Essay on Jack Johnson.

Oh, and the man you think Johnson SHOULD have acted like, probably would have been killed

 

Johnson's legacy was one of antagonism because the majority deemed it to be that way. he was a black man that chose to act like a man. he was unprecedented in the way that he didn't acknowledge his era, and instead chose to move to his own beat. that may not be a hero in your eyes, but it sounds like you don't view him as one because of the way white america perceived him and chose to act.

i'm sure he lifted the spirits of the millions of slaves and children of slaves in an era where a person of african descent, barely a person at all, became the first to win the world's heavyweight championship, and against not just a man, but a white man, one revered all across the world and considered an icon of masculinity at the time. In that very dark era of our country's history, even if Johnson were an uncle tom, the man would have still been hated in and out.

You highlight the differences between Johnson and Louis, but they were very similar if you look at it. they both, at one time or another, debunked the idea of some form of white racial supremacy. Jack Johnson, my friend, is a hero.

 

Write in the essay, that Jack's slate regarding the trumped up charges should not be wiped from his record, so others will know what was done to the man based on nothing but the colour of his skin

 

Hi Rez. I have to disagree with you here. Much of White society was like a big angry snake when it came to Black people back then and there was nothing that brought Jack Johnson more joy than flicking at that big angry snake. I've never believed for one second that Johnson wanted to be left alone to live life as he pleased. If the big angry snake for some reason decided to ignore him I guarantee you Jack wouldn't have stood it for one second; he would have found SOME way to rile, antogonize and get that snake angry again. He wanted the attention on him at all times, good or bad. He was like Dennis Rodman in that way.

I forget which writer penned this, but it went something to the effect of "During Louis's reign Johnson never missed an opportunity to deride Joe in the press, always seeking out the media to express his views on this and that. In short, he was trying to get the attention right back where he always thought it belonged- on himself."

My belief is that if it were Joe Jeannette or Sam Langford who had won the title there would have been no race riots after matches. They didn't have the arrogant, narcissistic streak that Jack did (I have an interview with Harry Wills where he discusses this at length). I have no doubt that both men would have won over many of the people who so reviled Johnson. Again, just my opinion.

 

Because they were good n*****s, and knew their place, the c**n walk ?
Joe Jeanette married a white woman ,as did Sam McVey, Sam Langford frequented prostitutes just as much as Johnson did the difference was Jack was the CHAMP.

 

thank you


and you gotta realize, Surf-Bat, that the powers of white oppressive society had already begun to demonize Johnson way before the entire country knew what type of person he was. From the articles, to the cartoons. The hate was always there, him winning the belt was just the trigger being pulled. By the time the riots happened, the people outside the stadium havent even seen or read about the taunting Johnson did yet.

 

Are you asking me why I think there wouldn't have been the same problems if Langford and Jeannette had copped the title? While the good n****r/c**n walk statement is true to a degree, it doesn't tell the whole story. Johnson was a provocateur who loved to stir up trouble (reread my original post), enjoyed pissing people off and the attention it got him. Langford and Jeannette were not and did not. Part of that is the whole "c**n walk" thing you speak of, but from all I've read about those two it was just how they were. Harry Wills (among others) describes them both as being gentlemen, Johnson an arrogant egotist.

My original point was that it cannot be said that the SOLE reason for the Johnson hatred was race and that his personality and behavior had absolutely NOTHING to do with it. Put the title in Jeannette's or Langford's hands and you might have a champ who advances race relations(ala Joe Louis), rather than someone who sets it back(ala Jack Johnson)

 

I won't argue that, Rez. It's true. A Black man with ambition was a scary thing back then and JJ most definitely had that! I think I just had to disagree with your assertion that it was ALL race and that his personality had absolutely NOTHING to do with it. While many would no doubt continue to hate Johnson no matter what he did or didn't do due to his race, the fact remains that Johnson loved the pull the "trigger" himself on occasion(the whole "flicking at the angry snake" scenario I used earlier).

Johnson was despised for many reasons(as Harry Wills and others have pointed out). But the race factor cannot be dismissed and I'm not attempting to do so.

Cheers!:good

 

I wish I had a scanner so I could post this Harry Wills interview. It offers an interesting pov on Johnson as well as an interesting perspective on what it was like for the other Black heavyweights during his reign.

 

WRONG. The difference was Johnson beat up on women to an inch of their life, and made money on them as a pimp. Johnson also had some derogatory things to say about women of color that I'm not going to repeat here.

If Langford, Jeanette or McVey were arrested and thrown in jail as Johnson was, that is news to me.

 

Did Johnson admit to any of this?

Doe you have sources? Im curious

 

Why even go there?:-(

 

Sure. The beating Johnson gave his wife was disgusting. She was near death, and go to the hospital. This is covered in Unforgeable Blackness. Did you not see it Reznick? Johnson's Chicago night club doubled as a ***** house, and the "house " money went to Johnson. McVey does not accepts inconvenient truths about his idol, but you're different. Now you know. Johnson was in fact beat up on women, and pimped women to make money. He also said women of color were two timing whores that were only good for one thing.

 

Four **** ups ,the rabid foam is flying now.

ps If Johnson strangled his Mother, and , had sex with his dog ,would it change his ability as a boxer in any way?
Ray Robinson beat his pregnant wife up several times ,causing her to have at least two miscarriages.Should we demote his standing as possibly the greatest P4P fighter because of it?