Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004) - full transcript

[BANJO PLAYING]

[MAN VOCALIZING]

Man: "I USED TO CALL MYSELF
JACK THE NIMBLE

"AND JACK THE QUICK
AFTER JACK JOHNSON,

"WHO WAS, BY ALL ACCOUNTS
AND ALL ODDS,

"THE NIMBLEST-FOOTED,
QUICKEST-WITTED JACK
OF THEM ALL...

"WHO COULD SPRING
6 FEET BACKWARDS

"AND OUT OF PUNCHING RANGE
FROM A STANDSTILL,

"WHOSE EYES AND HANDS WERE
SO SHARP THAT HE COULD REACH OUT

AND SNATCH FLIES FROM MID-AIR
WITHOUT CRUSHING THEM..."

"WHICH IS WHY THERE WAS
A CEMENT-SACK PUNCHING BAG



"HANGING HEAVYWEIGHT-HIGH
FROM THE LOWEST BRANCH
OF THE CHINABERRY TREE,

"PLUS ALSO A NARROW CIRCLE
THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO
STAND UP AND STEP INTO

"WHEN LITTLE BUDDY SAID DING,
AND STAY THERE FEINTING

"AND JABBING AND BOBBING
AND WEAVING AND HOOKING

AND CROSSING AND SNEAKING
COMBINATIONS UNTIL
HE SAID DONG..."

"BECAUSE WHEN
THE KU KLUX KLAN GOT MAD

"AND PUT ON ITS WHITE ROBES
AND STARTED BURNG CROSSES

"JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAID
BRING ME MY COFFEE AS BLACK
AND STRONG AS JACK JOHNSON

"AND MY SCRAMBLED EGGS
ALL BEAT UP LIKE POOR OLD
JIM JEFFRIES,

"I WAS THE ONE THEY WANTED
TO COME AND LYNCH.

"AS SOON AS I STEPPED
INTO THE PRIZE RING,

"I WAS THE ONE WHO HAD SET OUT
FROM GALVESTON, TEXAS,

"NOT ONLY TO SEE
THE SIGHTS OF THE NATION

"AND TO SEEK MY FORTUNE
WHEREVER THE CHANCES WERE,



BUT ALSO TO BECOME
THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION
OF THE WORLD."

"I WAS THE ONE WHO HAD HAD
TO FOLLOW TOMMY BURNS

"ALL THE WAY TO SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA, TO KNOCK HIM OUT

"AND BRING BACK THE GOLDEN BELT.

"I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS
THE SCANDAL OF SAN FRANCISCO

"AND CHICAGO AND NEW YORK CITY,

"AS FAMOUS FOR
MY CUSTOM-BUILT SPORTS CARS

AS FOR MY TAILOR-MADE SUITS."

"I HAD COME UP
FROM THE KNOCKDOWN

"AND BROKEN OFF
STANLEY KETCHEL'S
FRONT TEETH AT THE GUM

"WITH ONE JAM PULLED RIGHT
THAT TIME I HAD AGREED

"TO TAKE IT EASY
FOR A 20-ROUND EXHIBITION,

"BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS MY WAY
OF SHOWING HIM THAT I KNEW

"THAT THE PAPERS WERE
ALL SET TO DECLARE HIM
THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION

IF HE WOULD BRING BACK
OLD JOHN L. SULLIVAN'S
COLOR LINE..."

"WHICH I CROSSED

"EVERY TIME I STEPPED
INTO THE WORKOUT CIRCLE

AROUND THE PUNCHING BAG."

ALBERT MURRAY.

[RINGSIDE BELL RINGS]

[CROWD CHEERING]

Narrator: BY 1910,

JACK JOHNSON, THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPION OF THE WORLD,

HAD SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED
HIS TITLE AGAINST EVERY
WHITE CHALLENGER,

EVERY WHITE HOPE,
THAT CAME AT HIM,

INCLUDING THE FORMER CHAMPION
JIM JEFFRIES,

WHOM HE DEMOLISHED AT RENO
IN THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY.

HIS VICTORY HAD PROVOKED
RACE RIOTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

JACK JOHNSON'S AMBITION
AND TALENT AND QUICK WITS,

HIS EXTRAORDINARY
FINANCIAL SUCCESS,

FONDNESS FOR FAST LIVING,
AND REFUSAL TO FOLLOW RULES
SET BY OTHERS

HAD ALL HELPED MAKE HIM A HERO
AMONG MANY BLACK AMERICANS.

BUT MOST WHITES, WHO STILL SAW
THE COUNTRY AS THEIRS TO RUN,

FOUND THOSE SAME QUALITIES,
WHEN EMBODIED IN A BLACK MAN,

A DANGEROUS THREAT.

STILL WORSE, FROM
THEIR POINT OF VIEW,

JACK JOHNSON DIDN'T SEEM
TO CARE WHAT THEY THOUGHT.

FOR THAT,
HE WOULD BE MADE TO PAY.

Man as Johnson:
"NEVER IN THE WILDEST MOMENTS
OF MY BOYHOOD IMAGINATION,

"DID I VISION MYSELF
THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
OF THE WORLD

"AND THE FIRST MAN OF MY RACE
EVER TO ATTAIN THAT DISTINCTION.

"HOW UTTERLY FANTASTIC
WHEN I WAS A BOY WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE THOUGHT

"THAT I SHOULD SOMEDAY
BE PLUNGED INTO ROMANCES
AND LOVE WITH WHITE WOMEN

"IN DEFIANCE OF A TREASURED
AND GUARDED CUSTOM.

"HOW FAR REMOVED FROM MY THOUGHT
THEN WAS THE POSSIBILITY

"THAT TRAGEDY WOULD CREEP
INTO MY LIFE.

"I DO NOT RECALL THESE THINGS
IN A BOASTFUL SPIRIT

"BECAUSE SOME OF THEM BRING
SAD MEMORIES

"THAT AROUSE REGRETS.

BUT THEY HAVE HAPPENED,
AND THEY MUST BE TOLD."

JACK JOHNSON.

[RINGSIDE BELL RINGS,
CROWD CHEERING]

[PUNCHES LANDING,
MEN GRUNTING]

Man: HE WOULDN'T LET
ANYBODY DEFINE HIM.

HE WAS A SELF-DEFINED MAN,

AND THE ISSUE
OF HIS BEING BLACK WAS
NOT THAT RELEVANT TO HIM,

BUT THE ISSUE OF HIS BEING FREE
AND A TOTAL PERSON WAS
VERY RELEVANT.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM,
HE WALKED OUT INTO A WORLD

THAT WAS NOT READY TO RECEIVE
A BLACK MAN AS A TOTAL PERSON.

AND HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW
TO FUNCTION OTHERWISE.

YOU GOT TO HAVE YOUR BALLS
AND HEAD AND MIND AND HEART,
EVERYTHING.

YOU HAD TO WALK OUT
AS THE SAME PERSON.

AND THEY JUST WANTED HIS FISTS

AND HIS OBEDIENCE
TO THE SOCIAL MORES AND SO ON.

HE COULDN'T DO THAT.

JACK JOHNSON WAS ON THE TOP
OF THE WORLD ATHLETICALLY

AFTER HE BEAT JIM JEFFRIES.

THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE HORIZON,

SO JOHNSON HAD THE WORLD
ALL TO HIMSELF.

WHERE HE WAS VULNERABLE--

BECAUSE THE SOCIETY
HE WAS LIVING IN NOW
WAS REALLY OUT TO GET HIM,

WHERE HE WAS VULNERABLE
WAS HIS SEX LIFE,

AND THIS IS WHERE SOCIETY
DECIDED TO ATTACK HIM.

THERE WERE BILLS IN CONGRESS
INTRODUCED TO BAN FIGHT FILMS--

PARTICULARLY THIS ONE,
BUT REALLY ALL OF THEM--

BECAUSE SHOWING IT WOULD
ONCE AGAIN INITIATE RIOTS.

THERE WERE ALL MANNER
OF OUTPOURINGS

OF DISGUST, DISTASTE,

AND ANGER BY
THE WHITE COMMUNITY

BECAUSE THEIR CHAMPION--

"IT'S UP TO YOU, JEFF"--

JEFF WASN'T UP TO IT.

AND NOW, IF THEY COULDN'T BEAT
JOHNSON IN THE RING,

THEY WERE GOING
TO BEAT HIM SOMEHOW.

THEY WERE GOING TO EXACT
THEIR POUND OF FLESH.

Man: THE ADVANTAGE THAT
LIGHT-SKINNED PEOPLE HAD
WITH WHITE PEOPLE WAS THAT,

IF WHITE PEOPLE WOULD
ACTUALLY LOOK AT THEM,
THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES.

BUT JACK JOHNSON WAS A BIG,
BLACK, DARK-SKINNED MAN.

SEE, EXTREMELY DARK SKIN,
BLACK GUYS IN PARTICULAR,

EVERYBODY IS PUT OUT BY THEM,
BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME
ON THE SCENE,

EVERYBODY TENDS TO FEEL
THEY'RE IN THE PRESENCE
OF SOMETHING ABORIGINAL.

WITH SOMEBODY LIKE JACK JOHNSON,
EVERYBODY WAS LIKE,

"OH, NOW WE'RE BACK
AT THE BEGINNING,"

AND SO I THINK THAT JOHNSON HAD
THAT KIND OF POWER, TOO.

Jones: THEY MUST HAVE
ENJOYED IT.

THEY MUST HAVE ENJOYED
BEING SCARED.

WE ALL GO TO SEE A HORROR MOVIE
BECAUSE WE LIKE BEING SCARED.

IT'S PART OF HUMAN NATURE,
YOU KNOW:

"GIVE ME A SCARY
BOOGA BOOGA BEAR
AND I'M GOING TO BE HAPPY."

AND IT WASN'T JUST WHITE PEOPLE.

THE DECENT BLACK FOLK
DIDN'T WANT THEIR DAUGHTERS
ASSOCIATING WITH HIM,

SO HE COULDN'T HAVE A DATE WITH
A SO-CALLED DECENT BLACK GIRL,

WHATEVER THAT MEANT.

BUT THE BLACK PEOPLE WERE--

THE SO-CALLED MIDDLE-CLASS BLACK
PEOPLE--WERE SCARED OF HIM,

TERRIFIED OF HIM, AS MUCH
AS WHITE PEOPLE WERE.

Man: "ADVICE TO JACK JOHNSON.

"MR. JACK JOHNSON
MUST CONDUCT HIMSELF
IN A MODEST MANNER.

"HE CAN HURT THE RACE
IMMEASURABLY JUST NOW

"IF HE GOES SPLURGING
AND MAKING A USELESS,
NOISY EXHIBITION OF HIMSELF.

"WE HOPE THAT HE WILL NOT
BE ARRESTED ON ANY CHARGE.

"ANY UNDUE EXHIBITION
ON THE PART OF MR. JOHNSON

"WILL HURT EVERY MEMBER
OF THE RACE.

"ON THE OTHER HAND,

"BECOMING MODESTY
AND SELF-CONTROL

WILL WIN HIM MANY FRIENDS."

THE "NEW YORK AGE."

Narrator: MODESTY WAS NEVER PART
OF JACK JOHNSON'S MAKEUP.

NEITHER WAS SELF-CONTROL.

EVERYWHERE THE CHAMPION WENT,

TROUBLE NOW SEEMED TO FOLLOW;

SOME OF IT STIRRED UP
BY HIS ENEMIES,

SOME OF HIS OWN MAKING.

TWO EX-MANAGERS WERE
SUING HIM FOR BACK PAY,

AND ONE WAS CHARGING THAT
HIS FIGHTS WITH STANLEY KETCHEL
AND JIM JEFFRIES

HAD BOTH BEEN FIXED.

IN AUGUST 1910, HE TOOK
HIS MOST FREQUENT COMPANION,

THE ELEGANT BUT TROUBLED
ETTA DURYEA, TO ATLANTIC CITY.

BELLE SCHREIBER, AND
SEVERAL OTHER PROSTITUTES
AND SPORTING WOMEN,

CAME ALONG, TOO, FOR A WEEK
OF ALL-NIGHT PARTIES.

THEN HE RETURNED TO VAUDEVILLE
TO HELP PAY FOR IT ALL.

THE SHOWS HE APPEARED IN
WERE AS FORGETTABLE
AS HIS PERFORMANCES,

BUT NOW,
THERE WERE OFTEN BOOS

AND RACIAL EPITHETS
FROM THE AUDIENCE.

WHEN HE STEPPED ON
THE GAS LEAVING THE THEATER

AFTER A MANHATTAN APPEARANCE
TO AVOID STONES

AND SHOUTS OF "COON"
AND "NIGGER" HURLED
AT HIM FROM THE SIDEWALK,

THE POLICE ARRESTED HIM
FOR SPEEDING.

Man: "JOHNSON,
WITH HIS EASYGOING WAYS

"LOVE OF ADULATION,
AND HANKERING FOR WHITE TRASH,

"HAS BEEN LIVING IT UP
ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY SINCE
HIS RENO VICTORY.

"BLACK FIGHTERS, ESPECIALLY,
ARE PRONE TO FALL FOR
THE SERVILE FLATTERY

"OF THAT CLASS WHICH DELIGHTS

TO FAWN UPON
SUCCESSFUL GLADIATORS."

