Joe Louis Archives - Harlem World Magazine

The Legendary Willie “The Lion” Smith Harlem Jazz Man, Cantor, Duke Ellington Mentor, Harlem Hellfighter And More

William Henry Joseph Bonaparte Bertholf Smith, November 23, 1893 – April 18, 1973, also known as "The Lion", was a Harlem cantor, jazz pianist, and a master practitioner of Harlem stride piano during the Harlem Renaissance.Continue reading

Who Is The Greatest Sports Star To Represent A Harlem State Of Mind?

Harlem has been home to many celebrities from all walks of life, but perhaps it is in the sporting world that people from here have found most success.Continue reading

Harlem Boxing Champion Harry “The Black Panther” Wills (video)

Harry "The Black Panther" (or "The Brown Panther") Wills, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 15, 1889 was a heavyweight boxer who three times held the World Colored Heavyweight Championship.Continue reading

Premier Boxing Champions Announces Season Three For Harlem Boxing Lovers

Harlem has a long history of boxing fans and boxing champs like Harlem Tommy Murphy, Harry “The Black Panther” Wills, Joe Louis, Tyrone "The Harlem Butcher" Jackson, Hector "Macho" Camacho and many, many more.Continue reading

Marva Trotter’s Timeless Beauty (Photographs)

If ever there were a real-life Cleopatra—a woman whose beauty could knockout champions, or launch a thousand ships—it was Marva Trotter dubbed “the most beautiful woman in Harlem". Continue reading

Miss Suzie Porter, By James Van Der Zee, Harlem, NY 1915

A great image of Harlem resident Miss Suzie Porter at home by legendary Harlem photographer James Van Der Zee, in Harlem New York, 1915. Continue reading

Joe Louis’ Restaurant Souvenir Card, Harlem NY 1950’s

I don't know about you, but we love everything little thing about Harlem history, and this little Souvenir card from the Joe Louis' Restaurant, at 11 west 125th Street, Harlem, New York, ca 1950's is fabulous. Continue reading

Boxer Joe Louis And Wife Marva “The Best Dressed Woman In America” Trotter Harlem NY (Rare Video)

Rare video footage of boxing champ Joe Louis and his wife Mara “the best dressed woman in America” Trotter seen outside an apartment building in Harlem, New York.Continue reading

Marva Trotter Louis, Harlem Model, 1936

Harlem's Marva Trotter Louis, the Chicago stenographer turned model, singer and the first wife of boxing legend Joe Louis and had two children (daughter Jacqueline in 1943 and son Joseph Louis Barrow, Jr. in 1947). Continue reading