Unforgivable Blackness (2004)

Before there was Muhammed Ali, there was Jack Johnson. Ken Burns' documentary presents James Earl Jones, Keith David, Samuel L Jackson and Alan Rickman portraying the phenomenal story of the first black world heavyweight* boxing champion. He was a highly skilled boxer, head and shoulders above the rest of his generation, but he was a black man challenging white supremacy and even worse, he liked white women. The result was a combustible mix and one destined to drive even the most headstrong character to the very edge, but not before he had lived his life exactly how he chose to.
 
He fought with a languid standing style with fast hands and an Ali-esque lean, relying on his speed to avoid punches rather than blocking them. His stamina was usually the difference when fights were competitive, but selection of opponents was the main theme of his career. The leading white fighters would not face him as they considered the black man beneath them. Poorer white fighters and black fighters weren't enough to challenge him, but they were a paycheck as long as the fight was credible and punters could gamble. The result was long, staged, awkward fights. The best moment was when one of these stooges took a real swing against Johnson, perhaps out of boredom rather than anything else. Johnson, stunned, quickly recovers and turns his fury on his fraudulent conspirator, immediately knocking him out.

James Jeffries was the undisputed white champion, but refused to offer Johnson a shot, instead sending racial slurs and offensive comments his way. Post retirement as unbeaten champ, his successor as white champion, Burns, was drawn into a match with Johnson for a $30k purse. Johnson had waited years for the opportunity to win the World Championship belt and did not disappoint. Police stopped the fight and the title was awarded to Johnson on the referee's decision of knockout.

But victory and a title were not enough. The white public and press clamored for James Jeffries, the "Great White Hope" to reclaim the title for the white race. Meanwhile Johnson drove his fast cars and flaunted his relationships with white women. Finally, after several poorer white boxers had failed to trouble the champion, Jefferies agreed to come out of retirement setting up the "Fight of the Century".

However, the "Fight of the Century" in 1910 was almost as one sided as the fake fights. Following the years of racial abuse, Johnson was in no mood to end it quickly, and at times, Johnson visibly holds Jeffries on his feet to prevent him falling and the fight finishing. He was many years older than Johnson, and had not been able to recover his fitness or his strength, but afterwards he painfully admitted, "I couldn't have hit him. No, I couldn't have reached him in 1,000 years." Police stopped the fight and ordered the film cameras to stop running. The white world was spared the film of the great champion being knocked out.

But again victory was not enough. Unable to beat him in the ring, he was chased in the courts under whatever charge was remotely possible, no matter how bizarre. He was eventually convicted under the Mann Act for "transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes". Effectively white slaving. He had regularly traveled with his white female companions, often prostitutes though they did develop into long term relationships to places like Atlantic City for some fun. Eventually he was convicted, despite the acts having occured many years before the Mann Act was made law. His association with white women had been his undoing.

Skipping bail, he fled to Canada, then France. However, the impact of this loss was significant. Until this point he believed that no matter how many people hated him or how many attacks appeared, if his fists did the talking in the ring and he had money in his pocket, nothing else mattered. He was wrong ... in the end his freedom could be stolen from him. Years later he gave himself up and served a year in prison.


The story of his life was adapted into a play called the Great White Hope (later also a film), starring James Earl Jones. Muhammed Ali saw it in New York - the parallels could hardly have been clearer. Reportedly he went back several times to see the play, and later the film. Johnson's desire to live his own life despite the constant assaults, and his demands to be truly free were a direct inspiration. He simply did what he wanted, within the law, but was persecuted to the ends of the earth.

Incredible story of course, but this is also a really well made film with high quality talent throughout. Huge respect in particular for Samuel L Jackson and Alan Rickman. Ken Burns has subsequently led a charge to have Johnson formally pardoned. Obama will very likely do so before the end of his second term. Remarkable life, and remarkable to see how racism could permeate absolutely everything. This is another amazing film on youtube for free!

9 / 10