"MILWAUKEE PRESS."

Narrator: JOHNSON WAS
DRINKING HEAVILY NOW.

IN BOSTON, HE QUARRELS
WITH BELLE SCHREIBER,

TORE OFF HER CLOTHES,
SLAPPED HER,

AND THEY AGREED TO PART.

A FEW WEEKS LATER,
HE GOT A TELEGRAM FROM HER.

SHE NEEDED HELP.

SHE SAID SHE HAD LOST HER JOB
IN A PITTSBURGH WHOREHOUSE,

WHEN THE MADAM DISCOVERED
SHE HAD BEEN JOHNSON'S LOVER.

JOHNSON SENT HER MONEY
FOR A TRAIN TICKET TO CHICAGO,

THEN TRAVELED THERE BETWEEN
VAUDEVILLE ENGAGEMENTS

AND HELPED HER SET UP
HER OWN PLACE OF BUSINESS,

PAYING THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT

AND BUYING ALL THE BEDS
AND MATTRESSES.

JOHNSON'S TOUR CONTINUED:

ALBANY, RUTLAND, BINGHAMTON,

WILKES-BARRE, SCRANTON.

HIS LIFE WAS MOVING
EVEN FASTER NOW,

AND IT WAS TAKING ITS TOLL.

WHEN HE REACHED
PORTLAND, MAINE,
IN NOVEMBER,

HE WAS TOO DRUNK,
TOO DESPONDENT,
TO GO ONSTAGE.

HE THREATENED TO JUMP OUT
OF HIS HOTEL ROOM WINDOW.

A DOCTOR WAS CALLED,

DIAGNOSED HIM AS SUFFERING
FROM AGGRAVATED NERVOUS
EXHAUSTION,

AND URGED HIM
TO TAKE A LONG REST.

HE HIRED A PRIVATE
RAILROAD CAR INSTEAD,

RETURNED TO THE ROAD,

AND WAS ARRESTED AGAIN
A FEW DAYS LATER,

THIS TIME FOR HAVING MADE
ADVANCES TO A CHORUS GIRL.

HE PAID HIS BAIL WITH
A THOUSAND-DOLLAR BILL.

DEATH THREATS CAME
REGULARLY IN THE MAIL.

WHEN JOHNSON PLAYED PITTSBURGH,

A WHITE SOUTHERNER NAMED
BROOKS BUFFINGTON TURNED UP
IN TOWN,

INTENDING TO SHOOT HIM.

WHEN HE COULDN'T GET
TO THE CHAMPION,

HE MURDERED ANOTHER
BLACK MAN INSTEAD.

IN CHICAGO, ON CHRISTMAS DAY,
JOHNSON EXPLODED.

HE BEAT ETTA DURYEA--

BEAT HER SO BADLY,
SHE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

HE TOLD THE DOCTOR SHE HAD
FALLEN FROM A STREETCAR.

SHE WENT ALONG WITH THE STORY,

LEFT THE HOSPITAL
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY,

AND LATER RECONCILED
WITH HER LOVER.

Man: THERE WAS ABUSE.

CERTAINLY, THERE WAS ABUSE.

AND I THINK
HE INTERNALIZED PRESSURE.

HE DIDN'T SHOW IT.

HE DIDN'T SHOW IT PUBLICLY.

I THINK HE SHOWED IT
WITH ETTA, THOUGH,
AND SO ETTA'S LIFE,

I THINK, WAS PRETTY MISERABLE.

AND SO, IF SHE THOUGHT
IT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPY,

SHE'S WRONG.

Narrator:
ON JANUARY 18, 1911,

JACK JOHNSON AND ETTA DURYEA
WERE QUIETLY MARRIED
IN PITTSBURGH.

[JAZZ TRUMPET PLAYING]

Man: "WHERE NOW
IS THE CHAMPION

"WHO WILL MAKE JOHNSON
EXTEND HIMSELF,

"WHO WILL GLAZE
THOSE BRIGHT EYES,

"REMOVE THAT SMILE,

AND SILENCE
THAT GOLDEN REPARTEE?"

JACK LONDON.

Narrator: THE SEARCH FOR
A NEW WHITE HOPE CONTINUED.

ONE NEW YORK PROMOTER ORGANIZED
A ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT

TO NAME A WORLD'S
WHITE CHAMPION.

JOHNSON SAT AT RINGSIDE,
TRYING TO KEEP FROM LAUGHING,

AS A SERIES OF BIG, POORLY
TRAINED WHITE CHALLENGERS
POUNDED AWAY AT ONE ANOTHER.

WAS HE LEARNING ANYTHING?
A REPORTER ASKED HIM.

"LEARNING PLENTY," HE ANSWERED.

"NONE OF THEM WAS
WORTH FIGHTING."

HE SAW NO REASON
TO ACCEPT CHALLENGES
FROM BLACK BOXERS, EITHER.

THERE WAS NO MONEY IN IT.

"I'M GOING TO DRAW
THE COLOR LINE, LIKE
SOME OTHERS," HE SAID.

Sugar:
AND PART OF THE REASON

THAT JOHNSON PULLED
HIS OWN COLOR LINE AS CHAMPION

WAS THE WHITES WERE
SO EASY TO FIGHT.

THE BLACKS WERE THE TOUGH ONES.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO FIGHT
A JOE JEANNETTE,

A SAM LANGFORD, AGAIN,

A SAM McVEY AGAIN.

IN FACT, WHEN
SAM LANGFORD CAME TO HIM,

WHO CHASED HIM TO ENGLAND

FOR A SHOT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP,

HE SAID, "SAM, THE WORLD DOESN'T
WANT TO SEE TWO BLACK MEN FIGHT

FOR THE HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP."

WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS
THERE ARE EASIER PICKINGS
OUT THERE.

Narrator: IN JULY OF 1912,

JOHNSON TOOK ON
FIREMAN JIM FLYNN,

WHOM HE HAD ALREADY
KNOCKED OUT ONCE.

FLYNN VOWED TO BRING THE TITLE
BACK TO THE WHITE RACE.

"IF I LOSE TO THIS NIGGER,"
HE TOLD HIS MANAGER, "SHOOT ME."

JOHNSON BARELY BOTHERED
TO TRAIN.

[RINGSIDE BELL RINGS]

IT DIDN'T MATTER.

THIS TIME, FLYNN,

FRUSTRATED BY JOHNSON'S
ABILITY TO SMOTHER HIM,

USED HIS SKULL AS A WEAPON.

Man: "FLYNN'S FEET WERE BOTH
OFF THE FLOOR TIME AND AGAIN

"WITH THE ENERGY
HE PUT INTO HIS BOUNCES.

"SOMETIMES HE SEEMED
TO LEAP TWO FEET INTO THE AIR,

IN FRANTIC PLUNGES
AT THE ELUSIVE JAW ABOVE HIM."

Narrator: JOHNSON CONTINUED
TO TOY WITH FLYNN,

UNTIL AN OFFICIAL WITH
A REVOLVER STEPPED IN
TO STOP IT

IN THE NINTH ROUND.

JOHNSON WAS DECLARED THE WINNER.

NO ONE SHOT FLYNN.

THE IDEA THAT FILMS
OF A JOHNSON VICTORY

OVER STILL ANOTHER
WHITE OPPONENT

WERE ABOUT TO BE SEEN
BY MOVIEGOERS ALL OVER AMERICA

WAS TOO MUCH
FOR MOST CONGRESSMEN.

ON JULY 31, 1912,

CONGRESS ENACTED A LAW

THAT BARRED
THE INTERSTATE SHIPMENT
OF ALL FIGHT FILMS

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

BY THEN,

THE REAL TARGET OF THE BILL
WAS BACK IN CHICAGO,

WHERE HE HAD OPENED
HIS OWN NIGHTCLUB,
THE CAFE DE CHAMPION,

JUST SOUTH OF THE LEVEE
VICE DISTRICT.

IT WAS A BLACK AND TAN CLUB,

ONE OF THE FEW PLACES
IN THE CITY

WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS
COULD GET TOGETHER AFTER DARK.

Man: "THE CAFE DE CHAMPION,
BOTH ON THE MAIN
AND SECOND FLOORS,

"WAS CROWDED TO ITS
FULLEST CAPACITY

WITH MEN AND WOMEN
OF BOTH RACES,
MIXED IN TOGETHER."

"JACK JOHNSON,
WITHOUT ANY QUESTION ABOUT IT,

"IS SMOOTH GOODS,

"AND HE IS DOING HIS PART
IN HIS OWN WAY

"IN HELPING TO SOLVE
THE RACE PROBLEM.

"MANY VERY BEAUTIFUL PICTURES
HANG ON THE WALLS,

"INCLUDING THE LIFE-SIZE PICTURE
OF MR. AND MRS. JOHNSON,

WHICH IS ENCASED IN A FINE
AND VERY HEAVY GOLD FRAME."

THE "CHICAGO BROAD AX."

Narrator: ETTA JOHNSON'S
PORTRAIT WAS AN IMPORTANT
PART OF THE CLUB'S DECOR.

BUT SHE HERSELF REMAINED
A SORT OF PRISONER,

CONFINED TO AN APARTMENT
UPSTAIRS.

Roberts: I THINK SHE WAS
A VERY LONELY PERSON.

CERTAINLY, SHE WAS OSTRACIZED
BY WHITE AMERICA.

BLACK AMERICA DIDN'T
LIKE HER ANY MORE.

THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE,
MANY BLACK AMERICANS,

WHO WERE ALSO VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
WITH JACK JOHNSON ONLY GOING OUT
WITH WHITE WOMEN.

SO ETTA WAS LONELY,

JACK JOHNSON WAS
HEROICALLY UNFAITHFUL.

IT'S NOT A VERY ATTRACTIVE LIFE.

AND IN THE END,

SHE COULDN'T TAKE IT.

Narrator:
ETTA'S DEPRESSION DEEPENED.

"I AM A WHITE WOMAN,
AND TIRED OF BEING AN OUTCAST,"

SHE TOLD ONE OF HER MAIDS
THAT SUMMER.

"EVEN THE NEGROES
DON'T RESPECT ME.

THEY HATE ME."

THEN, HER FATHER DIED.

SHE FELT MORE ISOLATED
THAN EVER.

Woman: "CHICAGO,
AUGUST 12, 1912.

"MY DEAR MOTHER,

"I AM WRITING THIS,

"AND I'M GOING TO HAVE JACK
PUT IT IN HIS SAFE,

"SO IF ANYTHING SHOULD
HAPPEN TO ME,

THERE WILL BE NO HARD FEELINGS
LEFT BEHIND ME."

"I WOULD SEND
THIS LETTER TO YOU,

"ONLY I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WORRY,

"AND I DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW
HOW SICK I REALLY AM.

"JACK HAS DONE ALL
IN HIS POWER TO CURE ME,

"BUT IT IS NO USE.

"SINCE PAPA'S DEATH,

"I WORRIED MYSELF INTO MY GRAVE.

"I HAVEN'T BEEN WORRYING
ABOUT PAPA'S LOSS;

ONLY OVER SOME HORRIBLE DREAD,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT."

"I WANT TO BE BURIED HERE
IN CHICAGO.

LET ME REST FOR ONCE."

"WITH LOVE AND ALWAYS
THE SWEETEST TO YOU,

I AM YOUR LOVING DAUGHTER,
ETTA."

Narrator: JOHNSON HOPED
TO LIFT HIS WIFE'S SPIRITS

BY SENDING HER AND A FRIEND
ON A VACATION

ON THE EVENING
OF SEPTEMBER 11.

AT THE LAST MOMENT,

SHE TOLD HIM SHE DIDN'T FEEL
WELL ENOUGH TO GO.

JOHNSON HURRIED
TO THE RAILROAD STATION
TO CHANGE THE TICKETS.

WHEN HE GOT BACK, ABOUT 10:30,

A LARGE CROWD HAD GATHERED
OUTSIDE THE CAFE.

HE PUSHED HIS WAY THROUGH
AND RAN UP THE STAIRS.

ETTA'S HORRIBLE DREAD HAD
FINALLY OVERWHELMED HER.

ALONE IN THE APARTMENT,
SHE HAD DRESSED FOR BED,

ASKED HER MAIDS TO PRAY FOR HER,

THEN CLOSED AND LOCKED THE DOOR.

MOMENTS LATER,

ONE OF THE MAIDS HEARD A SHOT.

THE CAFE BARTENDER
BROKE DOWN THE DOOR

AND FOUND HER DYING
ON THE FLOOR.

JOHNSON COLLAPSED WITH GRIEF.

HE TOLD A CORONER'S INQUEST

THAT HE HAD HIMSELF
SOMETIMES FELT SUICIDAL

SINCE WINNING THE TITLE,

THAT ETTA HAD WORN HERSELF DOWN
SEEKING TO CONSOLE HIM,

THAT SHE AND HE HAD GENUINELY
LOVED ONE ANOTHER.

