US Tomato Can
18th November 2007, 12:44 PM
Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion, had numerous tales of his life and career published for all to see. But a new 127-page book, "My Life & Battles", offers a story shared with a French sports magazine in 1911.
Very interesting. I hadn't thought alot about Jack since the big biography documentary titled 'Guilty of Blackness'. The film was endlessly fascinating about the first black world champion in boxing and the trials he faced against obvious racism in and out of the ring. Well actually may as well label it correctly: racial oppression. The documentary was a no holds barred look at Jack's appetite for white women as well as fights and his struggle for individual freedom. Jack was far from the apologetic 'white safe' version of a black champion that was to come in the form of Joe Louis. Jack was brash, and very public about his views and lifestyle.
As some of already you know Jack fled to France to get away from discrimination and incareceration (for moving a white woman across state borders). In France Jack was welcomed with open arms and was something of a novelty personality there though he did continue to box there as well. Evbentually Jack would return to the US to serve his time in prison and fought a little more there.
Anyone heard of this book coming out or may be have seen advance reviews about it?
Very interesting. I hadn't thought alot about Jack since the big biography documentary titled 'Guilty of Blackness'. The film was endlessly fascinating about the first black world champion in boxing and the trials he faced against obvious racism in and out of the ring. Well actually may as well label it correctly: racial oppression. The documentary was a no holds barred look at Jack's appetite for white women as well as fights and his struggle for individual freedom. Jack was far from the apologetic 'white safe' version of a black champion that was to come in the form of Joe Louis. Jack was brash, and very public about his views and lifestyle.
As some of already you know Jack fled to France to get away from discrimination and incareceration (for moving a white woman across state borders). In France Jack was welcomed with open arms and was something of a novelty personality there though he did continue to box there as well. Evbentually Jack would return to the US to serve his time in prison and fought a little more there.
Anyone heard of this book coming out or may be have seen advance reviews about it?