Jack Johnson ..... The Philosophy of not giving a F*** what People Think!

Part 1 ...... The Rise.

 
During the 20th Century there were many famous names in the American Civil Rights movement, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks to name but a few. However it is my contention that an extraordinary man by the name of Jack Johnson did as much for the rights and esteem of African Americans as all these activists , although he's rarely mentioned in the discussion ..... In a time when only white men were allowed to hold the heavyweight Boxing belt he came on the scene and changed everything! 

Born in 1878 Johnson was the son of former slaves and grew up in Galveston Texas at the height of the Jim Crow era, a time when state-sponsored racial segregation was not deemed unconstitutional . Johnson had a sense of ambition, he believed he was destined for better things and because he was a big man his path took him into the world of boxing. He made his professional debut as a boxer in 1898 aged 20 and won by knockout. 

Later after a fight with boxer Joe Choynski which Johnson lost, both men were arrested and jailed for 23 days as prizefighting was illegal in Texas at that time. Johnson later stated that he learned all his boxing skills during that jail time. This was the first time he had any real coaching. Choynski's words to Johnson rang true when he declared that “no man who moves like you should ever be getting hit clean”.The two would remain friends.

 

Johnson began to develope a unique fighting style and build a reputation for himself on the boxing circuit. After putting together some wins he began to make a good living.  The problem for Johnson was that no heavyweight champion would willingly meet a black opponent. At this time it was champion Jim Jeffries who drew the colour line in front of the world heavyweight title stating "when there are no white men left to fight, I will quit the business, this fellow Johnson is a fair fighter, but he is a black and I will never fight him" 

But white theories about black fighters meant nothing to Jack Johnson , he kept fighting and he kept winning. 

He won his first title on February 3, 1903, beating Denver Ed Martin on points in a 20-round match for the Unofficial World Heavyweight Coloured Championship. He then went on to beat the other 3 best black heavyweights of his day. 

Johnson was more than a survivor in this world. He learned to thrive. He made a name for himself in the sporting publications. He practiced his craft and improved as a fighter. He was making upto $1000 a fight. He dressed smart and became what was known back in those days as a "sport" ... a player in todays language. He bought a fine house in an all white neighbourhood and when his white manager suggested he was getting above himself he fired him. He never saw any reason to take orders from anybody. A position that put him at odds with the civil rights leaders of the day. These included Booker T Washington who argued that the best way for African Americans to better themselves economically was to except the separation of the races. That didn't sit well with Jack Johnson. 

 
"White people often point to the writings of Booker T Washington as the best example of a desirable attitude on the part of the coloured population , I have never been able to agree with the point of view of Washington because he is to my mind not been altogether frank in his statement of the problems or courageous in his solution to them. I have found no better way of avoiding race prejudice than to act with people of other races as if prejudice did not exist"    Jack Johnson 

What most bothered whites about Johnson was that he openly had affairs with white women—and even married them—at a time when miscegenation of this sort was not only illegal but was positively dangerous, there were still an average of 150 lynchings a year at this time. Johnson did not seem to care what whites thought of him, and this bothered most whites a great deal. He was not humble or diffident with whites. He gloated about his victories and often taunted his opponents in the ring. 

 

Johnson married 3 times, all of his wives were white

He did not allow himself to become dissipated, despite his surroundings. He was intelligent, he was determined, and he had considerable ring skills. And he wanted to be champion. 

Eventually after chasing Jim Jeffries around on the circuit trying to make him agree to a bout Jeffries retired and vacated the title to new champion Tommy Burns. Burns too had no appetite to fight Johnson but eventually after growing support from influential publications of the day, and Johnson destroying all other opponents it could not be avoided any longer .... Jack Johnson finally got his wish.

 
 

Johnson takes on Burns in Sydney Australia

They fought on December 26, 1908—Boxing Day—in Sydney, Australia. Johnson easily won the match in 14 rounds ..... The world had its first black heavyweight champion. More than that Johnson had become the worlds most famous African American and instilled a sense of hope and pride in a people who had known nothing but struggle and hardship. The American dream had been built on the bleeding backs of slave labor, but Johnson—The Galveston Giant—built his own American dream with his wits and with his fists. 

The heavyweight title more than any other was considered the pinnacle of manly achievement. It was absolute. The best fighter in the world. When Johnson won it there was outrage from the white public that the title could be bestowed upon someone of "inferior race". So the search was on for the Great White Hope. Anyone who could make the weight had gloves strapped on and tried their luck at restoring the honour of the white race. Most of them never made it anywhere close to a fight with Johnson, and those who did were easily handled. Eventually public pressure grew for former champion Jim Jeffries to return to the ring. With many making an argument that as he had vacated the title he was still the real champ.

 The "Fight of the Century"

The fight took place in Reno, Nevada on July 4, 1910. It was the most talked-about, most publicised sporting event in American history. It was seen by nearly the whole country as a symbolic race war. It was also richest sporting event in American history: the two fighters split unevenly—the winner getting 60 percent—a sum of $101,000, a staggering prize for the time. Johnson once again won easily in fact he destroyed Jeffries and with it destroyed the falsehoods of a supposed "inferior race". The Johnson victory lead to many race riots in New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta, St. Louis, Little Rock and Houston. In all, riots occurred in more than 25 states and 50 cities. At least twenty people were killed across the US  and hundreds more were injured.

Nevertheless this was Jacks greatest achievement ....

In a time when African Americans were no longer slaves but couldn't be considered truly free Jack Johnson insisted on being free. 

When whites ran everything, Jack Johnson took orders from no-one  

In a time when most black people struggled to survive Jack Johnson revelled in his riches and fame.

When black Americans were expected to defer to whites Jack Johnson battered them to the ground.

And in a time when mere suspicion that a black man had flirted with a white women could cost him his life , Jack Johnson slept with whomever he pleased.

"Dont let your dreams be dreams"  Jack Johnson

He did more for black Americans than he's ever given credit for, with sheer determination he let his actions do the talking. He was his own man, and he insisted the world accept him for who he was. A fighter, an individual and an inspiration to millions .... A man who led by example and seemed to fear nothing , he acted without shame and showed bigotry the disdain it deserved. A true pioneer in the ring and a true pioneer for equality.....  

But this rise to fame was short lived for Jack Johnson, the establishment wasn't finished with him yet, what they couldn't do to him in the ring they would do to him out of the ring. His spectacular rise would become a spectacular fall .....