In this NY Times Book Review, David Margolick reviews Geoffrey C. Ward‘s new biography on Galveston’s Jack Johnson, who was the first black heavyweight champion of the world. Johnson’s story is an enthralling and important tale.
When Johnson first won the heavyweight championship at the relatively advanced age (for a boxer) of 30 in 1908, it was one of the most important dates for African-Americans between Emancipation and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. At the time, the mere idea of a black man being the heavyweight champ sent many people into a panic, including more than a few in the press corps. When retired heavyweight champ Jim Jeffries was persuaded to make an unwise comeback to take on Johnson late in 1908, Johnson’s throttling of the over-the-hill Jeffries triggered some of the nation’s worst race riots of the early 20th century.
Inasmuch as Johnson endured a substantial risk of being lynched at some of his fights, his prominence and feats staked new ground for many black Americans, who were still just a half century removed from slavery. During this week in which the modern news media has been expressing outrage at Randy Moss‘ touchdown celebration last Sunday at Green Bay, it is important to remember that such silliness likely would have prompted far worse consequences in America less than a century ago.
Stylistically, Johnson was the precursor of Muhammad Ali. He developed artful footwork and movement to avoid the bull charges of the other heavyweights of the era, which was dominated by brawlers. Although the media of the era acknowledged Johnson’s physical strength, standard racial stereotypes of those times held that black fighters lacked substance and would wilt when truly tested. The fearless and provocative Johnson took that stereotype and stood it on its head.
After he lost the title, Johnson — who died in a car crash in 1946 at the age of 68 — became a frustrated and embittered man, who in his later years even turned on the American legend, Joe Louis. As a result, Johnson alienated himself from even the generally supportive African-American community of the times, which was much more comfortable with the soothing presence of Mr. Louis. It was not until after Ali took a page from Johnson’s free-spirited ways in promoting his boxing career that historians began to reassess the meaning of Johnson’s life and societal impact. That process continues with Mr. Ward’s new book, as well as Ken Burns’ new documentary, The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson: Unforgivable Blackness, which premieres on PBS on January 17 (next Monday).
Check out this fascinating story about a remarkable Houston-area native. You will not be disappointed.