Man: "WHILE IT CANNOT BE SAID

"THAT JOHNSON WILL HAVE ANYTHING
LIKE GENERAL PUBLIC SYMPATHY

"BECAUSE HIS VENTURE
IN MISCEGENATION
HAS COME TO AN END,

"STILL, HIS APPARENTLY
SINCERE GRIEF

"OVER THE SUICIDE OF
THE WHITE WOMAN WHO MARRIED HIM

WILL HAVE ITS EFFECT
IN MITIGATING JUDGMENT OF HIM."

"IT AT LEAST SHOWS THAT HE IS
NOT THE ENTIRELY CALLOUS ANIMAL

"THAT A NEGRO PRIZE FIGHTER
IS SUPPOSED BY MOST TO BE.

"HIS DISPLAY OF EMOTION MAY
BE RACIAL RATHER THAN PERSONAL,

"BUT, ANIMAL OR NOT,

HE IS NOT CALLOUS."

THE "NEW YORK TIMES."

Crouch: WELL, SEE, I THINK
JACK JOHNSON EMBODIED
THE AMERICAN IDEA

OF BEING ABLE TO GO
WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

ON THE BASIS OF YOUR ABILITY.

NO ONE WOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT JACK JOHNSON

IF HE COULDN'T FIGHT.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

[MEN GRUNTING,
CROWD CHEERING]

NUMBER TWO...

[RINGSIDE BELL RINGS]

NO ONE WOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT JACK JOHNSON IF,

BESIDES BEING ABLE TO FIGHT,

HE HAD DECIDED
TO LIVE A LIFE

SHORT OF THE LIFE
OF A FREE MAN,

WHICH MEANT
THAT HE MADE PEOPLE UPSET

BECAUSE THEY HAD
A MORE CIRCUMSCRIBED IDEA

ABOUT WHAT INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS
SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR HIM.

Man: "TO THE U.S.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY,

"CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

"HAVING FOLLOWED WITH
KEEN INTEREST THE EFFORT
OF THE GOVERNMENT STAFF

"TO GATHER SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
AGAINST JACK JOHNSON,
NEGRO PRIZE FIGHTER,

"AND APPRECIATIVE
OF THE FACT THAT THE SOONER
THE COUNTRY IS RID OF HIM,

"THE BETTER PROTECTED
OUR WOMEN SHALL BE,

"I AM PROMPTED HEREWITH
TO GIVE YOU CERTAIN FACTS

WHICH I TRUST SHALL AID YOU
IN YOUR INVESTIGATION."

Man as Johnson: "THE SEARCH
FOR THE WHITE HOPE NOT HAVING
BEEN SUCCESSFUL,

"PREJUDICES WERE BEING
PILED UP AGAINST ME.

"AND CERTAIN UNFAIR PERSONS,
PIQUED BECAUSE I WAS CHAMPION,

"DECIDED IF THEY COULD
NOT GET ME ONE WAY,

THEY WOULD ANOTHER."

Narrator:
TWO YEARS EARLIER,

A NEW FEDERAL LAW
HAD GONE INTO EFFECT.

THE MANN ACT WAS NAMED
FOR ITS SPONSOR,

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN
JAMES ROBERT MANN.

IT BARRED THE TRANSPORTATION
OF WOMEN IN INTERSTATE
OR FOREIGN COMMERCE

FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION
OR DEBAUCHERY,

OR FOR ANY OTHER
IMMORAL PURPOSE.

A LANDMARK OF PROGRESSIVE-ERA
LEGISLATION,

THE MANN ACT WAS INTENDED
TO STOP THE LURING

OF YOUNG WOMEN
INTO PROSTITUTION--

WHAT WAS CALLED
"THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC,"

NOT PRIVATE RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS.

BUT OFFICIALS OF THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT SAW IN IT

THEIR CHANCE TO DESTROY
JACK JOHNSON.

BY OCTOBER OF 1912,
JOHNSON HAD A NEW COMPANION--

A 19-YEAR-OLD PROSTITUTE
FROM MILWAUKEE NAMED
LUCILE CAMERON.

WHEN HER MOTHER,
MRS. F. CAMERON-FALCONET,

CAME TO CHICAGO
AND WENT TO THE POLICE,

CHARGING JOHNSON
WITH ABDUCTING HER DAUGHTER,

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
AGREED TO TAKE THE CASE.

"JACK JOHNSON HAS
HYPNOTIC POWERS,"

MRS. CAMERON-FALCONET
ASSURED THE PRESS,

"AND HE HAS EXERCISED THEM
ON MY LITTLE GIRL.

"I WOULD RATHER SEE
MY DAUGHTER SPEND THE REST OF
HER LIFE IN AN INSANE ASYLUM

THAN SEE HER THE PLAYTHING
OF A NIGGER."

HER LAWYER SAID THAT
BY HAVING A RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIS CLIENT'S DAUGHTER,

JACK JOHNSON HAD INSULTED
EVERY WHITE WOMAN IN
THE UNITED STATES.

Roberts: THE MANN ACT.

IT WAS NEVER AIMED
AT AN INDIVIDUAL

HAVING A LIAISON
WITH A SECRETARY GOING
FROM NEW YORK TO HOBOKEN.

IT WAS AIMED
AT COMMERCIALIZED VICE.

AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
OF AMERICA--A MAN BY THE NAME
OF WICKERSHAM--KNEW THIS,

AND WHEN HE WAS
FIRST APPROACHED

TO USE THIS
AGAINST JACK JOHNSON,

HE UNDERSTOOD
THAT "WE CAN'T DO THIS,
THAT THIS IS A TRAVESTY."

BUT EVENTUALLY,
WICKERSHAM WAS CONVINCED
TO GO AFTER JACK JOHNSON,

TO PERVERT THE LAW.

Narrator:
ON OCTOBER 18, 1912,

CHICAGO POLICE ARRESTED JOHNSON

FOR VIOLATING THE MANN ACT.

Early: THE "UNITED STATES
VS. JACK JOHNSON"

DECIDED TO ATTACK HIM
ON THE BASIS

OF THE SEX LIFE
AND THE MISCEGENATION.

MISCEGENATION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A...

A PREOCCUPATION AND A FIXATION
IN THE MIND OF WHITE AMERICA.

BLACK MEN WITH WHITE WOMEN--

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A CONCERN.

Crouch: I THINK THAT IT WAS
EXACTLY WHAT THE SOUTH DID

AFTER IT LOST THE CIVIL WAR.

IT LOST THE SHOOTING WAR,

BUT EVENTUALLY,
IT WON THE POLICY WAR.

IT WAS ABLE TO KEEP
THE CONSTITUTION
FROM FUNCTIONING

BELOW THE MASON-DIXON LINE,

SO THIS IS A VARIATION

ON THE WAY THAT THE SOUTH WON
AFTER THEY LOST.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED
WITH JACK JOHNSON.

"WE CAN'T FIND ANYBODY
TO BEAT HIM,

SO WE'LL JUST DO
WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE,"

WHICH IS JUST TURN
THE LAW AGAINST HIM.

Narrator: JOHNSON WAS RELEASED
ON $800 BAIL BY NIGHTFALL.

LUCILE CAMERON WAS
LOCKED UP, TOO,

AND WHEN JOHNSON WENT
TO THE BANK

TO GET $25,000 WITH WHICH
TO TRY TO BAIL HER OUT,

AN ANGRY MOB GATHERED OUTSIDE.

[POLICE WHISTLE]

THERE WERE SHOUTS
OF "LYNCH HIM!"

AND JOHNSON HAD TO TAKE REFUGE
INSIDE HIS OWN CAFE.

A FEW DAYS LATER,

THE CITY COLLECTOR PADLOCKED
THE CAFE DE CHAMPION

AND CANCELED ITS LICENSE,

DECLARING JOHNSON
"AN UNDESIRABLE PERSON"

AND "A BAD CHARACTER."

Man as Johnson: "SO LONG
AS I DO NOT INTERFERE
WITH ANY OTHER MAN'S WIFE,

"I SHALL CLAIM THE RIGHT
TO SELECT THE WOMAN

"OF MY OWN CHOICE.

"NOBODY ELSE CAN DO THAT FOR ME.

"I AM NOT A SLAVE,

"AND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE
WHO MY MATE SHALL BE

"WITHOUT THE DICTATION
OF ANY MAN.

"I HAVE EYES
AND I HAVE A HEART,

"AND WHEN THEY FAIL TO TELL ME
WHO I SHALL HAVE AS MINE,

I WANT TO BE PUT IN
A LUNATIC ASYLUM."

Narrator: AND NOW,
AS JOHNSON HAD ALWAYS FEARED,

SOME AFRICAN-AMERICANS
BEGAN TO ABANDON HIM.

Man: "OCTOBER 26, 1912.

"IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT A MAN
WITH MONEY SHOULD USE IT

"IN A WAY TO INJURE
HIS OWN PEOPLE,

"IN THE EYES OF THOSE WHO ARE
SEEKING TO UPLIFT HIS RACE

"AND IMPROVE ITS CONDITIONS.

"I WISH TO SAY EMPHATICALLY

"THAT JACK JOHNSON'S ACTIONS DID
NOT MEET MY PERSONAL APPROVAL,

"AND I AM SURE THAT THEY DO NOT
MEET WITH THE APPROVAL
OF THE COLORED RACE.

MAN WITH MUSCLE MINUS BRAINS IS
A USELESS CREATURE."

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.

Roberts: I THINK
THERE ARE 3 BLACK LEADERS

IN THE FIRST COUPLE DECADES
OF THE 20th CENTURY.

ONE IS BOOKER T. WASHINGTON,

WHO HAS A MESSAGE SAYING,
"HUNKER DOWN, GET EDUCATION,

"WORK HARD,
SAVE YOUR MONEY,
BE RELIABLE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT
SOCIAL JUSTICE, NECESSARILY,
OR SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT."

ON THE OTHER HAND,
YOU HAVE W.E.B. DU BOIS,

WHO STANDS FOR,
"WE WANT SOCIAL EQUALITY,

WE WANT ECONOMIC EQUALITY,
WE WANT ADVANCEMENT
ON ALL LEVELS."

AND THEN THERE'S
JACK JOHNSON THAT SAYS,

"I'M GETTING MINE."

BUT HE STANDS FOR PURE
INDIVIDUALISM, EGOISM.

Man: "I DO NOT LOOK
UPON JACK JOHNSON
AS A RACE LEADER,

"NOR DO I IN ANY WAY ENDORSE
HIS LIFE AND MANNERISMS,

"FOR IT WILL NOT PAY ANYONE
TO FOLLOW IT.

"BUT THE WHOLE WORLD IS
UPON HIM TODAY.

"BEHIND IT ALL, YOU CAN SEE A
LARGE DEGREE OF RACE PREJUDICE.

"HE GOT MIXED UP
WITH WHITE WOMEN.

"WAY DOWN IN HIS HEART,
HE HAS A CRAVING FOR MISS ANN.

"AND THAT DOES NOT LAY WELL
ON THE STOMACH OF THE WHITE MAN,

"HENCE HE HAS BEEN ARRESTED
AND HIS CASE THROWN ON
THE CANVAS, SO TO SPEAK,

"AND THE WHOLE WORLD THROWS UP
ITS HANDS AND CRIES,

BEHOLD THE BRUTE.
LET US CRUCIFY HIM."

"BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN."

Man: "MISS CAMERON DENIES
THAT SHE HAS BEEN INTIMATE

"WITH JACK JOHNSON
OR ANY OTHER PERSON.

"HER APPEARANCE, HOWEVER,
BELIES THAT STATEMENT,

"AS SHE DRESSES IN
THE HEIGHT OF FASHION,

WEARING A HAT SAID
TO HAVE COST $150."

AGENT M.J. LINZ,
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

Narrator: DESPITE
HER MOTHER'S CHARGES,

LUCILE CAMERON REFUSED
TO COOPERATE WITH
THE PROSECUTORS.

CALLED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY,

SHE SAID SHE LOVED AND WISHED
TO MARRY JOHNSON.

THEN, SHE COLLAPSED IN TEARS.

WITHOUT HER HELP,
THERE WAS NO CASE.

BUT THAT DID NOT STOP
EITHER THE STATE OR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY WERE DETERMINED TO GET
JACK JOHNSON ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

THE WHITE PUBLIC
NOW DEMANDED IT.

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
HARRY A. PARKIN

CALLED UPON THE BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION

OF THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

TO HELP BUILD A NEW CASE
BY SENDING ITS AGENTS OUT

TO SECURE EVIDENCE AS TO
ILLEGAL TRANSPORTATION
BY JOHNSON

OF ANY WOMAN
FOR IMMORAL PURPOSES.

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS]

FEDERAL AGENTS FANNED OUT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

LOOKING INTO ANONYMOUS TIPS,
INTERVIEWING PROSTITUTES,

CHAUFFEURS,
WAITERS, BELLHOPS,

PULLMAN PORTERS, EX-MANAGERS,
FORMER SPARRING PARTNERS,

FISHING FOR SOMETHING, ANYTHING,

THAT MIGHT BE USED TO SUGGEST

THAT THE CHAMPION HAD
DEFIED FEDERAL LAW.

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS]

Woman: "OCTOBER 31, 1912.

