Rare photo of Langford at the Jeffries camp for Johnson

I left that out because it isn't relevant ,because at no stage does Butler say he attributed Langford stepping aside to Whites as being because of his happy go lucky behaviour,and you know it! He attributes his behaviour to him following the accepted norms of the day in the US, and the direct quote from Sam confirms it!
The point was Langford walked in what in the US was called "the **** walk" ,when Whites were approaching.Johnson for example never did, they had different attitudes to the racial question.
I never called Langford an Uncle Tom, I said he knew his place he never tried to,"rock the boat".
Johnson was the exact opposite he did what he wanted to do regardless of the consequences,he was always pushing the socially accepted boundaries of behaviour for Blacks I also never called Johnson," a freedom fighter," the only freedom he was interested in was his own.
Bottom line.
I proved my point,you came looking an argument ,and instead were corrected,by a direct quote from Langford himself.
There are other quotes in Pollack's books with Sam saying he wasn't comfortable in White society .but the one I posted proves I'm right.
Being happy go lucky doesn't include giving way to people on the street because of the colour of their skin .

 

Bohun Lynch for the Times quoted Jeffries saying that on the train returning home.

 

His own quote totally contradicts your impression,he expressly says he gave way to white folks.Why this is so difficult for you to admit,I have no idea?
Here is some more. Langford in London to fight Bill Lang.was invited to a press dinner party to publicise the fight the promoter H D Mcintosh gave the party.It took place at The Pillar Hall Olympia.Lang turned up, but Langford told McIntosh he would not be attending." "I know my place,I wouldn't feel good with all them white gentleman,better count me out". Langford later apologised to McIntosh for not turning up.saying simply , "I am black".
Chapter 14 Rabbit Punch ,pages 188 &189 Sam Langford ,by Clay Moyle.
Will you now concede you are wrong and I am right?

 

Yeah, I understood that Jeffries was quoted as saying that on the train returning home but I don’t know if I have ever actually seen the source article for same - not to say that such an article isn’t out there.

When did Jeffries actually set back home? - unusual for him to grant an IV so soon after the fight perhaps? - he would’ve obviously been pretty messed up after the fight.

Anyway, I still find it strange that he would express such sentiments, particularly since he understood that he was well removed from what he once was.

Here’s reference to an article (see below), allegedly being the first interview granted by Jeffries post Reno, 11 July 1910 - and it makes clear that Jeffries is still in pretty bad shape and still somewhat discombobulated: -

http://www.eugenecarsey.com/boxingnewspapers/news/jeffries_johnson1910/jeffries_johnson1910.html

 

I can't vouch for the veracity of the quote,and we know newspapers did and do still put words in peoples mouths.
A classic example of this would be the quotes attributed to Johnson usually in that "condescending ****** pidgin talk","dis am " BS When we know Johnson was quite an eloquent speaker and enjoyed showing of his command of the language often in an exaggerated English accent.

 

Exactly Mac. Great example of so called yellow journalism underscored by the racial prejudice of the day.

 

Great post Mike. Totally agree.

 

The standards Langford is being held to here are horribly unfair.

A black guy in their 20s not being comfortable in a room of aristocratic white people in 1911 is understandable. Have you ever thought he was just being honest that such a situation didn't make him comfortable. If you were Sam Langford in that place and time would you feel comfortable in that situation? Would you be comfortable in a British gala from that period if you were transported to one regardless? Have you ever met an introvert?

Langford was telling this to the promoter he was not being a kiss ass.

This was possibly the most racist time period in history. It makes sense Langford had all sorts of insecurities any prominent black person might have had about their place in the world. How is Langford not being comfortable in white society his fault. Sam Langford was an ordinary dude who happened to punch better than almost anyone else in history. This is a normal reaction to that situation not some sort of scandal.

Langford was not born in Texas and his experiences with racism and the racial dynamic he was a part of were different than Johnsons. Expecting someone from Canada who lived in New England to act like a black guy from the Jim Crow south is not fair. Its one thing to understand Johnsons behavior its another thing to subscribe it as a code of conduct for black fighters.

 

Nobody is faulting Langford for anything ,or holding him to any standard.I just posted two quotes of his which confirm he knew his place , a terrible term but one he himself used.
Nobody is saying Langford kissed ass
Nor am I subscribing, condoning or in any saying Johnson was some kind of paragon fighting for racial equality .Johnson was fighting for himself.
Please don't attempt to attribute opinions/motives to me I do not have,nor to put words in my mouth I did not speak.
I find I'm quite capable of doing that for myself.