AIR DATE:
EPISODE: Episode 3
Born John Arthur Johnson in 1878, and eventually nicknamed the Galveston Giant, Jack Johnson was one of the most influential boxers in history. He came from a large family and began boxing in 1898, quickly achieving national, and then international fame, by being the first black man to be crowned World Heavyweight Champion in 1908 – during a controversial era of US history dominated by Jim Crow laws which enabled and enforced segregation – after winning a fight in Australia against Tommy Burns, a white boxer from Canada. Burns was one of the very few white championship fighters at the time who was willing to cross the racial barrier in boxing and take on black opponents. But Johnson’s victory over him stunned the world, and especially America. In 1910, Johnson went on to fight a retired champion dubbed The Great White Hope, James Jeffries, in what was called “The Fight of The Century” – scheduled for 45 three minute rounds – and in the aftermath, which Johnson won, race riots broke out across 25 states. Johnson continued boxing, operating various businesses, dating and marrying white women and running from the law, ending up overseas, and died in a car crash on June 10, 1946, at the age of 68.
Black Boxer who Lived Without Fear – a documentary –
For more information on Jack Johnson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_(boxer)
#talkinfight #happytomeet #JackJohnson
Transcribed:
Hello there welcome to another episode of happy to meet.
This episode is brought to you by your friends at professionalelectricalservices.
ca.
My name is craig in this episode.
We are remembering jack johnson born in galveston texas, on the 31st day of march 1878 jack, the galveston giant johnson.
A nickname he earned based on a six and a half foot tall stance.
His towering advantage over many of his opponents eventually earned him the world heavyweight title which he held from 1908 to 1915.
, incidentally, john, arthur johnson or jack johnson.
As he’s better known, was the first afro-american to ever hold the world heavyweight title.
It was actually jack.
The galveston giant johnson, who broke the color barriers when it came to white caucasian boxers fighting against african-american boxers, and it was the fight of the century as it was dubbed that took place on july 14th.
Sorry july, 4th 1910, in which johnson absolutely pummeled james jeffries.
In a match that was slated to last an astonishing 45 three-minute rounds.
Well, it only took 15 rounds before johnson dropped jeffries to the ground for the second time in the fight and the fight was called at that point by jeffrey’s team see they they didn’t want to see him get knocked out.
It was that bad, the results of the fight ensued in racial riots all over the states, while the rioting, because for whites all over the us james jeffries, was supposed to be what they had dubbed as the great white hope.
The white man to finally beat jack johnson, but they were let down yet again and johnson did more to blur the lines of segregation between black and white, with his preference of white women, of which he married three over his lifetime.
This would later turn to jail time for jack johnson, as he was arrested, uh for his interracial relationships, because they were in violation of the man act that was signed into law in 1910.
Allegedly they say the main purpose of the man act.
M-A-N-N act named after uh one of the politicians that had the last name of man that helped create this act.
The main purpose of it was to address the prostitution and human trafficking, but some other nuances were poorly, if not purposely interpreted through the act, to allow authorities to actually use the man act to prosecute against pre-marital or extramarital, or get this interracial relationships.
So they had the man act to arrest johnson for an interracial relationship.
He was arrested twice in 1912 under the man act and eventually went back to jail after being on the lamb for about eight years, while continuing his boxing career in europe, south america, mexico.
A couple other places, but then in 1920 he finally went back to the us and he surrendered – and he did his time so 10 months in prison for yes being a black man in a relationship with a white woman.
Incidentally, over a hundred years after the fact, jack johnson was actually pardoned of his convictions under the man act by none other than former president donald trump johnson.
He faced a rather untimely death on june 10th, 1946 after the 68 year old was refused service at an all-white diner in a franklinton north carolina uh well in franklin to north carolina, the diner there they refused him, they kicked him out, wouldn’t feed him.
He got so angry and so upset at this.
He went tearing out of the place hopped in his car and raced down the road and smashed into a telephone pole.
Later that day, he would be pronounced dead and to think as a young kid growing up, jack johnson didn’t even experience much racism or segregation.
He hung out with a gang of white friends.
He slept over at their houses, he ate the same meals at the same tables with his white friends.
It wasn’t until later on in life that he’d really start experiencing segregation and racial discourse.
So thank you to jack johnson for starting to break down the walls of racism.
As far back as the first decade of the 1900s – and this is just a small glimpse into the life of jack johnson – make sure to check out more videos on talknfight.
com.
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I look forward to being with you again down the road on the next episode of happy to meet.
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