"I, BELLE SCHREIBER,
ALIAS BELLE GILBERT,

"ALIAS BELLE LESLIE,
ALIAS MRS. J.A. GILBERT,

"ALIAS LESLIE ALLEN,
ALIAS MRS. JACK JOHNSON,

FIRST BEING DULY SWORN
TO POSE..."

Man as Johnson:
"MY ENEMIES HAD NEVER
CEASED THEIR ACTIVITIES.

"WHEN THEY COULD FIND NOTHING
INVOLVING ME IMPROPERLY
WITH MISS CAMERON,

"THEY HIT ON AN OLD TRADE,

"AND, LEARNING OF MY ASSOCIATION
WITH BELLE SCHREIBER,

"HUNTED HER DOWN.

"SHE WAS BROUGHT FROM WASHINGTON

"AND SET UP AS THE ACCUSING
WITNESS AGAINST ME.

Narrator: THE GOVERNMENT'S
NEW CHIEF WITNESS

TURNED OUT TO BE JOHNSON'S
EX-LOVER, BELLE SCHREIBER--

TRACKED TO A WASHINGTON, D.C.
WHOREHOUSE,

THEN PLACED
UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY

BY THE BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION

AND THREATENED WITH IMPRISONMENT
IF SHE DID NOT COOPERATE.

EMBITTERED BY JOHNSON'S
TREATMENT OF HER,

PERHAPS ENVIOUS
OF LUCILE CAMERON

FOR HAVING DISPLACED HER
IN HIS AFFECTIONS,

SCHREIBER WOULD BE
A DEVASTATING WITNESS

AGAINST THE MAN
WHO HAD BEEN HER PATRON

AND ON-AND-OFF COMPANION
FOR 4 YEARS.

HER MEMORY FOR DATES AND PLACES
SEEMED ENCYCLOPEDIC.

Woman: "I FIRST MET JACK JOHNSON

"AT THE EVERLEIGH CLUB
IN CHICAGO.

"JOHNSON SENT ME MONEY
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING

"THAT I WAS TO USE IT
IN GOING TO NEW YORK,

"AND ON MY ARRIVAL THERE,

PROCEEDED TO
THE LITTLE BELMONT HOTEL."

"...THAT I HAD
INTIMATE RELATIONS WITH
JOHNSON IN THAT HOTEL."

"...THAT FROM HERE, JOHNSON
AND I WENT TO BOSTON..."

Narrator: THE SPECIFIC CHARGE
ON WHICH THE NEW INDICTMENTS
WERE BASED

WAS THAT ON AUGUST 10, 1910,

A MONTH AFTER
THE JEFFRIES FIGHT,

JOHNSON HAD TRANSPORTED
SCHREIBER FROM PITTSBURGH
TO CHICAGO

FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION
AND DEBAUCHERY.

ON NOVEMBER 7,

CHICAGO POLICE KNOCKED DOWN
THE DOOR OF ROOM 21

AT THE HOTEL VENDOME

AND PLACED JACK JOHNSON
UNDER ARREST.

WHEN THEY PUT HIM IN HANDCUFFS,

HIS EYES FILLED WITH TEARS.

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS,"
HE SAID.

"I WON'T RUN AWAY."

Man as Johnson:
"IT WAS A RANK FRAME-UP."

"THE CHARGES WERE BASED UPON
A LAW THAT WAS NOT IN EFFECT

"AT THE TIME BELLE AND I
HAD BEEN TOGETHER.

"THE WHOLE ACCUSATION
WAS UNFOUNDED,

"AND I DO NOT HESITATE TO SAY
THAT FRAUDULENT PRACTICES
WERE ADOPTED.

"SO BITTER AND INTENSE
WAS THE FIGHT

THAT HAD BEEN OPENED UP ON ME."

Narrator:
JUDGE KENNESAW MOUNTAIN LANDIS,

WHO WOULD ONE DAY SERVE
AS COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL

AND HELP ENSURE THAT
THE PROFESSIONAL GAME
REMAIN SEGREGATED,

WAS ON THE BENCH
WHEN JOHNSON WAS BROUGHT IN.

AFTER JOHNSON'S BAIL BONDSMAN
WAS FOUND TO HAVE MISREPRESENTED
HIMSELF TO THE COURT,

LANDIS LOCKED BOTH MEN
IN THE COOK COUNTY JAIL.

"I WILL NOT ACCEPT
A CASH BOND," LANDIS SAID.

"THERE IS A HUMAN CRY
IN THIS CASE."

JAILERS JEERED JOHNSON.

ONE WHITE PRISONER SHOUTED
HE'D LIKE TO KILL THE CHAMPION.

IT TOOK A WEEK TO BAIL HIM OUT.

Man: "CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
DECEMBER 4, 1912.

"JACK JOHNSON
AND LUCILE CAMERON, WHITE,

"WERE MARRIED TUESDAY AFTERNOON

AT THE HOME OF JOHNSON'S MOTHER
IN THE CITY."

DECEMBER, HE MARRIES
LUCILE CAMERON.

NOT GOOD TIMING, I DON'T THINK,

ESPECIALLY SINCE HIS FIRST WIFE
DIED IN SEPTEMBER.

THIS JUST INTENSIFIES
THE PUBLIC GOING AFTER HIM.

Man: "NO BRUTALITY,
NO INFAMY,

"NO DEGRADATION IN ALL THE YEARS
OF SOUTHERN SLAVERY

"POSSESS SUCH VILLAINOUS
CHARACTER AND SUCH
ATROCIOUS QUALITIES

"AS THE PROVISION
OF THE LAWS OF ILLINOIS

"WHICH ALLOWED A MARRIAGE
OF THE NEGRO JACK JOHNSON

TO A WOMAN OF CAUCASIAN STRAIN."

S.A. RODDENBERRY.

Narrator: ON DECEMBER 11,

A GEORGIA CONGRESSMAN,
SEABORN A. RODDENBERRY,

INTRODUCED A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT BANNING MISCEGENATION,

THE INTERMARRIAGE
BETWEEN CAUCASIANS

AND ANY AND ALL PERSONS
OF AFRICAN DESCENT

OR HAVING ANY TRACE
OF AFRICAN BLOOD.

THE AMENDMENT DID NOT PASS,

BUT THE POISONOUS DEBATE
WENT ON FOR WEEKS.

Man as Seaborn:
"INTERMARRIAGE BETWEEN
WHITES AND BLACKS IS REPULSIVE

AND AVERSE TO EVERY SENTIMENT
OF PURE AMERICAN SPIRIT."

"IT IS DESTRUCTIVE
OF MORAL SUPREMACY,
AND ULTIMATELY,

"THIS SLAVERY OF WHITE WOMEN
TO BLACK BEASTS

"WILL BRING THIS NATION
A CONFLICT AS FATAL
AND AS BLOODY

"AS EVER REDDENED
THE SOIL OF VIRGINIA

OR CRIMSONED THE MOUNTAIN PATHS
OF PENNSYLVANIA."

"LET US UPROOT
AND EXTERMINATE NOW

"THIS DEBASING,
ULTRA-DEMORALIZING,

UN-AMERICAN,
AND INHUMAN LEPROSY."

Man: "IN MARRYING MISS CAMERON,

"JOHNSON HAS ACTED
MORE HONORABLY THAN MANY
OF THE WHITE GENTLEMEN

"WHO ARE REARING
OCTOROON FAMILIES

ALONGSIDE THEIR
LEGITIMATE OFFSPRING."

THE "ST. LOUIS ARGUS."

Crouch: THERE SEEMS
TO HAVE NEVER BEEN MUCH
OF A FEAR OF MISCEGENATION

IF IT WAS A WHITE GUY
WITH A BLACK WOMAN.

THERE DIDN'T SEEM
TOO MUCH FEAR ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE IDEA
THAT THE WHITE WOMAN MIGHT
BE ATTRACTED TO A BLACK GUY

WAS A DIFFERENT KIND
OF A PHENOMENON.

IF YOU HAD YOUR WAY,
WOULDN'T YOU ELIMINATE
ALL THE COMPETITION?

SO--I MEAN,
IN TERMS OF RACE,

GET RID OF ALL THE BLACK GUYS,
KEEP ALL THE WOMEN--

BLACK AND WHITE, RIGHT?
THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL.

WELL, THAT KIND OF THING WAS
GOING ON IN PEOPLE'S MINDS--
COMPETITION.

Roberts: IT WAS A CONFLICT
WITHIN WHITE WESTERN CULTURE
AS A WHOLE.

THE GREAT TABOO
OF THOMAS JEFFERSON--
IT'S MISCEGENATION.

THE GREAT LIE OF SLAVERY

IS WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE
ON THE PLANTATIONS
IN THE SLAVE QUARTERS.

JACK JOHNSON BRINGS THIS...

DISEASE UNDER THE CARPET
IN OTHER AGES

AND BRINGS IT TO THE SURFACE.

THE WHITE PRESS LOVES IT.

NOTHING IS MORE DESIGNED

TO ENRAGE A WHITE AMERICAN
POWER STRUCTURE AS THAT.

"JACK JOHNSON.
LET'S GO AFTER HIM."

THE BLACK PRESS IS DIFFERENT,

AND EVEN IN THIS CASE,
W.E.B. DU BOIS DEFENDS
JACK JOHNSON,

SAYING, "LOOK, I DISAGREE
WITH JACK JOHNSON'S CHOICE
OF MARRYING A WHITE WOMAN,

"BUT HE HAS THAT RIGHT,
AND WE CAN'T TAKE
THAT RIGHT AWAY FROM HIM,

AND HE HASN'T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG."

Man: "BOXING HAS FALLEN
INTO DISFAVOR,

"INTO VERY GREAT DISFAVOR.

"THE CAUSE IS CLEAR.

"JACK JOHNSON--

"NEITHER HE NOR HIS RACE
INVENTED PRIZE FIGHTING,

"OR PARTICULARLY LIKE IT.

WHY, THEN, THIS THRILL
OF NATIONAL DISGUST?"

"BECAUSE JOHNSON IS BLACK.

"OF COURSE, SOME PRETEND
TO OBJECT TO MR. JOHNSON'S
CHARACTER,

"BUT WE HAVE YET TO HEAR
IN THE CASE OF WHITE AMERICA

"THAT MARITAL TROUBLES HAVE
DISQUALIFIED PRIZE FIGHTERS

OR BALL PLAYERS
OR EVEN STATESMEN."

"IT COMES DOWN, THEN,
AFTER ALL,

TO THIS...
UNFORGIVABLE BLACKNESS."

W.E.B. DU BOIS.

["HAIL TO THE CHIEF" PLAYING]

Narrator:
ON MARCH 4, 1913,

GOVERNOR WOODROW WILSON
OF NEW JERSEY WAS SWORN IN

AS PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE HAD RUN FOR OFFICE
PLEDGED TO JUSTICE

FOR THE COLORED PEOPLE
IN EVERY MATTER.

NO DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

HAD EVER SEEMED SO SYMPATHETIC
TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN ASPIRATIONS.

BUT ONCE IN POWER,

THE SOUTHERN-BORN WILSON IMPOSED
JIM CROW REGULATIONS

ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ITSELF.

WHITE AND BLACK CLERKS,

WHO HAD WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE
SINCE THE CIVIL WAR,

WERE SEPARATED.

IF JACK JOHNSON HAD HOPED
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
MIGHT BE LESS INCLINED

TO PRESS THE GOVERNMENT'S
CASE AGAINST HIM,

HE WAS DISAPPOINTED.

Roberts: I THINK
JACK JOHNSON'S REACTION
INITIALLY WAS,

"THE MAN'S AFTER ME AGAIN.
I CAN DEAL WITH IT."

YOU KNOW, "I'VE DEALT WITH HIM
IN THE RING, I'VE DEALT WITH HIM
OUT OF THE RING."

YOU KNOW, "IF I PUT MONEY
IN ENOUGH PALMS,

THIS WILL GO--
THIS, TOO, WILL PASS."

IT'S ONLY GRADUALLY
HE BECOMES AWARE

OF WHAT'S TAKING PLACE,

THAT THIS ISN'T GOING
TO GO AWAY.

Narrator: ON MAY 7, 1913,

A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS
AFTER WILSON'S INAUGURATION

AND 10 MONTHS
AFTER JOHNSON'S LAST FIGHT,

THE CASE OF "THE UNITED STATES
VS. JOHN ARTHUR JOHNSON"

FINALLY BEGAN IN CHICAGO'S
FEDERAL BUILDING.

PRESIDING WAS JUDGE
GEORGE ALBERT CARPENTER.

BELLE SCHREIBER WAS
A CHIEF WITNESS FOR
THE PROSECUTION.

HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH JACK JOHNSON, SHE SAID,

HAD RUINED HER LIFE.

[GAVEL BANGING]

Man: WERE YOU
IN LOVE WITH HIM?

Woman as Schreiber:
I DON'T KNOW.

DON'T YOU KNOW NOW?
DID YOU THINK YOU WERE THEN?

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT LOVE IS.

DID YOU GIVE YOURSELF UP
TO THE DEFENDANT

OUT OF AFFECTION
OR FOR COMPENSATION?

COMPENSATION, MOSTLY.

YOU WERE NOT FORCED TO GO
ON ANY ONE OF THOSE TRIPS?

NO, NOT FORCED.

