Jack Johnson America's First Black Sports Superstar

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[@Biographics]

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/BIOGRAPHICS for 10% off on your first purchase.

[@Tremont24]

Please do Booker T. Washington next

[@RMFpets]

Please do one on the invention of arc welding , I’m a welder and want to learn the transition from hot rivets to arc welding The change in engineering must of been immense

[@snypestaylor381]

..FOOD FOR THOUGHT: DID JOHNSON TAKE A DIVE TO WILLARD ?

[@goober5713]

To be a Boxer back then is nuts. To be a Black Boxer back then is even more crazy. Hats off to you good Sir.

[@hermajestyscourt]

true

[@BrandonJXN2]

True story: My grandmother hated when I made her coffee in the morning. She would always say, 'Brandon this coffee is about as strong as Jack Johnson.'

[@yecora10]

Well that could either be very racist and she was on about his skin colour or innocent and how strong he was physically .

[@tiborcsendes5269]

@@yecora10 Not everything is racist what includes black people and the color brown or black...

[@treesawittmann4075]

I believe the reference to “Jack Johnson black” is historically in reference to the actual Strength of the coffee, as was Jack Johnson.

[@mattysquizzato7094]

Why would anyone find this hard to believe?

[@nobodyfamousX]

​@@yecora10little column A, Little Column B

[@Loosegooseirl]

Super cool seeing you cover him. He's such an underappreciated figure

[@tonythetiger1600]

Never heard ov him but I'm English it blows my mind how racism was culturally acceptable years back when I was a kid 50 years was 2 much tine 2 get my head around noe I see its not long at all I'm 37 n can't imagine sports excluding any race . Its who's best at it n let's b real black men dominate certain sports 100m for example n white men are best swimmers we've come along way but there's allways room 4 improvement 1 love from uk

[@nullisecundus510]

The way he moved Was phenomenal for his time

[@Adiscretefirm]

How can a guy that big be so quick and smooth?

[@robdon3472]

Now I don't know if you mention this story in the video so I apologize if you do but... Johnson loved speeding in his car, and one day he was pulled over for speeding while heading out of town. The cop said it was a 50 dollar fine so Johnson pulled out a hundred. The cop said he didn't have any change and Johnson said that's alright "I'll be coming back through the other way"

[@joeyr7294]

Damn right lol 💯🚬🤣

[@jontyarnold8522]

Ha ha…. Of course though it was speeding that killed him….. great fighter… 🥊

[@Vinn_Tree]

That sounds like an innuendo

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Not the best thing to do, but still pretty funny.

[@JAG09717]

A great documentary on Jack Johnson is ‘Unforgivable Blackness’. James Earl Jones narrates it and Sam L Jackson quotes Johnson. Absolutely recommend you watch if you’re a boxing fan or enjoy black or American history

[@PhenomResurrections08]

Saw it a few months back. Fantastic stuff.

[@hectorsmommy1717]

It was excellent and made sense that Jones narrated since he played Johnson on stage in "The Great White Hope" as well as the movie adaptation. It was his big break.

[@ColtM1889]

Thanks for the heads up, don't know how I've missed it.

[@amatrex]

Co-sign! I don't think Ken Burns has ever directed a bad documentary.

[@kali3665]

Still say that's one of Ken Burns' best short-form biographies. Not a fan of boxing or wrestling, but Johnson's story is so inspiring. Johnson's tragedy is he wanted to live his life according to his own terms in an era where no one wanted to accept him as a human.

[@slimpickens01]

America's First Black Sports Superstar! Man did he set the tone. Fierce, ruthless swagger, confidence on fleek and put on a show.

[@michaelsinger4638]

He was a fantastic boxer for his time. Pity the society at the time couldn’t just leave him be.

[@marsuvesblack9645]

You mean the whites?

[@marsuvesblack9645]

@@jrsmith1008 I’m not hating you, stop playing victim. Also if you are a true Christian, it’s I identify as a Christian and that it. America isn’t a Christian nation, it’s a nation where you can be a Christian.

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

I wonder if he would have beat Mohammed Alli if they had both been the same age.

