Today is the birthday of the first great African-American boxer. Live large today in his honor.
- Jack Johnson was born on March 31, 1878 in Galveston, Texas. His parents were former slaves. He was frail as a child, he would not stay that way. After only five years of schooling, he took a variety of jobs. One of them was as a janitor in a boxing gym where he was first exposed to the sport.
- After beating up a local tough guy, he took up street-fighting, which was illegal in Texas. He won a purse of $1.50 in his first fight in 1898. He got the nickname “Galveston Giant”. In 1901, he lost to Joe Choynski and both were arrested for illegally fighting. In their jail cell, they were allowed to spar with crowds watching. The more experienced Choynski taught Johnson his defensive style and they became friends. Johnson became known for his defense, which would wear other fighters down. He became World Colored Heavyweight Champion.
- In 1908, he defeated Tommy Burns after following him for two years, taunting him over his refusal to fight a black man. This made him the first black heavyweight champion. Enraged whites responded by demanding a “Great White Hope” be found to take the championship back from this arrogant black man.
- Pressure was put on ex-champ James Jeffries to come out of retirement to get the crown back. Jeffries eventually succumbed to the pressure and proclaimed that he was fighting “to prove a white man is better than a negro.” The “Fight of the Century” was held in 1910 before a crowd of 20,000. No guns, alcohol, or apples were allowed. Johnson easily won (Jeffries later admitted he would not have been able to beat Johnson, even in his prime). He was paid $65,000 ($2 million today). White anger resulted in race riots throughout the country with at least 20 dead.
- Johnson was the most publicized African-American in America in the early 20th Century. He lived large and flaunted his wealth and fame. He frequented and even owned night clubs, often with white women. He had endorsement deals. He wore tailored suits. He raced cars (including against famous race car driver Barney Oldfield). He once was stopped for speeding and the fine was $50. He handed the cop a $100 bill and when the cop said he could not give change, Johnson told him to keep it because he would return at the same speed.
- He lost the crown to Jess Willard in Cuba in 1915. He was knocked out in the 26th round of a 45-round fight. Although Johnson later said he took a dive, that has been not been backed by the facts.
- His first wife was black, but the rest of his life he preferred white women. His next three wives were all white. He was a tough man to be married to because of his numerous infidelities. This weakness was his Achille’s heel as whites determined that if he could not be beaten in the ring, he could be beaten in court. He was accused of violating the Mann Act, which forbid “transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes”. The offense he was accused of had occurred before the law was passed and the woman became his wife, but he was still convicted. Johnson fled justice and lived in Europe for years. He performed exhibitions and even bull-fought. In 1920, he returned to America and served almost a year in prison. When he got out, his best days were behind him, but he continued to fight into his 60’s.
- He died in 1946. He was refused service at a segregated diner in North Carolina. He sped away in anger and lost control of his sports car, hitting a telegraph pole. He was 68.
- When George W. Bush was president, the House of Representatives passed a resolution asking for a presidential pardon, but the Senate defeated it. Obama also decided against it. It was Trump in 2018 who rectified the injustice of Johnson’s conviction.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_(boxer)
https://www.essence.com/celebrity/five-things-know-about-legendary-boxer-jack-johnson/
https://athlonsports.com/life/jack-johnson-pardon-five-little-known-facts-boxing-champion
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