YOU WERE NOT COERCED?

I WAS ASKED TO GO.
THAT WAS ALL.

AND YOU ACCEDED
TO THE REQUEST, DID YOU?

YES.

Narrator: SHE TESTIFIED
THAT JOHNSON HAD TAKEN HER
TO ATLANTIC CITY

AND MANY OTHER PLACES
FOR IMMORAL PURPOSES,

AND HAD SET HER UP
IN BUSINESS IN CHICAGO.

A PARADE OF WITNESSES
CORROBORATED MUCH
OF HER TESTIMONY.

WHEN JOHNSON FINALLY TOOK
THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE,

HE DENIED EVERYTHING.

HE HAD NOT BEATEN ANYONE,
HAD ONLY TAKEN ONE
TRAIN TRIP WITH BELLE,

LONG BEFORE PASSAGE
OF THE MANN ACT,

HAD GIVEN HER MONEY ONLY BECAUSE
SHE SAID SHE'D LOST HER JOB
AND NEEDED HELP.

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
PARKIN DID HIS BEST
TO BREAK HIM DOWN.

[GAVEL BANGING]

Man as Parkin: NOW,
WHY DID YOU HAVE BELLE
COME TO ATLANTIC CITY?

Man as Johnson:
I NEVER HAD HER COME
TO ATLANTIC CITY.

YOU ENTERTAINED HER
THERE?

I WASN'T THERE
LONG ENOUGH
TO ENTERTAIN MYSELF.

WHAT DID YOU DO THERE
WITH HER?

NOTHING.

DID YOU BUY HER MEALS
OR PAY HER HOTEL BILLS
OR GIVE HER ANY MONEY?

I NEVER GAVE HER NOTHING
THAT TRIP AT ALL.

[GALLERY MURMURING]

DID YOU BUY HER MEALS?

NEVER. NEVER EVEN
BOUGHT HER A DRINK.

SO SHE SPENT HER OWN MONEY
AT THAT TIME?

SHE MUST HAVE.
SHE DIDN'T SPEND MINE.

WELL, DID YOU HAVE
SEXUAL RELATIONS
IN ATLANTIC CITY?

BELLE AND I WERE
VERY FRIENDLY.

JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION.

DID YOU HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS
WITH HER IN ATLANTIC CITY?

I DID NOT.

IN AUGUST 1910?

I DID NOT.

BUT YOU DID IN EVERY TOWN
WHERE YOU AND SHE
WERE TOGETHER.

I DON'T REMEMBER.
I NEVER KEPT TAB.

WELL, DID YOU SKIP ANY?

HEH. CERTAINLY.
EVERYBODY SKIPS.

[GALLERY MURMURING,
GAVEL BANGING]

Narrator: "IF YOU SHOULD FIND
THE DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY,"

THE PROSECUTOR TOLD THE JURY,

"I DO NOT SEE HOW
YOU COULD EVER LOOK SQUARELY
IN THE FACES OF YOUR MOTHERS,

WIVES, AND DAUGHTERS."

THE ALL-WHITE JURY TOOK
LESS THAN TWO HOURS
TO REACH ITS VERDICT.

JACK JOHNSON WAS
GUILTY AS CHARGED.

"THIS VERDICT WILL GO
AROUND THE WORLD,"
THE PROSECUTOR SAID.

"IT IS THE FORERUNNER
OF LAWS TO BE PASSED
IN THESE UNITED STATES

"WHICH WE MAY LIVE TO SEE--

LAWS FORBIDDING MISCEGENATION."

"THIS NEGRO,
IN THE EYES OF MANY,

"HAS BEEN PERSECUTED.

"PERHAPS AS AN INDIVIDUAL,
HE WAS,

"BUT IT WAS HIS MISFORTUNE TO BE
THE FOREMOST EXAMPLE OF THE EVIL

IN PERMITTING THE INTERMARRIAGE
OF WHITES AND BLACKS."

FOR ONCE,
JOHNSON HAD NOTHING
TO SAY TO THE PRESS,

BUT HE DID ATTACH
AN ESPECIALLY NOISY

CUT OUT MUFFLER
TO ONE OF HIS CARS

AND ROARED THROUGH
THE STREETS OF CHICAGO

UNTIL HE WAS FINED AGAIN
FOR CREATING A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

ON JUNE 4, 1913,

JUDGE CARPENTER SENTENCED
JACK JOHNSON

TO A YEAR AND A DAY
IN FEDERAL PRISON.

JOHNSON WAS FREED
PENDING AN APPEAL,

BUT HE SAW NO REASON
TO STICK AROUND.

[NO AUDIO]

Man, as Johnson:
"FRIENDS TO WHOM I CONFIDED
MY INTENTION OF ESCAPING

SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE."

"THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT
THAT FEDERAL AGENTS

"WERE NOT WITHIN REACH
OF ME.

"THEY HUNG CLOSE
ABOUT MY HOME,

AND FOLLOWED ME
EVERY STEP THROUGH THE STREETS."

"EVERY TIME
MY CAR TURNED A WHEEL,

"THEY WERE AWARE OF IT.

TO ELUDE THEM SEEMED
AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT."

Narrator:
AS JOHNSON TOLD THE STORY,

HE ENLISTED THE AID
RUBE FOSTER,

THE GREAT PITCHER MANAGER
OF FOSTER'S GIANTS--

AN ALL-BLACK BASEBALL TEAM--

WHO ALLOWED HIM
TO BOARD THEIR TRAIN
DRESSED IN A TEAM UNIFORM

AS IT LEFT CHICAGO
FOR A TOUR OF THE NORTHEAST.

SINCE THE WHITE OFFICERS
PATROLLING THE DEPOT

COULDN'T TELL
ONE BIG BLACK MAN
FROM ANOTHER,

HE'D BEEN ABLE
TO SLIP OUT OF TOWN.

THE OFFICIAL
GOVERNMENT VERSION

WAS THAT HE HAD BEEN ALLOWED
TO GO FISHING IN INDIANA,

THEN SOMEHOW
DRIVEN NORTH TO CANADA

BEFORE THEY COULD STOP HIM.

LATER, JOHNSON'S MOTHER
AND SISTER WOULD TELL
STILL ANOTHER STORY.

THE FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN CHARGE
OF THE PROSECUTION, THEY SAID,

HAD ACCEPTED THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS IN BRIBES
FROM JOHNSON TO LET HIM GO.

EVEN THE CHAMPION'S ATTORNEY
HAD BEEN IN ON IT, THEY CHARGED.

"WE'LL FLEECE THAT NIGGER
BEFORE WE GET THROUGH WITH HIM,"

THE LAWYER WAS SUPPOSED
TO HAVE SAID.

THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION,
BUT NO ONE WAS EVER CHARGED.

HOWEVER HE DID IT,
JACK JOHNSON GOT AWAY CLEAN.

ON JUNE 25,
HE SUDDENLY TURNED UP
IN MONTREAL,

WHERE LUCILE
WAS ALREADY WAITING FOR HIM.

Man, as Johnson:
"THERE ARE FEW COUNTRIES IN
WHICH I HAVE NOT TRAVELED.

"I HAVE RUBBED ELBOWS
WITH THE ARISTOCRATS
OF THE EUROPEAN CAPITALS.

"I HAVE DISBOARDED
ON THE FRENCH
AND ITALIAN RIVERA.

"I HAVE BEEN A GUEST
IN SOME OF THE FINEST
HOMES OF MAYFAIR.

"IN MOSCOW, MY ASSOCIATES
WERE RUSSIAN FIELD MARSHALS
AND AIDES OF CZAR NICHOLAS.

"I HAVE WITNESSED SCENES
THAT HAVE NO PARALLEL,

EVEN IN THE IMAGINATIVE FICTION
OF MELODRAMATIC WRITERS."

Narrator: JACK JOHNSON
HAD BEEN A CELEBRITY

ON HIS EARLIER TRIPS
TO EUROPE,

BUT NOW HE WAS A FUGITIVE
FROM JUSTICE.

IN PARIS, THE GRAND HOTEL
DENIED HIM A ROOM--

SO DID THE RITZ,
THE ELYSEE, THE PALACE,
AND THE EXCELSIOR.

IN LONDON,
BRITISH MUSICAL PERFORMERS

REFUSED TO APPEAR
ON STAGE WITH HIM.

SWEDEN BARRED HIM
ALTOGETHER.

HIS MONEY BEGAN TO RUN OUT.

"MY REAL CRIME,"
JOHNSON SAID,

"WAS BEATING JIM JEFFRIES."

TO PAY HIS CREDITORS,
JOHNSON AGREED TO ANOTHER FIGHT.

ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 27, 1914,

HE TOOK ON A BRAWLER
FROM PITTSBURGH
NAMED FRANK MORAN

AT THE VELODROME D'HIVER
IN PARIS.

IT WAS WIDELY RUMORED
THAT THE FIGHT HAD BEEN RIGGED

TO LAST LONG ENOUGH
TO ENSURE THE HEFTY PROFITS
THE TWO MEN PLANNED TO MAKE

FROM SHOWING THE FIGHT FILMS
IN EUROPE.

JOHNSON WAS NEVER
IN ANY TROUBLE.

WHEN MORAN MANAGED
TO GET IN ONE GOOD PUNCH,

JOHNSON GRINNED
AND APPLAUDED.

"MY SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS,
FRANK," HE SAID.

BUT WHEN 20
LACKLUSTER ROUNDS WENT BY

WITHOUT HIS HAVING
DONE MUCH DAMAGE
TO HIS OUTCLASSED OPPONENT,

THE FRENCH CROWD ROARED
ITS DISAPPROVAL.

HUNDREDS WALKED OUT.

JOHNSON NEVER SAW A CENT.

Roberts: BY THE TIME
THE FIGHT WAS OVER,

IT WAS JUNE 28, 1914.

THAT VERY AFTERNOON,

ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND
WILL BE ASSASSINATED
IN SARAJEVO

AND WE WILL START
THAT QUICK DESCENT
INTO WORLD WAR I,

THE GREAT WAR.

WITH WAR IN EUROPE,

JACK JOHNSON'S OPPORTUNITIES
TO MAKE MONEY

ARE AT A STANDSTILL.

IT'S OVER.

ON FEBRUARY 18, 1915,

THE DIRECTOR D.W. GRIFFITH
SHOWED HIS EPIC FILM
"BIRTH OF A NATION"

AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

NO MOVIE HAD EVER
BEEN SHOWN THERE BEFORE,

AND PRESIDENT WILSON,
HIS ENTIRE CABINET,

AND ALL THE JUSTICES
OF THE SUPREME COURT
WERE IN ATTENDANCE.

"BIRTH OF A NATION"
OFFERED AN UPSIDE DOWN
VERSION OF RECONSTRUCTION

IN WHICH THE TERRORIST
NIGHT RIDERS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN

WERE PORTRAYED AS HEROES,

WHILE, AS W.E.B. DU BOIS WROTE,

"THE FREED MAN WAS REPRESENTED
EITHER AS AN IGNORANT FOOL,

"A VICIOUS RAPIST,

"A VENAL OR
UNSCRUPULOUS POLITICIAN,

OR A FAITHFUL,
BUT DODDERING IDIOT."

AS A FURTHER INSULT,

THE MAIN BLACK CHARACTERS

WERE PORTRAYED BY
WHITE ACTORS IN BLACKFACE.

THE DISTINGUISHED AUDIENCE
LOVED IT.

"IT IS LIKE WRITING HISTORY
WITH LIGHTNING,"

PRESIDENT WILSON SAID
WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN,

"AND MY ONLY REGRET
IS THAT IT IS ALL
SO TERRIBLY TRUE."

CHIEF JUSTICE
EDWARD WHITE AGREED.

HE HAD HIMSELF
RIDDEN WITH THE CLAN.

MILLIONS OF WHITE AMERICANS
ALREADY SHARED THEIR VIEW.

THE FLEDGING
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
OF COLORED PEOPLE

MOUNTED A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
TO BAN THE FILM,

AND ONLY SUCCEEDED
IN PUBLICIZING IT.

"BIRTH OF A NATION" OPENED AT
THE LIBERTY THEATER ON BROADWAY

THE FOLLOWING MONTH,

BEGINNING A RECORD RUN
OF 44 WEEKS.

IT WOULD BECOME THE MOST-SEEN
MOVIE OF ITS TIME.

MISCEGENATION
WAS THE SUPPOSED EVIL

AT THE HEART OF ITS STORY,

AND ITS MORAL WAS THAT EVERY
SELF-RESPECTING WHITE MAN

HAD A DUTY TO AVENGE IT
IF HE COULD.

ON APRIL 5, 1915,

WHITE AMERICANS WOULD FINALLY
GET THEIR CHANCE AT VENGEANCE...

IN THE RING.

EVEN THOUGH THE HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPION OF THE WORLD

WAS STILL A FUGITIVE IN EUROPE,

THERE WAS A NEW CROP
OF WHITE HOPES NOW,

DETERMINED TO RECLAIM THE TITLE
IF THEY GOT THE CHANCE.

THEY WERE NO BETTER
THAN THE FIRST.

HANDSOME GEORGE RODEL,
POSSESSED OF SO WEAK A CHIN

THAT HE EVENTUALLY BECAME KNOWN
AS THE DIVING VENUS.