[@rockfresh5359]

@@marsuvesblack9645 Americans are phony Christians

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

@@marsuvesblack9645 America IS largely a christian nation tho

[@pamelamays4186]

Jack Johnson was definitely a trailblazer. 🥊🥊🔔

[@powerbad696]

I'm really AMAZED he didn't get LYNCHED !!! LOL.Especially dating & mating white women back then.

[@grantchilders6029]

A truly modern style defense boxer. Johnson was one of the first really great boxers and had immense size and speed for his time as well. The video of him knocking Stanley Ketchel out and wracking his teeth from his glove is the. It’s badass thing I’ve ever seen.

[@mattdrake2065]

Wow! I can’t believe you didn’t include how later in his life he went on to become a musician playing mostly acoustic-soft-surf-rock, writing numerous campfire classics such as “Flake”, “Upside Down” also proving himself as a rather accomplished acoustic guitarist with “Taylor”.

[@ghetto_shakespeare93]

😂😂

[@henrymcmiller2527]

Jack Johnson was before his time. I can only imagine what it was like to be black in 1905. Great documentary.

[@angiepangie2724]

Along this vein, may I suggest Jim Thorpe? He was a Native American athlete from Pennsylvania who won the Olympics decathlon in shoes from the trash then went on to play all sorts of professional sports.

[@GabriellaGabrielle]

Ok?

[@savagedarksider5934]

I recommend watching this great Jack Johnson documentary called the unforgiveness blackness.

[@sandybarnes887]

Unforgivable Blackness

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:25 - Chapter 1 - The rise of a champion 3:50 - Chapter 2 - Challenger to contender 6:10 - Mid roll ads 7:25 - Chapter 3 - The champion & the "great white hope" 11:55 - Chapter 4 - Down for the count 16:15 - Chapter 5 - The good times are over 19;40 - Chapter 6 - Legacy

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

Small typo on the chapter 6 timestamp but otherwise good job

[@pooka4094]

Here in Galveston we have a mural for him right along his street

[@nerdguru86]

That's awesome

[@taylorlibby7642]

The more I learn about Jack Johnson the more I admire the man. I'm surprised he didn't make clanging noises when he walked down the street. ; )

[@eldridgedavis]

Hmmm... maybe they did. 🤔

[@joshuaescopete]

I’d like to propose Gen. John Pershing. Head of the Expeditionary Forces during WWI. His military career tells the story of America’s imperialism, from commanding Buffalo Soldiers during the Span-Am War to hunting Pancho Villa amidst the Mexican Revolution. Surely a life worthy of Biographics.

[@bret9741]

If you haven’t, read the Patton Papers. There is so much history touching on the life of so many important people including Pershing.

[@troystaunton254]

Pershing, Sir John Monash and Arthur Currie should all be covered on this channel.

[@j.pershing2197]

Me 2.

[@claywright1617]

Chesty Puller would be another video I’d love to see

[@rashadjames8996]

Amazing yet tragic life story. The first Black World Heavyweight Champion in boxing history!!

[@savagedarksider5934]

You should watch the unforgiveness blackness.

[@kentajin7860]

@@savagedarksider5934 on my watch list!

[@GabriellaGabrielle]

@@savagedarksider5934 what’s it about?

[@dtill5322]

Technically that was Thomas Molineaux if you ever heard of him. You should look him up and read on him. Good and tragically sad story. But, he is really the first.

[@kentajin7860]

@@GabriellaGabrielle biography movie about this boxer!

[@connoisseur9069]

Incredible boxer for his time, as a long time fan of boxing I was hyped to see this video 🔥 One guy summed up Jack Johnson really well. “Society was the one that had a problem, Jack was just being Jack”

[@foxhoundp9949]

Y'all should do one for Sister Rosetta Tharpe!! If you have awesome! I just couldn't find it. We wouldn't have modern music if it wasn't for that woman and you hear all the time "women haven't contributed anything to history" this woman's story is an example of exactly why people think that. She was erased by everyone including minority groups. Black and white artist both relentlessly stole her work without credit. Early lgbtq+ folks dressed as her and played her music without credit. White people especially packed in theaters to see her but seldom talked openly about her and supported her. The few artists who tried to openly talk about her would be shut down, "that's not her song it's yours" You think of RnB you don't think Sister Rosetta Tharpe. You think of rock and roll, you don't think of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, you definitely don't think Sister Rosetta Tharpe when you hear punk, rap and electro dance beats, metal, hip hop, but almost NONE of that would exist without her.

