Jack Johnson was Muhammad Ali first. He was an exceptional boxer; the man was legendary for his ability to avoid punches. But the government ultimately got to him. Johnson was convicted under the Mann Act, an odious piece of legislation, for having consensual sex with a white woman with whom he crossed state lines.
We hear about what baseball player Hank Aaron went through, the things he had to listen to, as he worked his way from the Deep South to the Major Leagues. But what Johnson was subjected to is almost unfathomable in its cruelty and hate.
Much of the country shuddered at the idea that a black man could win the coveted heavyweight boxing championship. Boxing was huge in 1908, the year Johnson won the title. To get it back in white hands, promoters scoured the country for a Great White Hope. But Johnson held the championship until 1915.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who has long tried to clean up boxing, and Rep. Peter King of New York, are, via a congressional resolution, trying to convince President Obama to pardon Johnson.
I hope it happens. If you have any interest in the Johnson legend, or a curiousity about what it was like to be a black champion in the early 1900s, ead "Papa Jack: Jack Johnson and the Era of White Hopes," a superb biography.
Great post. I agree wholeheartedly.
Posted by: Token | April 02, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Yea yea yea. Whatever dude. Jack Johnson was born and raised in the south in Galveston Texas in 1878 and died in a car wreck out Raleigh in 1946. Why do you hate whites so bad who invented all these sports?
Johnson was 6'1" and weighed 187lbs when he won the HW title from white James Jefferies in Reno who came out of a 6 yr retirement had to lose 100 lbs and the fight was stopped in the 15th round. Johnson was the 1st black fighter who broke the color barrier after he has won the World Colored HW title in 1903.
JJ was KOed in 1915 in Havana by a big white cowboy named Jess Williard in the 26th round of a 40 rounder and pretty much ended him as he mostly lost after than although got into trouble with the law.
JJ overall record was 124-88 with 49 KOs. He won 65% of his fights. Big deal.
He was married to 3 white jewish females. He got into trouble only with the 2nd wife named Lucille Cameron because she was a 16 years old minor prostitute and he was 32 when they married in 1911. He got into trouble for pimping her across state lines. He was known for hanging out with prostitutes and riotous living. The Mann Act made it unlawful to transport a minor over state lines for immoral purposes involving prostituion mostly with underaged females. He went to prison for it as he should have.
He allegedly stormed out of some diner who wouldnt serve him and at an est 90 mph ran off the road and was killed in a one car accident in 1946 but there is no proof of the diner story and was used as an excuse.
George Bush did not pardon him and they are trying to now but who knows. He broke the law and admitted guilt and served his time. Why all the fuss?
As far as Hank Aaron this is rubbish. Aaron was always liked and anytime a record as big as Babe Ruth was taken out there will be those who hate to see it go. White Minnosotan Roger Maris was hated for breaking Ruths single season record of 60 homers set in 1927 with with his 61 homers for the Yanks in 1961. Maris went to his grave a despised man.
There are sports figures hated for their cocky arrogance. RJackson and BBonds are the of the notorious ones but Cassius Clay became brain damaged as a radical Black Muslim convert movement in Chicago and shirking Nam in 1968 that took his title that he regained in 1971. He used the same technique as JJ being defensive and coy waiting for the other guy to tire or make a mistake rather than offensive and aggressive.
Some call Clay/Ali the greatest but he has proved he couldnt take a punch with his massive brain damage and Parkinsons. Physicians say he should have never been a fighter.
The greatest boxers ever were Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano. The greatest baseball player ever was Ty Cobb.
Posted by: Set The Record Straight | April 03, 2009 at 08:38 AM
Wow! Seems like this guy is still holding on to that traditional ''White man inferior complex, "Sir listen to me Listen closely, you better hope the playing field is not leveled in America, cuz yur time and many millions of White American ''Weak men are done. Are you for real, We (Black Men) are Superior Physically you know it, and all the sports Analyst know it. So i suggest you take a back seat enjoy the Ride, and watch yur Women enjoy Black men, cuz that's what they have always craved, Probably yur grandmother. So so long to that Bush era, and Texas, can go to you know where. It's Time for a Change, Did you get the memo Partner.
Posted by: Phil Jant | April 06, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Around the world could very well be body, still to at least one customer may well everything about. [url=http://Niketnpascher024.fr/]chaussure nike homme[/url] chaussure nike homme
Posted by: chaussure nike homme | May 06, 2013 at 10:16 AM