Jack Johnson - 2001 Words

During a time when blacks were considered less than equals to whites, Jack Johnson refused to be oppressed by racist America. He was both unafraid and uncompromising. He went wherever he chose, did whatever he wanted, and controversially had sexual relations with whichever race of women he wanted. As a boxer, Johnson went from being an unknown to the first African American heavyweight champion of the world. With little regard for his safety, he destroyed white fighters when blacks were expected to submit to whites. Johnson saw himself as an equal amongst whites; therefore he paid little attention to the chaos he caused throughout his professional career. Jack Johnson was born on March 31, 1878 in Galveston, Texas. He was one of†¦show more content†¦Sports writers wrote about his lifestyle, fine tailored suits, and gold caps on his front teeth. While living as â€Å"big shot†, Johnson met a black woman named Mary Austin. She would be introduced as â€Å"Mrs. Johnson†, but they were in fact never married. Eventually, Johnson replaced Austin for a white prostitute named Clara Kerr. They moved together in an all-white neighborhood. He was arrested for not paying his bills, but it was later discovered that he was arrested because he was not wanted in an all white neighborhood. Despite several death threats and warnings concerning his relationship with Kerr, Johnson continued living as he pleased. His choices in life put him at odds with Booker T. Washington. Johnson did not agree with Washington’s philosophy of racial separation for the foreseeable future. Johnson chose to avoid racism by acting with people of other races as if racism did not exist. By the end of 1903, the newspapers were calling on Jim Jeffries to fight Johnson for the heavyweight title. Still, Jeffries refused to fight black fighters. In 1905, Jeffries retired after never having fought Jackson. The new champion would be Tommy Burns. As Johnson began chasing Burns around the country for a fight, he began dating yet another white woman named Hattie McClay. He was warned by his manager to be more tactful, but he refused. Over a ten year period, almost 850Show MoreRelatedMr Jack Johnson s Papa Jack1888 Words   |  8 Pagesfor big matches. In his novel Papa Jack, Roberts tells the story of the famous African American boxer Jack Johnson. He details the boxers rise to fame and fortune and his downward spiral that would soon follow. In Papa Jack, Roberts displays life of a professional boxer through firsthand accounts with events that happened during Johnson’s life and shows how boxing not only influenced his life but also how he influenced the African American community. Papa Jack is a great book to read for any historyRead MoreJack Johnson Essay2223 Words   |  9 PagesYour name Your Teacher Texas History October 19, 2010 Papa Jack Jack Johnson and the Era of White Hopes Born in Galveston on March 31,1878 to Henry and Tiny Johnson was the worlds first African American heavy weight champion of the world, Arthur (Jack) Johnson. His Father Henry and Mother Tiny were former slaves who when were free, made a living as a janitor and a laundress in Galveston Texas. There they started a family and had six children. Arthur was there third, and though they couldRead MoreAnalysis Of â€Å"Unforgivable Blackness† Essay870 Words   |  4 Pageslegendary boxer Jack Johnson. The documentary is about the barriers Jack Johnson had to overcome to satisfy his hunger for becoming the best and living â€Å"The American Dream.† Johnson had humble beginnings in Galveston, Texas and it was in those beginnings that glimpses of his bright future were slowly but surely beginning to show. Through out his life, he showed independence, relentlessness, ability to improvise, call attention to himself and get around rules meaning to tie him down. Jack Johnson was a selfRead MoreThe Emancipation Proclamation By President Abraham Lincoln1712 Words   |  7 Pagesmost groundbreaking change that shaped how our country opera tes today. Arthur John Johnson born to Henry and Tiny Johnson in Galveston, Texas on March 31, 1878 third of nine children; three of which died at birth. Roberts stated not much is known of Henry’s influence on Jack Johnson, but his mother, Tiny, is said to have the most influence on his early life(Roberts 4). â€Å"Tiny is credited with having taught Jack to fight back. Tiny insisted that her son was once the rankest of cowards— a boy whoRead MorePapa Jack1795 Words   |  8 PagesPapa Jack For a book that is a must read in class, Papa Jack: Jack Johnson and the Era of White Hopes is a book that really is a must read. I remember hearing the term about giving someone a Jack Johnson, but I never knew where the term came from. For example, they use this saying in Anchorman and now that I know who the saying is about, I find it to be even funnier. Anyway, if you are someone who likes sports or history of sports, then you should read Jack: Jack Johnson and the Era of White HopesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Jack Johnson Is A Dandy Essay1747 Words   |  7 Pages Jack Johnson entitled his autobiography â€Å"Jack Johnson is a Dandy†. After reading Tony Al-GIlmore’s Ba-ad Nigger!, the autobiography title is all the explanation one needs. If Al-Gilmore was trying to paint a rosy picture of an African American savior, then he did not succeed. Not that his book was a negative portrayal of Johnson. Rather, he laid out the facts and let the reader form his own opinion. Aiding this were the articles from both black and white newspapers that he used as sources forRead MoreJack Johnson Wins The Heavyweight Championship1229 Words   |  5 Pagesarticle â€Å"Jack Johnson wins the Heavyweight Championship† sheds light on the fight of Jack Johnson with Tommy Burns, he highlights the racial attitude in the twentieth century. Roberts opens his article by mentioning about the concerned whites, as the author proceeds, according to the whites it was a tragic and saddest day of their lives as the race won. While Dixie was agitated, firstly because of the Booker T. Washington dined at the White House and secondly was the victory of Jack Johnson. HoweverRead MoreJack Johnson: First African American Heavyweight Boxer1469 Words   |  6 PagesJack Johnson: First African American Heavyweight Boxer There are so many influential people that left their mark on this world. People that changed how we look at each other as individuals. These types of people changed things permanently, and gave others the confidence they needed to step out and let their light shine no matter what those around them thought. Because years ago African Americans were restricted and judged to an extreme that most were afraid to stand up for themselves. This goesRead MoreJack Johnson : The First Black Heavy Weight Champion1071 Words   |  5 Pages Cierra Moreno Hist-1302-044 Alvarez 9:00 Jack Johnson The word racism was and continues to be a common word used to distinguish the inferior from the superior, furthermore the blacks from the whites. African Americans were denied several rights including eating and sitting in the same section as a white man or women. They were murdered and tortured for naà ¯ve actions, even children were harmed during this time. In order for one to understand such undignified actions, one must also understand thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Jack Johnson s My Life And Battles 969 Words   |  4 Pagesamounts of money presented major obstacles, Jack Johnson tells the story himself in his autobiography â€Å"My Life and Battles,† finally moved up in rankings and eventually became the Colored Heavyweight champion in 1903, by defeating â€Å"Denver† Ed Martin February 3, 1903. (Jack Johnson 36-38, Roberts 28-29). Meanwhile, the heavyweight champion at this time was James Jeffries, who would continue the racist tradition of keeping the title within the White race by refusing to fight any boxer of color. (Roberts