Heroes Without a Country: America's Betrayal of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens (Hardcover)

~ Donald Mcrae (Author) "Jesse Owens awoke early that Monday morning..." (more)
Key Phrases: overarm right, world heavyweight champion, fastest man, Joe Louis, New York, Jesse Owens (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After learning that the Olympic track star Jesse Owens once raced against the legendary heavyweight champion Joe Louis, McRae, a freelance writer living in London, set out to find what prompted such an unlikely pairing and to trace the arc of the two men's lives. The result of McRae's research is a powerful and moving story that documents how these two black stars struggled to reconcile their fame and success in the sporting arena to the discrimination faced by black Americans across most parts of the country. The answer to why Owens raced Louis is simple-Owens needed the money and Louis was more than willing to help out his friend. After refusing to continue a barnstorming tour following the 1936 Olympics, Owens was banned from continuing his track-and-field career as an amateur and turned to other ways to cash in on his notoriety. Following the collapse of several promising ventures, Owens took to racing horses and working at other odd jobs. Louis had no problem earning money as a professional fighter, but he had trouble keeping it. He spent freely, paid large sums to his promoters and handlers, and ended up owing the IRS millions in back taxes. Despite their money woes (Owens's financial situation improved over the years), the men slowly worked to break down racial barriers, and for that they held a special place in the hearts of most black Americans. McRae evinces a deep appreciation for the burdens fame bestowed on Owens and Louis and shines a well-deserved spotlight on two of the most prominent Americans of the 20th century.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A terrific read...tells an important story." (Library Journal )

"A powerful and moving story..." (Publishers Weekly )

"Richly detailed...a compassionate case history." (Austin American-Statesman )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Ecco (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006000228X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060002282
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #866,811 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heroes amid Horrors, February 13, 2004

By	Michael Brumitt (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although the previous professional editorial reviews provide a fair description of this book, it's necessary to emphasize what an important piece of work this is. Heroes Without a Country is at times inspiring and uplifting, and at other times infuriating and saddening. The hatred and hypocrisy that Joe Louis and Jesse Owens had to endure throughout their lives and careers are staggering. Not only does this book discuss the achievements and struggles of these two great athletes, but it also provides a clear, unflinching portrait of what it was like in the apartheid of the South during the '30s and '40s--a reality that many would shy away from. Both Louis and Owens deserve to be considered on the same level of talent as other greats such as Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. This book shows these men's strengths, their problems, and their triumphs, all of which played out in the midst of the racism of a country that could not accept them for who they were.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Debt Owed To Joe Louis and Jesse Owens, February 8, 2007

By	Brian Schiff "jaywilton" (Detroit Mi. USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Heroes Without a Country: America's Betrayal of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens (Hardcover)

Don McCrae,a white South African who once taught English in Soweto, turned his curiosity about a news story regarding a race between Jesse Owens and Joe Louis into a beatifully written,detailed story of two men from Jim Crow Alabama,who are both symbols of achievement-and of unique targets.In Owens case,just after the '36 Olympics-and obviously well before the current "rules" regarding "amateurs",Owens was forced to race horses,Joe Louis,etc. to make a living and investigated by J. Edgar Hoover;Joe Louis was hounded-below the belt-by the IRS.Obviously,there have never been bigger lb. for lb. black-or American sports heroes-and McCrae seems to make this argument contrasting the era of Louis and Owens with the era of Ali and the Smith-Carlos protest at the 1968 Olympics.This should be required reading,particularly for todays professional-and "amateur" athletes.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book&A Must at all Schools, March 6, 2005

By	[e-mail] "mistermaxxx" (usa) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

we are talking less than a Hundred Years ago which wasn't that long ago at all.we are only talking about almost 70 years back.it's scary to think that two of the Greatest Athletes Ever were treated so badly stateside. Joe Louis was a Great Champion& he did everything to distance himself from another Great Black Champion Jack Johnson because of the Politics&Hatered that went down.and the sad part Joe Louis still never was accepted. same thing with Jesse Owens.this brother won Medals&Faced Hitler face to face&didn't back down.but Being the Best still only meant 2nd Class Citizenship in America.it's truly sad&they aren't ever given enough due now as we speak about the Greatest Atheletes Ever. personally what Jesse Owens accomplished in the face of Hate with Hitler was right there with Jackie Robinson&Larry Dolby breaking the Color Line in Baseball IMO. Joe Louis the Brown Bomber was one of a kind as well. just remember this wasn't that long ago.