[@bmac4]

Polyphonic has a solid video on her

[@tonythetiger1600]

I'm gonna look her up thanks foxy

[@foxhoundp9949]

@@tonythetiger1600 thank you! She deserves more appreciation! Especially if you are a huge music lover ❤️

[@tonythetiger1600]

@@foxhoundp9949 I j7st finished vid n yh she 1 cool lady it made me sad how she's looked past coz she really ticked all the boxes 1 a women 2 black n 3 bi ... elvis shouting her out was cool I like abit of elvis now n then jonny cash 2 xx

[@foxhoundp9949]

@@tonythetiger1600 I feel that comes mostly from white people trying to hard to be pc without understanding the conditions all artist but especially black artists had to deal with at the time to become famous. They don't realize that groups like the crickets (Buddy Holly) was strictly told to never play "(derogatory term) music" and openly talked about how he was influenced by black artists and respected Elvis for forcing his influence on the white folks. Elvis grew up in the same sleezy conditions most poc were having to deal with. It's a weird comparison but like Eminem gets to be one of the most famous white rappers with actual rap cred because he's from the same streets and experience. He earned it. Elvis could have also been easily thrown away for a number of pretty faces at the time because of his openness to promote black artists. Yes he used and was influenced by black artists but unlike many people of all races he used his platform to elevate those people. To openly denounce racism in music and he was so popular no one could do anything about it. It's an important detail often over looked in his life much like Monroe as well. It's dumb because the people they elevated at the time because pc people won't talk about it, we've forgotten for the most part. Keeping icons alive is the job of not just that marginalized communities job. They often get erased and not listened to already. It's partly the job of privileged people to step aside, shut up and give a platform to the people in need, people who often don't have a voice.

[@eldridgedavis]

Such an amazing career. He definitely was one hell of a boxer.

[@diegopons4622]

Finally! Jack Johnson. Thanks Biographics.

[@titogulliver138]

If you know about boxing, in top 10 of any heavyweights, his story is scary, a true legend and person . His legend will live on, from a white guy from the uk , I truly admire him, and how he dealt with hate xxxxx god bless jack Johnson

[@sherirobinson6867]

Just a side note, when Jack Johnson left Galveston Island he vowed to never return. He never did return to the island. With all his Fame and philandering, law enforcement vowed to hang him if he ever returned. His childhood home is being restored after being set of fire a couple years ago at 28th and K on Galveston Island. It took the island until the last couple decades to finally recognize Jack Johnson as their own. Now we have statues, community center and a little Park named after the man who did it his way.

[@kyleclark5532]

Thank you Biographics! I’m so happy you did a video on Jack Johnson!

[@troystaunton254]

Be good to see one on Arthur Beetson. The 1st aboriginal to captain a mixed Australian team in any sport, and did it at a time when the Australia as a whole wasn’t exactly fond of recognising aboriginals as people. Great man, great human great sportsman. Also Shane Keith Warne would be an interesting one.

[@josephphoenix1376]

Excellent Choice for an Episode!

[@Will-ex2wr]

Great job on Jack Jackson. He was an amazing boxer and broke many barriers.

[@jamesmartin6050]

Future Video suggestion - Eamon DeValera (1882-1975) - prominent political leader in 20th century Ireland who, after the Irish war of independence from 1919 to 1921, was in the public eye for over forty years from 1922 until his death were he served as head of government (Taoiseach) and head of state (president). He was nearly executed in the Easter Rising in 1916 and was key in putting into place the new constitution on 1937. A very prominent figure in Irish history.

[@joeyr7294]

Sounds good to me! 🍻

[@garycollier3659]

A video on Major Taylor, also born in 1878, he was a black professional racing cyclist would also be really interesting. Great video, thanks.

[@garycollier3659]

Sorry, meant professional

[@bigdubya001]

It can be argued he was the actual first black superstar athlete. He reached stardom a few years before johnson.

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

@@garycollier3659 You know you can edit comments, right?

[@garycollier3659]

@@forcedtohaveahandle cheers mate, never knew that, getting on in years😀

[@badluck5647]

I grew up in Galveston, so why haven't heard of Jack Johnson?

