Jack Johnson: The Rebel - Page 5

This act began, as a movement to cripple prostitution, would end up as the bill that would prohibit consensual sexual conduct outside of marriage. In the early part of the century, the prohibition movement extended from a movement to ban alcoholic beverages, recreational drugs and other vices like sex. Fornication was made illegal in many states. By 1920, nearly half of the states regarded habitual consensual sex a punishable act and in many of these states, one act was enough to bring a conviction. Widespread prohibition against all aspects of sexual activity made enforcement impossible and many juries proved unwilling to convict for illegal sex acts. One boxing historian told me that the only other person ever convicted was Charlie Chaplin. Jack Johnson, when he became champion, scandalized America. According to Boxing historian Mike DeLisa, there were some within the black community that were as equally scandalized by his behavior as many whites. He openly dated white women and he even married some of them. When Johnson defeated James Jeffries in 1910, the search for the great White Hope began. While promoters conducted tournaments to find the white boxer who could challenge Johnson, others decided to use the law- the Mann Act – to cripple the Champion. For many blacks, Johnson restored pride to them. The following poem detailed the feelings that many blacks had after Johnson slaughtered Jeffries:

O my Lord
What a morning,
O my Lord,
What a feeling,
When Jack Johnson
Turned Jim Jeffries'
Snow-white face
to the ceiling.

Many whites resented Johnson for his life style and resented the positive effect that he had on blacks after the Jeffries debacle. In the eyes of many whites, Johnson was the “uppity” black that needed to put back in his place. Johnson was convicted in 1913 for “transporting a woman across state lines for immoral purpose.” The woman in question was his fiancée and soon to be his wife. The charges were trumped up and certainly the worst you could say, Johnson was found guilty of having consensual sex with a woman and then taking her across state lines, which his job demanded. Johnson appealed this decision but in the meantime, fled the country. He first went to Canada, then to Europe, Mexico and South America. He defended his title in Paris twice and finally agreed to fight Jess Willard in Havana, Cuba.

Under a scorching sun in a fight scheduled for 45 rounds, Johnson started quickly against the taller and bigger Willard. He dominated those rounds but as the rounds went by, his years of running, lack of good training and age caught up with Johnson. After the 20th round, Willard began to take command and in the 26th round, he ended Johnson’s Championship reign. But Johnson’s fight with the United States government did not end. He returned to the United States in 1920 and served eight months for violation of the Mann Act. While serving his sentence, he was appointed athletic director of the prison. He continued to fight after he was released from prison but his years as heavyweight contender were over. He finally called it quits in 1928 at the age of 50. He spent the rest of his life as a lecturer and show – business performer. Married three times to white women, he never had children.

Article Author: Tom Donelson

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