GUNBOAT SMITH,
WHO GOT HIS NAME FROM
THE SIZE 15 SHOES HE WORE.

AND THEN THERE WERE
THE GIANTS.

FRED FULTON,
THE GIANT OF THE NORTH;

JIM COFFEY, THE IRISH GIANT;

CARL MORRIS,
WHO BEGAN HIS CAREER
AS THE SAPULPA GIANT,

BUT ENDED IT
AS THE SAPULPA BLEEDER.

AND THEN,
FROM POTTAWATOMIE, KANSAS,

THERE WAS THE POTTAWATOMIE
GIANT, JESS WILLARD.

Man, as Jess:
"GOD MADE ME A GIANT.

"I NEVER RECEIVED AN EDUCATION,

"NEVER HAD MONEY,

"AND MY FOLKS, GOD BLESS THEM,
NEVER HAD ANY MONEY.

"I JUST SAT DOWN AND FIGURED OUT
THAT A MAN AS BIG AS ME

"OUGHT TO BE ABLE
TO CASH IN ON HIS SIZE,

AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED ME
ON THE ROAD TO BOXING."

ONE OF THE WHITE HOPES
THAT CAME OUT OF THE
JOHNSON-JEFFRIES FIGHT--

IN FACT, THE NEXT DAY AFTER
THE JOHNSON-JEFFRIES FIGHT--

DOWN IN KANSAS,
WAS A BIG RANCH HAND,
6'6" AND BIGGER.

HE LOOKED LIKE THE MAN
THAT JACK WOULD HAVE MET AT
THE TOP OF THE BEANSTALK.

AND JOHNSON'S
ONLY COMMENT IS,

"IF THEY MAKE WHITE HOPES
ANY BIGGER,

I'LL HAVE TO GET STILTS."

Narrator: WILLARD MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN THE BEST
WHITE HOPE AVAILABLE,

BUT AT 6'6" AND 250 POUNDS,
HE WAS THE BIGGEST.

THE ONE-TIME KANSAS COWBOY

HAD TURNED
TO THE FIGHT GAME AT 27,

PURELY FOR THE MONEY.

"I HATED IT,"
HE REMEMBERED.

"HARMING THE OTHER FELLOW
SEEMED TO BE CRUEL,

"AND SO LONG AS THE OTHER FELLOW
DIDN'T HARM ME MUCH,

I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON
WHY I SHOULD HURT HIM."

IF THE OTHER FELLOW
DID HURT HIM, HOWEVER,

WILLARD SOMETIMES GOT MAD,

AND HE HAD
A POWERFUL RIGHT HAND...

POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO HAVE KILLED ONE OPPONENT.

IN LATE 1914,
TWO AMBITIOUS PROMOTERS--

JACK CURLEY
AND A YOUNG IMPRESARIO
NAMED HARRY FRAZEE,

WHO WOULD ONE DAY
BUY THE BOSTON RED SOX

AND SELL AWAY BABE RUTH
TO THE NEW YORK YANKEES--

BEGAN WORKING
TO ARRANGE A TITLE FIGHT

BETWEEN JOHNSON
AND JESS WILLARD.

IT COULD NOT TAKE PLACE
IN THE UNITED STATES.

JOHNSON WAS SUBJECT TO ARREST

THE MOMENT HE SET FOOT
ON AMERICAN SOIL,

BUT THEY WANTED IT TO BE
AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE

TO PULL IN
AMERICAN FIGHT FANS

EAGER TO SEE WILLARD
DO WHAT JIM JEFFRIES
HAD FAILED TO DO,

DESTROY JACK JOHNSON.

Roberts: INITIALLY,
THE FIGHT WAS GOING
TO BE IN MEXICO,

BUT THEN IT'S MOVED
TO HAVANA.

HAVANA IS THE CARIBBEAN
EQUIVALENT TO RENO.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE
FOR A FIGHT.

Man, reading:
"JESS WILLARD WOULD
RESTORE THE WREATH

"THAT JOHNSON RESTED
FROM THE WHITES.

"WITH WARLIKE ZEAL,
HE GRINDS HIS TEETH,

"THIS HERO
OF AT LEAST TWO FIGHTS.

"ALAS, OUR BOSOMS ARE NOT WARM
WHEN SUCH A HERO GAMBLES IN.

"UNLESS BLACK JACK
IS CHLOROFORM,

"WE DO NOT SEE
HOW JESS CAN WIN.

"THE CHANCES ARE
HE'LL COME TO GRIEF

"BEFORE THEY'RE FAIRLY
DOWN TO BIZ,

"FOR WHILE HE'S SURELY
LONG ON BEEF,

THE SPARK OF GENIUS
ISN'T HIS."

"NEW ORLEANS TIMES PICAYUNE."

Narrator:
WILLARD WAS GIVEN
LITTLE CHANCE.

BUT THE CHALLENGER
WAS 27 YEARS OLD,

A FULL DECADE YOUNGER
THAN THE CHAMPION.

HE TOOK TRAINING SERIOUSLY,

SMASHED AT
HIS SPARRING PARTNERS,

GOT TO BED EARLY.

"HE WAS IN SUPERB SHAPE,"
ONE WRITER NOTED,

"AND HIS SKIN WAS DAZZLING
IN ITS PURENESS."

Man, reading:
"NEW YORK HERALD."

"JOHNSON IS NOT
IN CONDITION.

"HE HAS NOT TRAINED
AS EXPERTS SAY HE SHOULD.

"HE'S FAT TO THE POINT
OF A PAUNCH.

"HE APPEARS TO BREATHE HEAVILY
AND WITH DIFFICULTY

AFTER EVEN LIGHT EXERCISE."

[NO AUDIO]

Narrator: JOHNSON DID
ONLY HALF THE ROADWORK

HIS TRAINERS
ASKED HIM TO DO,

SPENT PRECIOUS SPARRING TIME
GREETING FANS

AND CLOWNING FOR THE CAMERAS.

Sugar: NOW,
THE PROMOTER KNOWS
THAT THEORETICALLY

JOHNSON WANTS TO MAKE A DEAL
TO COME INTO THE U.S.

THE WORD IS--
NEVER CONFIRMED--

THAT CURLEY TELLS HIM THAT,

"YOU DO THIS FIGHT,
FOR WHICH YOU'LL GET $35,000,

"WE WILL MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT
WITH THE U.S. AUTHORITIES.

"THEY WILL DROP
THE MANN ACT CONVICTION

AND THE ONE YEAR
PRISON SENTENCE."

NEVER CONFIRMED,

CURLEY DENIES IT,

BUT THAT'S BEEN
THE COMMON SCUTTLEBUTT
EVER SINCE.

Early: I THINK
HE'S GOING INTO THE FIGHT

CLEARLY ON THE LEVEL
TO WIN THE FIGHT.

WILLARD'S NOT A PARTICULARLY
GOOD FIGHTER,

AND JOHNSON SHOULD WIN.

I DON'T THINK JOHNSON
TOOK THE FIGHT VERY SERIOUSLY

IN TRAINING VERY HARD FOR IT.

BESIDES,
HE'S 37 YEARS OLD BY NOW.

HIS HUNGER FOR FIGHTING
HAS DISSIPATED QUITE A BIT.

HE'S NOT--
HE DOESN'T WANT TO FIGHT.

IT HAPPENS WITH
EVERY GREAT FIGHTER.

"I DON'T REALLY WANT
TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

I'M TIRED OF THE TRAINING."

JOHNSON'S NOT IN
THE BEST CONDITION,

BUT HE'S IN
GOOD ENOUGH CONDITION

THAT HE THINKS
HE'S GOING TO WIN.

AND HE WAS TELLING PEOPLE
BEFORE THE FIGHT,

"BET ON ME!

I'M GOING TO WIN
THIS FIGHT."

Narrator: THE FIGHT WAS
SCHEDULED FOR 45 ROUNDS.

NEARLY 20,000 FANS
WERE ON HAND.

MANY HAD PURCHASED
MINIATURE WHITE FLAGS

TO SHOW THAT THEY IDENTIFIED
WITH WILLARD.

GUARDS ARMED WITH RIFLES
AND MACHETES

SURROUNDED THE RING
TO MAKE SURE
THERE WAS NO TROUBLE.

IT WAS 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON
WHEN JOHNSON MADE HIS ENTRANCE.

HE WAS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY
SOLEMN.

ONE OF HIS CORNERMEN
POINTED OUT WHERE
LUCILE WAS SITTING.

THE MOSTLY WHITE CROWD
ROARED WHEN WILLARD APPEARED.

JOHNSON KNEW HE HAD TO GET
TO THE YOUNGER MAN EARLY,

AND AT FIRST IT SEEMED
AS IF THIS FIGHT

WOULD GO MORE OR LESS
AS JOHNSON'S OTHER
TITLE FIGHTS HAD GONE,

WITH THE CHAMPION MAKING
THE SLOW-MOVING CHALLENGER

PAY FOR EVERY MISTAKE HE MADE.

Sugar: HE TRIES FOR A KNOCK-OUT
IN THE FIRST 8 ROUNDS

AND THROWS EVERYTHING
HE HAS AT WILLARD.

WILLARD IS CUT,
WILLARD IS RED,

WILLARD IS BEATEN,

BUT WILLARD DOESN'T
MOVE A STEP.

HE JUST TAKES EVERYTHING.

AFTER THE EIGHTH ROUND,

JOHNSON'S STRENGTH, STAMINA--

WHICH WAS ALWAYS GREAT--

BEGINS TO SEEP OUT.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE SAND
COMING OUT OF AN HOURGLASS.

AND TOWARDS THE MIDDLE ROUND,

ABOUT THE 15th,

IT NOW BECOMES WILLARD
WHO IS PUSHING FORWARD.

WILLARD IS EXERTING HIS SIZE,
HIS STRENGTH, AND HIS STAMINA

TO NOW START PUSHING
JOHNSON AROUND.

Narrator: THE SUN BEGAN
TO GET TO JOHNSON.

THE TEMPERATURE AT RINGSIDE
WAS 105 DEGREES.

JOHNSON HAD WON
NEARLY EVERY ROUND,

BUT BY THE 20th
HIS LEGS HAD GROWN WEARY.

THE YOUNGER MAN
STILL SEEMED FRESH.

Sugar: IN THE 25th ROUND,

WILLARD THROWS A WILD,
SWINGING RIGHT HAND

THAT HITS JOHNSON
ABOVE THE HEART.

NOT ONLY DOES WILLARD
FEEL HIM GO LIMP,

PEOPLE AT RINGSIDE
CAN HEAR HIM LET HIS AIR OUT.

IN THE CORNER,
BETWEEN THE 25th
AND 26th ROUNDS,

JOHNSON SAYS
TO ONE OF HIS CORNERMEN,

"TELL MY WIFE
I'M GETTING TIRED.

WILL YOU PLEASE SEE
THAT SHE GETS OUT OF HERE?"

Man, reading:
"JOHNSON LOOKED PITIFULLY
TOWARD HIS WIFE.

"HIS EXPRESSION
WAS A HOPELESS ONE

"OF DESPAIR
AND HELPLESSNESS.

"THAT THOSE WHO SAW IT
WILL NEVER FORGET.

"IT WAS AS THOUGH
JOHNSON HAD CALLED
ALOUD TO HIS WIFE,

"THE END HAS COME.

"THEY'VE BEEN CLAMORING FOR IT
THESE LAST 5 YEARS.

NOW THEY'VE GOT ME."

Narrator: AT THE BELL
FOR THE 26th ROUND,

JOHNSON WAS SLOW
LEAVING HIS CORNER.

THE TWO MEN CIRCLED
ONE ANOTHER.

THEN WILLARD ATTACKED.

A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND
STUNNED JOHNSON.

HE CLUTCHED AT WILLARD,
TRYING TO STAY UP,

THEN SLID TO THE CANVAS.

AS THE GLEEFUL CROWD
STOOD AND CHEERED
AND WAVED WHITE FLAGS

TO SIGNAL
THE WHITE MAN'S TRIUMPH

THE REFEREE COUNTED TO 10.

JACK JOHNSON
HAD LOST THE TITLE.

HE FOUGHT
SO LONG AND HARD TO WIN,

AND THEN TO KEEP.

HIS ARMS INVOLUNTARILY CONVULSE
AND THEY GO UP LIKE THIS.

HE'S COUNTED OUT.

HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN UP,

WHICH LEADS AGAIN
TO ANOTHER STORY--

THAT HE THREW THE FIGHT

BECAUSE HE THREW
HIS ARM OVER HIS EYES.

AND YES, HE COULD
HAVE GOTTEN UP,

BUT ACCORDING TO
THE REFEREE JACK WELSH,

HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN UP
TO TAKE MORE DAMAGE.

AND AS WELSH SAID,
IF ANYTHING,

JACK JOHNSON
WAS A BUSINESSMAN,

AND HE KNEW
THIS WAS NOT HIS DAY.

I THINK, IN MY MIND,
HE WAS JUST OLD,

OVERWEIGHT, UNTRAINED,
AND IT WAS IT.

TIME TO GO.

