In the post slavery and Reconstruction era of the United States, two men were born who would change the landscape of the country, although their backgrounds in some ways were diametrically opposite, the disapproval and hostility to the way they lived their lived were parallel. Arthur (Jack) Johnson and Paul Leroy Robson were pioneers in sports, brave in combating the racism of their times, and unrelenting in their quest to exert their manhood. Both men were forerunners of greatness, paving the way for the African-Americans who followed them, who are recipients of the opportunities that these two great men created. I will attempt to give evidence of how these men changed the landscape of sports in America, but whose impact on society exceeds
…show more content…
(Farr 4-7). Historian Randy Roberts, in his essay Galveston’s Jack Johnson: Flourishing in the Dark, denotes that, Henry Johnson was a Civil War Veteran who was injured and left crippled for the rest of his life and worked numerous jobs to support his family, and his mother Tina supplemented the family income working as a domestic. (Roberts 39). Legend has it that Henry was once a bare knuckles fighter who entertained plantation owners and he eventually purchased a plot of land and built a family home which was a great accomplishment for an ex-slave living on a meager wage sustenance. (Roberts 39-40). Geoffrey C. Ward’s biography of Johnson, Unforgivable Blackness, explains, that additional family members included nine children of whom Jack was the third oldest, and all from the eldest to the youngest assisted their father with his numerous jobs, and Jack especially remember sweeping out schoolrooms when his father was a janitor. (Ward 6). Randy Roberts also details in his book, Papa Jack: Jack Johnson and the Era of White Hopes, that Jack Johnson left school after five years in elementary school after learning how to read and write. (Roberts 6). Activities for young …show more content…
(Ward 12). Heavyweight Champion of the world is fashioned as the ‘“the Emperor of Masculinity,’” states imitable writer Gerald Early in Ward’s biography of Johnson. (Ward18). Exceedingly important in the social construct of race, and the prevailing attitude of White supremacy, the heavyweight title exemplified to everyone that the nation was justified in its mistreatment of Blacks and other people of color. (Roberts 18). In the era that Jack Johnson entered into participating in boxing, Theresa Runstedtler, in her book Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line, explains, that White men held the title of champion in most weight classes, and all pledged not to even let a Black man even attempt to engage in challenging for the crown. (Runstedtler
(Farr 4-7). Historian Randy Roberts, in his essay Galveston’s Jack Johnson: Flourishing in the Dark, denotes that, Henry Johnson was a Civil War Veteran who was injured and left crippled for the rest of his life and worked numerous jobs to support his family, and his mother Tina supplemented the family income working as a domestic. (Roberts 39). Legend has it that Henry was once a bare knuckles fighter who entertained plantation owners and he eventually purchased a plot of land and built a family home which was a great accomplishment for an ex-slave living on a meager wage sustenance. (Roberts 39-40). Geoffrey C. Ward’s biography of Johnson, Unforgivable Blackness, explains, that additional family members included nine children of whom Jack was the third oldest, and all from the eldest to the youngest assisted their father with his numerous jobs, and Jack especially remember sweeping out schoolrooms when his father was a janitor. (Ward 6). Randy Roberts also details in his book, Papa Jack: Jack Johnson and the Era of White Hopes, that Jack Johnson left school after five years in elementary school after learning how to read and write. (Roberts 6). Activities for young …show more content…
(Ward 12). Heavyweight Champion of the world is fashioned as the ‘“the Emperor of Masculinity,’” states imitable writer Gerald Early in Ward’s biography of Johnson. (Ward18). Exceedingly important in the social construct of race, and the prevailing attitude of White supremacy, the heavyweight title exemplified to everyone that the nation was justified in its mistreatment of Blacks and other people of color. (Roberts 18). In the era that Jack Johnson entered into participating in boxing, Theresa Runstedtler, in her book Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line, explains, that White men held the title of champion in most weight classes, and all pledged not to even let a Black man even attempt to engage in challenging for the crown. (Runstedtler