Talk:Jack Johnson (boxer)

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Popular Culture

I'm not usually one to edit Wiki articles, but I felt the need to jump in here. The fact that a punk band and the movie "Anchorman" appeared in the first paragraph discussing Jack Johnson's legacy seemed to me an act of "unforgivable whiteness". I moved some stuff around in a way that I think addresses the "relative importance" of various interpretations of Johnson in popular culture. Feel free to clean it up, but just be aware that anyone who comes here who knows anything about Johnson would be a little puzzled about why a punk band and Will Ferrel seem to get equal billing with Marsalis and Davis. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.244.125.201 (talk) 13:21, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Ok, so my edit was reverted, due to "unsourced" comment. I just moved some stuff around and made a statement that maybe was unsourced but was obvious to anyone who knows who Jack Johnson was. You can check this history pages. If you want this page to be a joke for those who know anything about him, or an advertisement for your punk band, then continue as is. You are not helping wikipedia build credibility though.

Riot Inaccuracy

"His victory sparked race riots among his black fans and certain states banned the filming of Johnson's victories over white fighters."

This phrase implies that African Americans started race riots after witnessing Jack Johnson's victory. According to the PBS documentary on Jack Johnson, the violence in these riots were perpetrated primarily by white street gangs. An African American man beating a white man in anything, including sports involving physical prowess, was controversial at that time in racist America. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Aalston (talk • contribs) 01:55, 11 December 2006 (UTC).

A question

As the colour of his first two wives is worthy of mention, why not that of his third? No, I'm Spartacus 14:13, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

He was a Negro, not a fictional "African American." "African American" is an imaginary descriptive. It should be BANNED from this page.HYPERDUNCE 17:13, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Perhaps you were looking for this site? – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 20:40, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

Question re reaction to the Jeffries fight

I've been racking my brain trying to recall how the outcome of the fight was disseminated so rapidly that the entire country knew about it later that day. I don't have the book and I don't recall how this was explained in the PBS docu. Considering that this was not only pre-television, but that radio was still basically in its infancy, that would seem to point to the telegraph. My guess would be that people were literally posted at telegraph stations all over the country, and relayed updates as they were received. Can anybody fill this in with definitive info? It strikes me as a crucial detail.

PS - Congratulations to the other editors for all of the good work that was put into this article. It was a pleasure to be able to build on such a solid foundation.

Cgingold 13:00, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

I seem to recall that it was radio that did it, but I can't provide a source. Thank you for your help in the article! You may want to watch it closely -- vandals frequently remove everything that could be positive about Johnson. It's amazing that after so many years, a boxer can still be seen as a threat to whites' self-image. – Quadell ^{(talk) (random)} 14:23, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, it's pathetic how much racist vandalism crops up in pretty much every article related to slavery, Africa, African Americans, etc. I've had to request semi-protection for more than a few that were especially hard hit by anon. IPs. Kofi Annan even had his picture replaced with a closeup photo of human testicles! I kid you not.

Hopefully, somebody will supply a definitive answer on my question; I'd sure love to know how it was done. I don't believe radio played a significant role in national news dissemination until after World War I, but even if that's true it doesn't rule it out. Cgingold 22:44, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

Patent?

See search result. Not to doubt the invention, only the accuracy of the citation. Too Old (talk) 19:49, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

OOPS! Searched years 1979 onward. Too Old (talk) 19:54, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Record numbers don't add up

The record numbers don't add up. Can anyone check that? Or is there an explanation for this?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.20.50.157 (talk) 13:29, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

I erased some vandalism - random letters inserted into page. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.200.216.109 (talk) 18:03, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

Incomplete section

"...and were incensed by Johnson's comments."

If this is going to be stated, maybe it would be logical to mention exactly what comments of Johnson's incensed people so?

Pardon Me I'm not a regular contributer, But a secton of efforts to pardon him would seem to fit in.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/ap_on_go_co/boxing_pardon;_ylt=AmYKJMxu3BVSOMegNE.tymIDW7oF

Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion on Dec. 26, 1908, 100 years before Obama became the first black president.

"It certainly would be a moment in history," King said, "to have the first African-American president granting a pardon to the first African-American heavyweight champion."

The resolution announced Wednesday seeks a pardon that acknowledges Johnson's career and reputation were wronged "by a racially motivated conviction prompted by his success in the boxing ring and his relationship with white women." Similar resolutions offered in 2004 and last year failed to pass both chambers of Congress.

Burns helped form the Committee to Pardon Jack Johnson, which filed a petition with the Justice Department in 2004 that was never acted on. He called Johnson "the greatest boxer of all time," and said when Johnson proved unbeatable in the ring, "the white power establishment decided to beat him in the courts."

He called a pardon for Johnson "just a question of justice, which is not only blind, but color-blind," adding, "I think it absolutely does not have anything to do with the symbolism of an African-American president pardoning an African-American unjustly accused." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.4.123.104 (talk) 04:59, 2 April 2009 (UTC)

UK Daily Mail Article on Jack Johnson

The UK Daily Mail April 08 2009, have published an article that puts to rights the myth that Johnston only visited France, Canada and Mexico during this lifetime. Here is the summarised wording in the article.

... In fact he came to England to exhibition matches in Newcastle in 1911. An army officer from Dundee was also boxing there in Oct 1911 and introduced Johnson to [Forfar and Kincardine] masonic lodge. Johnson travelled up to Forfar and Kincardine No 225 Masonic Lodge in Dundee Scotland. This caused the lodge master a 2 year suspension from the craft. Two other lodge masters had 1 year suspensions and its charter lifted for 18 months because its members refused to deny Jack johnson and bow to pressure from the American Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Scotland to send him back the 3 guineas membership fee. Past members fought tooth and nail to keep Johnson on the lodge books, as he was a very intelligent and hard working man, who not only invented an adjustable wrench but but owned a number of nightclubs.

The rest of the article describes the Forfar lodge. The article shows Forfar lodge member Gordon Webster holding the membership book with Jack Johnson's name and annotations written in it. scope_creep (talk) 17:32, 8 April 2009 (UTC)

First Texan world heavyweight champion

This claim needs a citation, but still: I think listing this in the lead gives too much prominence to what is essentially a minor achievement. Jack Johnson is rarely remembered as the first Texan champion, but rather the first black champion. This is a key aspect of his notability and fame. America weren't hot and bothered about a man from Texas – The colour of his skin was far more important. The Texas info should be cited and placed in the main body of the text. Sillyfolkboy (talk) (edits)^{WIKIPROJECT ATHLETICS NEEDS YOU!} 00:53, 9 June 2009 (UTC)

Overly focussed on race

As of 7 Aug 09, This article seems to take every opportunity to make a point about the boxer's race, and how he overcome the evil white man. Anyone else finding it a bit over the top? 82.29.231.118 (talk) 10:09, 7 August 2009 (UTC)