Narrator: "JESS WILLARD,"

SAID A WRITER
FOR THE "NEW YORK TIMES,"

"HAD RESTORED
PUGILISTIC SUPREMACY
TO THE WHITE RACE."

Man, reading:
"THE ETHIOPIAN
HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.

"THERE WILL NEVER BE
A BLACK HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION,

"OR A COLORED CHAMPION
IN ANY DIVISION,
FOR THAT MATTER,

AT LEAST AS LONG
AS THE PRESENT
GENERATION ENDURES."

Narrator:
IT WOULD BE 7 YEARS

BEFORE A BLACK MAN
WAS ALLOWED TO FIGHT

FOR ANY BOXING TITLE AGAIN,

AND 15 MORE
UNTIL A BLACK CHALLENGER

GOT A SHOT
AT THE HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP.

Sugar: WILLARD WAS A NEW SAVIOR.

NOBODY PRAISED HIM
AS A FIGHTER,

BUT THEY PRAISED HIM
AS A SAVIOR OF THE WHITE RACE.

JACK JOHNSON WAS WRITTEN OFF.

HE BECAME A NON-PERSON AGAIN.

AS HE HAD
BEFORE HE WON IN 1908,

NOW IN 1915
HE WAS A NON-PERSON.

Man, as Johnson:
"I HAVE NO COMPLAINT TO MAKE
EXCEPT IN THIS:

"WHILE I WAS CHAMPION,

"I HAVE MADE
A GREAT MANY ENEMIES,

"MOST OF WHOM HATED ME
FOR NO OTHER REASON
THAN THAT I AM A NEGRO.

"THESE PERSONS
HAVE GOTTEN VINDICATION
IN MY DEFEAT,

AND I HOPE THE OBTAINED
FULL ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT."

Narrator: LATER,
JOHNSON WOULD CLAIM
HE HAD THROWN THE FIGHT.

IT WASN'T TRUE,

BUT BECAUSE THE FILMS
OF THE HAVANA BOUT

HAD ONLY RARELY BEEN SEEN
IN THE UNITED STATES,

AND IN THE FIGHT'S
MOST CELEBRATED STILL IMAGE

JOHNSON SEEMED TO BE SHADING
HIS EYES FROM THE SUN,

MILLIONS CAME TO BELIEVE IT.

JESS WILLARD DID NOT.

"IF JOHNSON THROWED
THAT FIGHT," HE SAID,

"I WISH HE'D THROWED IT SOONER.

IT WAS HOTTER THAN HELL
DOWN THERE."

Man, as Johnson:
"IN LOOKING BACK OVER THE YEARS
OF MY TUMULTUOUS CAREER,

"I'M ASTOUNDED WHEN I REALIZE
THAT THERE ARE FEW MEN

"IN ANY PERIOD
OF THE WORLD'S HISTORY

"WHO HAVE LEAD
A MORE VARIED

OR MORE INTENSE
EXPERIENCE THAN I."

Narrator: THE DAY AFTER
HE LOST THE TITLE,

JOHNSON APPLIED
FOR A NEW PASSPORT,

SAYING HE NOW WANTED
TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES.

SECRETARY OF STATE
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
REFUSED TO ISSUE HIM ONE.

HE AND LUCILE
MOVED ON TO ENGLAND,

WHERE A VAUDEVILLE TOUR
FAIRED POORLY,

AND HE GOT IN TROUBLE AGAIN,

THIS TIME FOR PUNCHING
HIS THEATRICAL MANAGER
IN THE EYE.

THE HOME SECRETARY
ORDERED HIM TO LEAVE
THE COUNTRY.

WITH MOST OF EUROPE
STILL AT WAR,

THE JOHNSONS FLED
TO NEUTRAL SPAIN.

WHEN AMERICA
ENTERED THE WAR IN 1917,

JOHNSON VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE
WITH U.S. FORCES IN FRANCE,

PROVIDED THE GOVERNMENT
GAVE HIM A PARDON.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
REFUSED TO MAKE A DEAL,

BUT FRENCH SOLDIERS
HAD ALREADY NAMED
A BIG ARTILLERY SHELL

THAT GAVE OFF BLACK SMOKE
"LE JACK JOHNSON."

WHEN WORD REACHED HIM
THAT HIS MOTHER
HAD DIED IN CHICAGO,

HE SENT A CHECK
TO PAY FOR HER FUNERAL.

BUT BECAUSE HE WAS STILL
A FUGITIVE,

HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.

HE WAS DRINKING
STILL MORE HEAVILY NOW,

AND WAS SHORT OF MONEY.

AMERICAN AGENTS IN MADRID

OVERHEARD HIM
CURSING HIS COUNTRY

FOR ITS TREATMENT OF HIM.

HE AND LUCILE
EVENTUALLY MOVED ON
TO MEXICO.

HE PRAISED IT
AS A FREE COUNTRY,
UNLIKE HIS OWN,

AND URGED OTHER
AFRICAN-AMERICANS
TO JOIN HIM THERE.

BUT AFTER
NEARLY 7 YEARS IN EXILE,

HE WANTED TO GO HOME.

Man, as Johnson:
"I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION

"THAT ONE OF MY GREATEST ERRORS
WAS MY FLIGHT TO EUROPE.

"DURING THE YEARS
IN WHICH I WAS A FUGITIVE,

"NOTHING CAME INTO MY LIFE

"IN THE WAY
OF ADEQUATE COMPENSATION

"FOR THE STINGS
AND GRIEFS I SUFFERED

FOR MY SEPARATION
FROM MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES."

Narrator:
IN THE SPRING OF 1920,

JOHNSON APPROACHED
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

HE WOULD SURRENDER PEACEFULLY
AND SERVE HIS TIME, HE SAID,

BUT HE DID NOT WANT
TO BE HANDCUFFED

AND HE WANTED
TO BE ESCORTED TO PRISON
BY A BLACK OFFICER,

NOT A WHITE ONE.

THE BUREAU PROMISED ONLY
THAT HE WOULD BE TREATED
WITH DIGNITY.

ON THE MORNING
OF JULY 20,

JACK JOHNSON STEPPED
ACROSS THE MEXICAN BORDER
AT TIJUANA

INTO THE ARMS OF THE LAW.

Man, as Johnson:
"I WAS BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL,

"AND THE REALIZATION THRILLED ME
AS MUCH AS THOUGH

"I WAS ENTERING
THE REALMS OF A STRANGE
AND UNEXPLORED LAND.

"NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER
THE UNITED STATES

"BLAZONED FORTH THE NEWS
THAT I HAD CROSSED THE BORDER

"AND SURRENDERED.

"ALL ALONG THE ROUTE,

"RAILWAY STATIONS
LARGE AND SMALL

WERE JAMMED WITH CROWDS
WAITING TO SEE ME."

Narrator: 500 PEOPLE
WERE THERE TO SEE HIM

GET OFF THE TRAIN
AT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

WHEN SOMEONE OFFERED
TO DRIVE HIM

TO THE FEDERAL PENITENTIARY,

THE PRISONER INSISTED
ON TAKING THE WHEEL.

JACK JOHNSON WOULD DRIVE
HIMSELF TO PRISON.

HE GAVE HIS PROFESSION
AS "PUGILIST/CHAUFFER."

ASKED TO GIVE A FULL HISTORY
OF THE CRIME FOR WHICH
HE HAD BEEN SENT TO PRISON,

HE WROTE ONLY, "IT IS ALLEGED
THAT I VIOLATED THE MANN ACT,

TO WHICH CHARGE I ENTERED
A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY."

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PRISONS

TURNED OUT TO BE
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE--

FORMER GOVERNOR
DENVER DICKERSON OF NEVADA,

THE POLITICIAN
WHO HAD MADE IT POSSIBLE

FOR JOHNSON TO FIGHT
JEFFRIES BACK IN 1910.

DICKERSON MADE JOHNSON
A TRUSTEE,

PUT HIM IN CHARGE
OF PHYSICAL TRAINING
FOR HIS FELLOW CONVICTS,

AND EVEN ALLOWED HIM
TO STAGE BOXING EXHIBITIONS.

ON THANKSGIVING DAY, 1920,
JOHNSON TOOK ON TWO CHALLENGERS,

KNOCKING ONE DOWN 12 TIMES

AND EASILY OUT-POINTING
THE OTHER.

EVEN IN PRISON,
JACK JOHNSON REMAINED
HIS OWN MAN.

Man, reading: "JANUARY 21,

"THIS PRISONER DOES NOT GET UP
FOR THE A.M. COUNT.

"THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE,

"AND HE SEEMS TO THINK
THE GUARDS' ORDERS
DO NOT APPLY TO HIM.

"FEBRUARY 23,
LOAFING IN MAIN HALL
AND OFFICES.

"HE COMES IN HALL WHEN READY,
ASKS NO PERMISSION.

"ALL BY HIMSELF,
GOES WHERE HE PLEASES,

ASKS NOBODY NO PERMISSION"--
OFFICER FOWLER.

Man, as Johnson,
"ON THE DAY I LEFT THE PRISON,

"MANY CLOSE FRIENDS
CAME TO MEET ME AT THE GATES.

"THERE WAS A SORT
OF GENERAL CELEBRATION,

"THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF WHICH
SURPRISED AND DISCONCERTED ME.

"IF I HAD EVER FELT
THAT MY LIFE HAD BEEN A FAILURE,

"I CHANGED MY OPINION
AND FOUND MYSELF REJOICING,
EAGER, AND CONFIDENT.

Narrator: JACK JOHNSON
WAS RELEASED FROM LEAVENWORTH

AT A LITTLE BEFORE
10:00 IN THE MORNING
ON JULY 9, 1921.

HE WAS 43 YEARS OLD.

LUCILE WAS WAITING FOR HIM.

HE TOLD REPORTERS
THAT HE PLANNED TO ORDER
A DOZEN SUITS

FROM HIS FAVORITE TAILOR
IN KANSAS CITY,

AND HE WANTED A FIGHT
WITH JACK DEMPSEY,

THE FORMER HOBO
WHO HAD TAKEN THE TITLE
FROM JESS WILLARD.

BUT DEMPSEY WOULD NOT FIGHT HIM
OR ANY OTHER BLACK CHALLENGER,

AND JOHNSON WAS FORCED
TO TAKE MEANINGLESS FIGHTS
IN MONTREAL AND HAVANA,

NOGALES AND JUAREZ.

HE WON THEM ALL,

UNTIL EVEN HIS GREAT SKILLS
GREW DULL.

BOXERS, MORE THAN
MOST ATHLETES,

CAN HAVE GREAT POWERS
OF DENIAL

AND CAN'T FACE THE FACT
THEIR SKILLS ARE ERODING,

AND THEY CONTINUE TO FIGHT
MUCH TOO LONG.

AND JACK JOHNSON
JUST KEPT GOING

BECAUSE HE WAS USED TO
A BIG LIFESTYLE.

HE LIKED THE ATTENTION,

AND HE KEPT HAVING
ALL THESE FIGHTS.

Narrator: AFTER MOST
BOXERS' CAREERS WERE OVER,

THEY HAD TO BE CONTENT
WITH THE NOSTALGIC APPLAUSE
THEIR NAMES EVOKED

WHEN THEY WERE
INTRODUCED FROM THE RING
BEFORE A BIG FIGHT.

NOT JACK JOHNSON.

HE SOUGHT THE SPOTLIGHT
TILL THE VERY END.

HE RETURNED TO VAUDEVILLE,
TRIED PREACHING,

SPOKE OF WANTING TO PLAY
"OTHELLO" ON BROADWAY.

RAN A HARLEM NIGHTSPOT
CALLED THE CAFE DELUXE

UNTIL A SYNDICATE
HEADED BY THE GANGSTER
OWNEY MADDEN BOUGHT IT

AND TURNED IT
INTO THE COTTON CLUB.

IN 1924, LUCILE DIVORCED HIM.

THE UNCONTESTED GROUND
WAS INFIDELITY.

HE WAS REMARRIED
THE FOLLOWING YEAR,

TO A DIVORCEE
HE HAD MET AT THE RACETRACK
NAMED IRENE MARIE PINEAU.

SHE WOULD REMAIN AT HIS SIDE
TO THE END OF HIS LIFE.

IN 1927, HE PUBLISHED
HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY,

IN WHICH HE STRUGGLED
TO REDEEM HIS REPUTATION,

TO RECAST HIMSELF AS THE MAN
HIS MOST ARDENT ADMIRERS
HAD WANTED HIM TO BE.

HIS JACK JOHNSON
NEVER TOLD A LIE

AND RARELY LOST A FIGHT
UNLESS HE WANTED TO.

HE HAD TREATED
ALL WOMEN WITH RESPECT

AND THOUGHT IT BEST
THAT YOUNG LADIES

NOT BE PERMITTED
TO GO TO NIGHTCLUBS.

HE PREFERRED
THE SPLENDID COMPOSITIONS
OF THE OLD MASTERS

TO WHAT HE DISMISSED
AS "THE CLEVER
SYNCOPATION OF JAZZ,"

AND URGED HIS READERS
TO EAT MORE FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES.

THE BOOK DID NOT SELL.

BUT AS MEMORIES FADED,
HIS REPUTATION DID IMPROVE.

