Jack Johnson: A Heavyweight Boxer That Defied America
At age 49, retired African American prizefighter Jack Johnson reflected on his tremendous career. “My life, almost from its very start, has been filled with tragedy and romance, failures and success, poverty and wealth, misery and happiness,” he recalled. Indeed, Johnson not only challenged racial segregation within the United States, but he also lived a lifestyle that Whites deemed unsuitable for many African Americans, which included displaying his wealth and relationships with White women.
Jack Johnson sitting in the driver's seat of a convertible automobile in Chicago, Illinois, ca.1910s. He was known for displaying his wealth, which many Whites deemed as unsuitable for African Americans.
Born in Galveston, Texas in 1878 to former enslaved parents, Johnson initially worked as a dock worker during his teenage years before embarking on a new path at the age of 16. Growing up in Galveston’s racially diverse Twelfth Ward and being part of a Black and White gang shielded him from experiencing significant amounts of racism, as he later admitted.
It was in the late 1800s that a shop owner in Dallas introduced Johnson to the world of boxing, recognizing his natural physical prowess. Standing over six feet tall and weighing around 220 pounds, with exceptional reflexes akin to a cat, Johnson’s physical attributes were ideal for the sport. Starting on the local boxing scene, he eventually made his way to Chicago, where he joined forces with a local promoter. Victories and defeats marked his journey, but one loss turned out to be promising. In 1901, Johnson was back in Galveston. As Texas had banned prizefighting authorities arrested Johnson and boxer Joe Choynski. During their 23-day incarceration, Choynski taught defensive techniques to Johnson, crafting his skills that would lead him to be considered one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time.
An oil on canvas carnival banner depicting African American boxer, Jack Johnson, with the title "Boxing Booth" and signed "J. Bell" in the lower left corner. Marked below the image of Johnson in a boxer stance is the declaration: "Jack Johnson World Heavyweight Champion".
He swiftly rose to prominence in the world of boxing, capturing the World Colored Heavyweight title in 1903. However, his white opponents persistently dismissed him. Nevertheless, a significant turning point came on December 26, 1908, when Jack Johnson confronted and defeated the reigning champion, Tommy Burns, in Sydney, Australia, becoming the first Black man to hold the Heavyweight Championship of the world.
In response to public pressure, retired boxer Jim Jeffries accepted the challenge to fight Johnson, resulting in the highly anticipated “Fight of the Century” in 1910, a match imbued with racial tensions. Boxing fans viewed the sport through the lens of nationality and race. A White boxer defeating a Black opponent reinforced ideas about white supremacy. But if the Black man won, it would contradict ideas about white superiority. For Johnson to have the championship crown amidst imperialism, Jim Crow, and global white supremacy, boxing fans deemed it unacceptable.
A black-and-white photographic postcard commemorating the "Fight of the Century" between Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries. The boxers are pictured separately but facing each other. Each man's name is written below his feet.
Novelist Jack London, finding it inconceivable that Johnson could hold the title, dubbed boxer Jeffries as the “Great White Hope.” Before Johnson’s duel with Jeffries, reports surfaced suggesting that armed individuals in the crowd were prepared to take out Johnson should he emerge victorious. In the 15th round, cinematographers captured the most intense moment of the match. Johnson pummeled Jefferies to the ground several times. One of Johnson’s left hooks left Jeffries slumped across the bottom rope. In the end, Jeffries’ group jumped into the ring and ended the match. Although the cameras filmed the fight from a distance, the color differences between the two boxers were apparent and it displayed Black male dominance over white defeat.
Jack Johnson (R) knocks out Jim Jeffries, who had come out of retirement. The battle, lasting 15 rounds, was staged on July 4, 1910 in Reno, Nevada.
Amidst Johnson’s remarkable ascent to the throne of heavyweight boxing, he triggered substantial controversy. His romantic involvements with white women, his defiance of societal norms, and his unapologetic demeanor all challenged deeply rooted racial prejudices and ignited intense racial animosity. Johnson’s relationships with white women, including one with Belle Schreiber, a known prostitute who had accompanied him on a journey from Pittsburgh to Chicago, sparked considerable controversy.
Burgundy leather left handed boxing glove with tan cotton tie. A white tag on top of the wrist reads “Ken-Wel / BRAND” in blue text. The bottom of the glove has lacing with white cloth ties. The top of the glove is padded. Inner lining of glove is red and white. The glove is inscribed on top in black ink. The inscription reads “Jack Johnson / Former Heavyweight / Champion / of the world / U.S.A.”
In 1912, he faced arrest for violating the Mann Act, a law aimed at combating sex trafficking. The charge was dubious. Authorities disapproved of an African American man holding the heavyweight title, a symbol that represented masculinity at the time. Furthermore, his athletic prowess, dominance over white fights, refusal to abide by Jim Crow etiquette, and relationships with White women all caught up with him. Nevertheless, Johnson stood before an all-white jury who found him guilty and sentenced him to one year and one day in prison. However, rather than accepting his conviction, Johnson fled the country and sought refuge in Europe, South America and Mexico. Ultimately, in 1920, he voluntarily surrendered to U.S. officials and was incarcerated in Leavenworth Federal Prison. Sadly, Johnson’s life came to a tragic end in 1946 when he died in a car accident caused by reckless driving.
Johnson’s legacy extends far beyond his achievements in the boxing ring. He boldly challenged the prevailing notions of white supremacy through his exceptional boxing skills and unconventional lifestyle. By defying federal law and fleeing the country, he demonstrated his unwillingness to submit to unjust treatment. In 2018, President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned Johnson, acknowledging the erroneous prosecution he received under the Mann Act.
Runstedtler, Theresa. Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2012.
Mannix, Chris. “Remembering Jack Johnson, the First Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion.” Sports Illustrated, February 15, 2023.