America, not Johnson needs pardon (black boxer Jack Johnson)

Aberdeen American News ^ | January 19, 2005 | Leonard Pitts, Jr.

[EveningStar]

ping

[2banana]

You hear echoes of his story in the stories of O.J. Simpson, Terrell Owens and in a hundred stories that have nothing to do with white women and sex and everything to do with the simple freedom to be.

Yeah, blame racism 90 years ago for the slaughter of two innocents and letting the killer go free...

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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[Petronski]

What made matters worse is that Johnson was, as Burns puts it, "the original gangsta," living a bling-bling lifestyle 90 years before that term was coined.

At least one big difference with Johnson. Unlike today's gangstas, Johnson spoke in full, fluent, intelligent English.

I really enjoyed part one of this film. Another top-notch "Florentine Film."

[NRA2BFree]

Ping!

[Spok]

"angry whites rioted across the country. Eight people died"

We've come full circle-54 died in LA after the first Rodney King verdict. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[atomicpossum]

You hear echoes of his story in the stories of O.J. Simpson,

I'm going to let that one speak for itself.

[JFK_Lib]

I celebrate the story of Jack Johnson because he was living proof that America was so racist that they would never tolerate such a man.

He did all that he did and lived to enjoy it openly because we are a nation of laws, and Jack Johnson had to be entrapped by law to get him.

It is sad that he was treated this way, but like some drunk flashing money downtown, he did nothing to avoid that persecution, like an idiot.

But if we were the Naxis then that so many leftists claim we are, then how did Jack Johnson get away with his overt behavior for so long?

The neoMarxist academians would never have allowed him to do so, nor would the Nazis or the Communists.

So no matter how 'bad' one wants to paint America of the segregated era, at least there was enough freedom then for a guy like Jack Johnson to piss everybody off.

A tip of the hat to ole Jack Johnson!

[JFK_Lib]

Corection: Should have read -
I celebrate the story of Jack Johnson because he was living proof that America was NOT so racist that they would never tolerate such a man.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Excellent analysis. My compliments.

[whee0071]

An interesting piece, up until the OJ inclusion destroyed the author's credibility. Hundreds of *better* examples available.

[Mr. Mojo]

One of the top three heavyweights of all time, to be sure. Too bad Jim Jefferies chose not to fight Johnson until long after he had relinquished his title and was forced to do so (to restore "honor" to the "white race"). Ex-champ Jefferies had to lose 100 lbs for the fight, and hadn't fought in six years. ....and Johnson made him pay, bigtime. Those two fighting at their primes would've been something else. .....although considering Johnson's incredible defensive skills and considerable reach advantage the ultimate outcome probably would've been the same.

I'm not a Ken Burns fan (to put it mildly), but the photos and films he excavates are second to none.

[cyborg]

What's done is done. There are a lot of people who lived out similar circumstances and we will never hear of their stories. What are you going to do really? It's 2005 and America is a VERY different place from 1913.

[NotSoFreeStater]

Right, Ken. We're all so stupid. Only you know the truth.

[Pikamax]

"You hear echoes of his story in the stories of O.J. Simpson,"

I know he did not just put OJ in the same story as Jack Johnson. What a fool.

[cyborg]

There's no way they're the same. You're right. What an idiot! LOL

[satchmodog9]

I remember reading some blurb from a boxing writer about sending letters to congress to petition for Johnson's pardon. I sent several letters out that night. I was waiting for the press to pick the story and run with it , but no such luck. I am sure he would have got the media attention if he were some loudmouth lefty who denounced America at every turn(Harry Belafonte).

[Petronski]

Somehow I can't imagine one of today's bling-bling gangstas speaking with eloquence such as this:

"White people often point to the writings of Booker T. Washington as the best example of a desirable attitude on the part of the colored population. I have never been able to agree with the point of view of Washington, because he has to my mind not been altogether frank in the statement of the problems or courageous in his solution to them…I have found no better way of avoiding race prejudice than to act with people of other races as if prejudice did not exist."

- Jack Johnson

[USMCBOMBGUY]

I hope this does not sound racist but I think the term pardon would be appropriate. He was convicted of breaking a law. That law may have been wrong and unjust but it was a law. So pardon would be the correct term.

"You hear echoes of his story in the stories of O.J. Simpson, Terrell Owens and in a hundred stories that have nothing to do with white women and sex and everything to do with the simple freedom to be."

This is just garbage!