IN 1936, WHEN JOHNSON
URGED BLACKS TO RE-ELECT
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT--

BECAUSE, HE SAID,
"F.D.R. IS THE CHAMPION NOW,
AND WEARS THE BELT"--

THE DEMOCRATS WERE HAPPY
TO HAVE HIM ON THEIR SIDE.

HE APPEARED
AS AN ETHIOPIAN GENERAL

IN A NEW YORK PRODUCTION
OF "AIDA."

HE STILL SOMETIMES FOUGHT
EXHIBITIONS,

AND OPPONENTS
STILL FOUND IT HARD
TO LAY A GLOVE ON HIM.

WHEN AN ALABAMA
SHARECROPPER'S SON
NAMED JOE LOUIS

BEGAN TO CLIMB THROUGH
THE HEAVYWEIGHT RANKS

THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY WIN
THE YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN
THE TITLE

22 YEARS AFTER
JOHNSON HAD LOST IT.

THE OLD CHAMPION
WAS NOT PLEASED.

TO WIN WHITE APPROVAL,

LOUIS' CAMP
HAD PUBLICLY DECLARED

THAT THERE MAN
WAS DIFFERENT IN EVERY WAY
FROM JACK JOHNSON.

LOUIS WAS FORBIDDEN
EVER TO ENTER A NIGHTCLUB ALONE,

TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED
WITH WHITE WOMEN,

EVEN TO SMILE
WHEN HE HAD BEATEN
AN OPPONENT.

JOHNSON WAS INSULTED.

HE SAW EVERY KNOCK-OUT BY LOUIS
AS A SLAP AT HIMSELF.

Sugar: WHEN JOE LOUIS
WAS EMERGING AS
A CHAMPION-TO-BE,

JACK JOHNSON
OFFERED UP HIS SERVICES
TO BE HIS TRAINER,

AND HE WAS TURNED DOWN
BY THE TWO BLACK MANAGERS
OF JOE LOUIS

BECAUSE HE EPITOMIZED
EVERYTHING THEY DIDN'T WANT
JOE LOUIS TO BE.

JOE LOUIS WAS TRYING
TO LIVE DOWN JACK JOHNSON.

SO JOHNSON NOW
LEAVES THE GYM IN CHICAGO,

WHERE HE'S OFFERED
HIS SERVICES

BEFORE THE FIRST
SCHMELING-LOUIS FIGHT,

AND SELLS A STORY
TO THE PAPERS

THAT SCHMELING
IS GOING TO WIN.

HE NOT ONLY TELLS EVERYBODY
THAT SCHMELING IS GOING TO WIN,

HE TELLS THEM HOW
SCHMELING IS GOING TO WIN.

GUESS WHAT.

HE WAS RIGHT.

Narrator: "NEITHER LOUIS,

NOR ANY OTHER FIGHTER
OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION,"

JOHNSON SAID,

"COULD EVER HAVE SURVIVED
AGAINST JACK JOHNSON
IN HIS PRIME."

AND HE TOOK ENORMOUS PLEASURE
IN THE FACT THAT NAT FLEISCHER,

THE EDITOR OF
"THE RING" MAGAZINE,"

WHO HAD SEEN THEM ALL
FROM JIM CORBETT
TO JOE LOUIS, AGREED.

"JACK JOHNSON," FLEISCHER SAID,

"WAS THE GREATEST
HEAVYWEIGHT IN HISTORY."

OFF AND ON FOR YEARS,

HE HELD FORTH AT A SEEDY
TIMES SQUARE CELLAR SIDESHOW
CALLED HUBERT'S MUSEUM,

PUNCHING A BAG,

SIPPING RED WINE
THROUGH A STRAW,

AND TELLING TALL TALES
ABOUT HIMSELF,

AND HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE
AS FAST AS HE LIKED.

IN THE SPRING OF 1946,

JOHNSON WAS RETURNING
FROM A TANK TOWN TOUR
OF EAST TEXAS

WHERE HE HAD APPEARED
AT MOVIE THEATERS
AND COUNTY FAIRS

HANDING OUT SOUVENIR CARDS
AND SHAKING HANDS WITH CHILDREN

AND WITH ALL THE OLD FIGHT FANS
WHO REMEMBERED HIM.

ON JUNE 10,
HE AND A FRIEND
NAMED FRED SCOTT,

STOPPED AT A DINER JUST OUTSIDE
OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA,

"THEY TOLD US
WE COULD EAT IN THE BACK
OR NOT AT ALL,"

SCOTT REMEMBERED.

"WE WERE HUNGRY,

"AND THE FOOD
HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVED,
SO WE ATE.

BUT BACK IN THE CAR,
JACK REALLY GOT ANGRY."

Narrator:
JOHNSON TOOK THE WHEEL

OF HIS LATEST
HIGH-POWERED AUTOMOBILE,

RACING NORTH ALONG HIGHWAY 1
AT BETTER THAN 70 MILES AN HOUR.

HURTLING AROUND A SHARP CURVE

NEAR THE LITTLE TOWN
OF FRANKLINTON,

HE LOST CONTROL.

THE CAR SWERVED
ACROSS THE WHITE LINE

AND SLAMMED
INTO A TELEPHONE POLE.

FRED SCOTT WAS THROWN CLEAR
AND SURVIVED.

JACK JOHNSON DIED
IN THE HOSPITAL
A FEW HOURS LATER.

HE WAS 68.

HE WAS BURIED IN CHICAGO.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SURROUNDED
THE PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH.

2,500 MOURNERS SAT INSIDE.

HUNDREDS MORE
FOLLOWED THE CASKET
TO GRACELAND CEMETERY

WHERE HE WAS BURIED
NEXT TO ETTA DURYEA JOHNSON.

Crouch: MY FATHER
ONCE SAW JOHNSON,

AND I COULD TELL
FROM THE WAY MY FATHER
SPOKE OF HIM

THAT HE MUST
HAVE BEEN SOMETHING,

BECAUSE MY FATHER
WAS A CRIMINAL

AND SO HE WAS SOMEWHAT CYNICAL
ABOUT MANY THINGS.

BUT WHEN HE STARTED TALKING
ABOUT JACK JOHNSON,

HE LIT UP
IN A VERY UNUSUAL WAY

AND TALKED ABOUT
WHAT IT WAS LIKE
GOING TO THIS GYM

IN LOS ANGELES SOMETIME
IN THE LATE THIRTIES
OR EARLY FORTIES

WHEN EVERYBODY WAS DOWN THERE
TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO FIGHT.

ONE DAY JACK JOHNSON
CAME IN THE GYM.

AND SO EVERYBODY STOPPED,

BECAUSE JOE LOUIS
WAS CHAMPION AT THAT TIME

AND THERE WAS JACK JOHNSON
STANDING THERE.

AND MY FATHER,
WHO WAS A REAL CLOTHESHORSE,

I REMEMBER THAT HE TALKED
ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFULLY
DRESSED JOHNSON WAS.

HE HAD THIS WALKING STICK

THAT HE OBVIOUSLY
HAD POLISHED, YOU KNOW,

AND HE HAD THESE SHOES
THAT WERE GLEAMING,

AND THE WAY HIS HAT WAS TURNED
A CERTAIN KIND OF WAY,

SILK TIE,
AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT.

AND SO JOHNSON SAID
TO THE GUY WHO RAN THE GYM,

"BRING ME THE FASTEST GUY
YOU GOT IN HERE."

AND SO JOHNSON
GOT IN THE RING.

AND HE JUST
TOOK THESE GLOVES,

AND HE STOOD THERE
IN ONE POSITION

AND HE JUST
MOVED HIS HANDS...

AND THE GUY
COULDN'T HIT HIM.

AND SO AFTER THE KID
GOT EXHAUSTED,

JOHNSON TOOK THE GLOVES OFF
AND THREW THEM DOWN

AND ADDRESSED THE REST
OF THE PEOPLE IN THE GYM,
SAYING THAT,

"YOU'VE NOW SEEN SOMETHING
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
DIDN'T WANT TO SEE."

HE SAID,
"I WAS A BRUNETTE
IN A BLONDE TOWN,

BUT GENTLEMEN,
I DID NOT STOP STEPPING."

AND HE TOOK HIS STUFF
AND LEFT.

IT SORT OF WAS LIKE
A MAGIC THING.

SO, IT'S LIKE,
HERE WAS THIS LEGENDARY GUY,

AND THEN HE PERFORMED
THIS MAGICAL ACT,

AND THEN HE LEFT,
LEGEND INTACT.

Man: WELL, I'D PUT HIM FIRST,

BUT HE WAS AN ARTIST,

AND ARTISTS LEAVE
ARTISTIC THINGS BEHIND,

AND THE MEMORIES OF JACK JOHNSON
ARE MEMORIES OF ART.

Jones: I THINK THE MAN
WAS ABOUT MOVEMENT...

NOT JUST THE MOVEMENT
IN THE RING,

WHICH HE WAS
A BALLET MASTER AT,

BUT MOVEMENT AND MIGHT.

"DON'T PIN ME DOWN.

"DON'T LOCK ME UP.

"DON'T EMBRACE ME TO DEATH.

DON'T USE ME AS YOU."

I DON'T SEE HIS LIFE
AS A TRAGEDY, EITHER.

THE SCENE WAS A TRAGEDY,

AMERICA WAS A TRAGEDY.

IT COULDN'T COPE WITH HIM.

AND I'D SAY
TO A LESSER DEGREE,

AMERICA WAS A TRAGEDY
IN TERMS OF RACE AND RACISM,

AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING
ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE STILL TRYING
TO GET OVER THAT LITTLE
PIMPLE IN OUR PSYCHE.

Newfield: I BELIEVE IT WAS
IN THE SUMMER OF 1968,

I WAS WRITING A PROFILE
OF MUHAMMAD ALI

AND HE CAME TO NEW YORK.

THIS WAS DURING HIS EXILE--

HIS LICENSE IS REVOKED,
HIS PASSPORT IS SEIZED,

HE CAN'T GET A FIGHT ANYWHERE--

AND HE GOES TO SEE
"THE GREAT WHITE HOPE"
ON BROADWAY,

WITH JAMES EARL JONES
PLAYING JACK JOHNSON

IN A SPECTACULAR,
PRIZE-WINNING PLAY.

AND I REMEMBER
HOW AFFECTED ALI WAS
BY THE PLAY.

THERE WERE OBVIOUS PARALLELS.

HE'S BEING PROSECUTED,

JACK JOHNSON
HAD BEEN PROSECUTED.

HE'S REVILED BY A SEGMENT
OF WHITE SOCIETY.

JACK JOHNSON WAS REVILED
BY ALMOST ALL OF WHITE SOCIETY.

THEY'RE BOTH EXTROVERTS.

THEY BOTH HAVE
EXTRAORDINARY PERSONALITIES.

AND I REMEMBER ALI
COMING OUT OF THE PLAY

AND A LOT OF
TV CAMERAS WERE THERE.

AND I REMEMBER HIM SAYING,

"I TOTALLY IDENTIFY
WITH JACK JOHNSON.

Jones: WHEN MUHAMMAD ALI
CAME TO SEE THE PLAY,

HE CAME BACKSTAGE
AND HE SAID,

"THAT'S MY STORY."

HE SAID, "YOU TAKE OUT
THE ISSUE OF THE WHITE WOMEN

"AND REPLACE THAT
WITH THE ISSUE OF RELIGION,

THAT'S MY STORY."

HE KEPT COMING BACK.

HE KEPT BRINGING PEOPLE BACK
TO SEE THE PLAY.

"THAT'S MY STORY."

I REMEMBER, BUNDINI BROWN,

WHO WAS MUHAMMAD ALI'S
CORNERMAN,

JUST BEFORE MUHAMMAD ALI--

OR PERHAPS EVEN IN
THE START OF A FIGHT,

HE WOULD SAY,
"GHOST IN THE HOUSE!

"GHOST IN THE HOUSE!

"JACK JOHNSON'S HERE!

GHOST IN THE HOUSE!"

AND HE SORT OF
OVERRIDES BOXING,

AND, INDEED,
THE WHOLE CULTURE
THAT SURROUNDS IT

LIKE SOME SORT OF A GHOST.

A GHOST IN THE HOUSE.

Crouch: I WOULD SAY IN HIS WAY,
ON A FAR LOWER SCALE,

JOHNSON IS THERE
WITH PEOPLE LIKE LINCOLN,

THOMAS EDISON, DUKE ELLINGTON,
LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

THEY'RE JUST HOMEMADE GUYS,

THESE GUYS WHO
YOU COULDN'T FIGURE OUT,

THAT THERE'S NO RECIPE FOR.

HE'S ONE OF THEM.

AND HE'S THE KIND OF A PERSON
WHO COULD HAVE ONLY HAVE TAKEN--

WHO COULD HAVE ONLY COME ABOUT
IN THE UNITED STATES,

BECAUSE AMERICA,
FOR WHATEVER ITS PROBLEMS,

STILL HAS A CERTAIN KIND
OF ELASTICITY

AND A CERTAIN LATITUDE
THAT ALLOWS THE PERSON

TO DREAM A BIG ENOUGH DREAM

THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED
IF THE PERSON IS AS BIG
AS THE DREAM.