[@titogulliver138]

Jack Johnson legend

[@dcDOC19]

I absolutely love this channel!! I've also been curious about the life of Jack Johnson, thanks!!

[@LoriFoster]

Johnson had one of the biggest set of Balls ever in Sports and in Life! He stood alone against Damn well over half America and stood talk. Few have that kind of nerve! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@MysteicVoltronus]

I love there was a time when boxing was considered safer then bike racing.

[@roydrink]

Not safer, JJ was 6’6” way too big for bicycle racing.

[@battlebeard2041]

Go for a series and do Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali.

[@trj1442]

A bio episode on Joe Louis would be good too. As well I'd I love to see an episode on Admiral Richard E Byrd.

[@PinkyJujubean]

Miles Davis did an album that was the soundtrack for a documentary about him. It's a pretty good album

[@savagedarksider5934]

Great job with the video. I've been waiting for this.

[@aaronhurst4379]

I would have loved to have heard the attending crowd's reactions to Johnson winning the championship and then his win over Jeffries

[@ttheway2life157]

Jack Johnson also patented a wrench improvement.

[@AfroNerd-cv1dl]

Excellent excellent excellent! I absolutely love the video, I would love to see more African American figures talked about on the channel. You do a great job, and have instilled in me many heroes to look up to 😃👍

[@AoDlfShitler101]

I think Jack Johnson is the second best fighter ever, behind Ali 🥊

[@shakiMiki]

Another great video about someone many of us were hithero unaware of.

[@FatRonaldo1]

So glad you’ve made this! Could you please do a video on Henry Winton and his kindertransport?

[@Kenxclout]

Looking forward to this episode 🔥

[@mr.everything9120]

My absolute favorite boxer.

[@JR-mj8ph]

I love this channel. I always learn something new!

[@masterred8958]

I've been waiting for this for so long

[@marniusvanderlubbe]

so many people don't know about his story and it's one of the greatest American stories ever I mean he became the heavyweight champion as a black man when lynching was a normal thing dude just truly did not care what anyone thought of him

[@sayharris1361]

Thanks Simon nice piece on Jack Johnson.

[@josephkmeyer5178]

I’m wondering if you all would ever be willing to do one on Governor George Wallace? I think his trip from moderate to the face of segregation, his presidential campaign and assassination attempt, all the way back to moderate is an interesting story. Just how chasing the vote and populism can change someone for the worse.

[@michaelciarla3836]

That was a great episode!!! 👍👍

[@York22]

Love your videos as always, you should do a video on Milton Hershey.

[@coreymasoy7034]

Great episode ⭐

[@thomasderry3757]

You kinda skipped over the person Jack Johnson credits for teaching how to really box, Joe Choynski

[@GregCooperJr.]

I've been waiting for this episode. Long Long over due!!!

[@kentajin7860]

Finally an Athlete biography after a very long time from you!

[@lesevans6567]

That John L. Sullivan fought an ungodly fights. That went on for days. It was crazy.

[@dante040]

He was an indecent man in an indecent time.

[@davelucky77]

Really love the recent athletes video, I would love to see Maurice Richard soon.

[@archstanton6102]

Now please do Joe Louis.

[@JoanieAdamms]

A mighty fine sir, in a mighty fine time; we shall so find ourselves within.

[@GJ-ly1mv]

Simon, have you done a video about Ian Fleming? The writer of the James Bond novels.

[@New_LoJack]

You forgot to mention his hit “upside down”

[@hannahterry6316]

Legendary boxer and banana pancakes is a bop, what can't jack Johnson do

[@japsniper1980]

You should do a video on Thomas Midgley, Jr. This chemist worked on creating leaded petrol and Freon. He helped to pollute the air with leaded petrol, despite knowing how dangerous it was (it nearly killed him), and then helped to destroy the Ozone layer by creating Freon. His death had a cruel twist, as it was his 3rd and final invention that would take his life.

[@bzrnes9128]

Great video Simon, more boxers please !

[@MrOwl-mw3fb]

GREAT! Thank you.

