they compare recipients. Lastly, by Nazis as an example of Aryan and contrast sports heroes, examining students have the supremacy. different types of American heroes. opportunity to nominate someone for Part A. Tell students that many authors, Part A. Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson were the Congressional Gold Metal including Ernest Hemingway and Joyce both great American heroes, but are indicating reasons this person is deserving Carol Oates, have found a connection regarded differently in history. In 1947, of such a admirable honor. between boxing and literature. They feel Jackie Robinson was the first black that a great boxing match somehow tells a baseball player to be accepted in all-white Extensions story. Students should begin by using Major League Baseball. Have students ● Have students create a timeline of the the Plot the Fight graphic organizer to research both individuals, and then ask events of Joe Louis’ life as they parallel organize the details of the 1938 Louis- them to consider why American society the social and historical events of the Schmeling fight -- from the media hype and may have treated these two heroes time. build-up, to the actual fight, to the world- differently. Ask them to use the Venn ● Ask students to role play, keep a wide effect on morale. Diagram to compare and contrast their accomplishments, the time periods in character diary as Louis, or write letters Part B. On the back of the activity sheet, which they lived, their personalities, and from him to express how these events in students compile an outline to organize their place in history. his life affected him and his career choice their thoughts. Students use this and success. information to write a sports article Part B. In preparation for an essay describing the Louis-Schmeling fight and comparing and contrasting Joe Louis and its implications. Make sure they have seen Jackie Robinson, ask students to outline ® © 2008 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. examples of sports writing before they their essay in the space provided on the HBO© is a service mark of begin.
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