[@RMFpets]

Please do one on the invention of arc welding , I’m a welder and want to learn the transition from hot rivets to arc welding The change in engineering must of been immense

[@EddieisKrueger]

Actor Mahershala Ali to star as Boxer Jack Johnson In ‘Unruly’ HBO Limited Series

[@lesevans6567]

I always think of a song, “Fair thee Well Titanic, Fair thee Well”. Whenever I hear Jack Johnsons name.

[@RedQuill567]

The man that inspired my favorite jazz album.

[@jalenikezeue4114]

Mr Johnson Is Still a Inspiration to All the reason why I ❤ him is because He listen to his Heart. Stand Tall And Always Reach For The ⭐

[@JesusChrist2000BC]

Early 20th century America was one of the saddest countries ever. Even decades after the civil war and slavery officially ended so many backwards people existed.

[@takurachindove]

Ah yes, the past was actually the worst. 2022: “Hold my drink”

[@Truename586]

2023

[@JohnEBoy66]

That's America for you.

[@elijahpritchard549]

What this man got away with back then. He's the GOAT 🖐🏾 over ✊🏾

[@josephreynolds4032]

THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME

[@invincibleluis]

Would love to see the biographies of Sasaki Kojiro and Césare Borgia in the future.

[@hamzaferoz6162]

Please do a Biography on Simon Whistler

[@hiphopdirewolf454]

Please do a video on Bartley Gorman a bare knuckle boxer from uk

[@v.emiltheii-nd.8094]

I wanna see a video on the original BVOVP (Bruising Vengeance of the Vintage Boxer) aka John L Sullivan.

[@stevehoward5093]

Should be a good one this one 🤙🏻😎

[@ianmurphy9955]

Could we maybe get a biographic on King Charles III, he's been confirmed as King

[@joeyr7294]

I second this! I think it would be interesting to find out how crooked or not he is, how competent is he, how many shitty pies has he had his hands in throughout his past....ya know thinks like that lol

[@richardhoff1626]

I am a huge Jack Johnson fan. Society needed someone to poke them in the eye and fight true racism. Nobody did that better than Jack Johnson.

[@michaelthomas8147]

He was notorious for abusing women and his infidelity. But at least he fought racism.

[@eldios831]

@@michaelthomas8147 nobody is perfect... beyond his personal life his outside fight was badly needed to fight racist

[@michaelthomas8147]

@@eldios831 Asking that you not beat your female spouse is not demanding perfection. This demonstrates how the l eft prioritizes their agendas. Combating waaaacism is higher up on the pr ogressive stack, so incidents of w oman beating can be ignored or downplayed to achieve that goal.

[@Mr.Schitzengigglez]

As a former fighter, I've never, ever seen a fighter make a decision, based on race. We don't care about race. We respect the fighter, not the color of their skin. Fighters don't care about politics. Promoters do.

[@kahlilboi]

Pretty sure you never fought in the Jim crow era 😅

[@nerdguru86]

Bruh this was during the Jim Era...people obviously cared about race then...still do...just because some of us don't care about race, doesn't mean most people do care...

[@LORD_HYBRID]

Swaggiest and would kick your butt. The mold that the Ali's and Mayweathers and Tysons come from. True American Icon!

[@michaelgruel1570]

To her defense in the Ken burns doc. She was threatened mercilessly by the police to flip on him but she still besmirched my family name by letting the pigs break her

[@shitori_1410]

Hi, could you guys cover Dr. Jose Rizal...please...🙏

[@aking2330]

20 rounds into a fight might kill someone now

[@PinkyJujubean]

They need to make an old school boxing game where you can play as people like Jack Johnson and John L Sullivan

[@swagbandit]

Suggestion : Thinking about admiral Byrd

[@zaco-km3su]

Interesting guy!

[@dynaman7329]

Could you cover Ian Felming in your next video?

[@eaphantom9214]

Since you're on African Americans 🇺🇸 why don't you do the famous Texas born Pianist - Scott Joplin - 🎶 🎶 🎹 Next time? Never herd of Jack Johnson, wish I did! A time where your skin colour was your crime 😔

[@littleblackduck3134]

Once again a Biograhics post scores a knockout

[@racheljuster4009]

I propose Wendell Scott!! First African American man in NASCAR. Now THAT would be interesting 🧐 Please Simon! 🙏