Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line (Volume 33)

by Theresa Runstedtler

In his day, Jack Johnson—born in Texas, the son of former slaves—was the most famous black man on the planet. As the first African American World Heavyweight Champion (1908–1915), he publicly challenged white supremacy at home and abroad, enjoying the same audacious lifestyle of conspicuous consumption, masculine bravado, and interracial love wherever he traveled. Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner provides the first in-depth exploration of Johnson’s battles against the color line in places as far-flung as Sydney, London, Cape Town, Paris, Havana, and Mexico City. In relating this dramatic story, Theresa Runstedtler constructs a global history of race, gender, and empire in the early twentieth century.

Genres: Sports, History, African American

376 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Kusaimamekirai · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am not impartial in any respect when it comes to Jack Johnson. He is one of the most important figures of the 20th century in addition to being one of the coolest and badass people who ever lived.
I first remember hearing about Jack Johnson sometime when I was in university. I had seen an advertisement for the Ken Burns documentary on his life and remember thinking that despite considering myself relatively well versed in history and sports, I had no idea who Jack Johnson was. What a revelation discovering Johnson was. The more I learned about him, the more I was in awe of him.
We often describe our “celebrities” as larger than life but if that description ever fit anyone, it fit Jack Arthur Johnson. Born to a poor family in Texas, Johnson achieved through his own work what every American is told is possible. Scrapping, fighting, travelling the country working odd jobs, Johnson eventually worked his way up to become the first black heavyweight champion of the world in 1908, and with the pandemonium it caused around the globe, figuratively and in many cases literally setting the world on fire. If this were all he accomplished it would be admirable in and of itself. However Johnson wasn’t content to simply be champion, he was going to be champion on his own terms. Johnson was outspoken in every possible way. From his criticism of the color line in both America and his adopted Europe, to his love of fast cars, brash fashion, and white women, Johnson apologised for nothing and more often than not found himself the target of white authorities intent on putting him in his place. Perhaps it’s unsurprising considering Johnson said things like:

When asked if he would return to the United States, Johnson joked, “I've got a good many friends there but when I meet them, if there is such a place as heaven, I hope it will be heaven and not America.”

Or:

“I never celebrate for America,” declared Johnson, who also asked, “What has America done for me? Has it ever given me a square deal? Did it give me a shout when I won? Not on your life. Say son, I've given up thinking about America.”

When the search for a “great white hope” to defeat him failed spectacularly on several occasions, it took the US government resorting to trumped up charges to force him into exile and eventual imprisonment(he was convicted of violating the Mann Act which forbade transporting women over state lines for prostitution or ‘immoral sexual acts’).
Before submitting to authorities however, Johnson lived in Russia, Cuba, Mexico, France, England, and many other countries, always finding a large group of supporters wherever he went. These supporters were often other people of color or colonial subjects who saw in Johnson a potent symbol of their own aspirations for freedom. To many outside the United States, Johnson remains an inspiration.
This book while about Jack Johnson is much more about the world around him and what the world for an uncompromising black man at the turn of the 20th century looked like. The author puts into context what having an unapologetic person of color meant to oppressed people around the world and how his influence created a legacy that reverberated long after he was gone.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly researched, important book. While it's not hard to find out about the way Johnson was treated in the US, his coverage and experiences abroad are much harder to come by; that lack is ably corrected by Rebel Sojourner. It's depressing and infuriating to read the language used all over the world to describe not only Johnson but also other fighters of African descent, but it's also thrilling to read Runstedtler's quite compelling case for the inspiration Johnson provided to nonwhite people, so much so that colonial powers obsessed over making sure that their 'possessions' didn't get a look at the films of his fights. Yes, the writing is a little academic, but it fits the topic and the book is never less than compelling.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this book I thought it was a biography of Jack Johnson except there are long periods where the author doesn’t mention his name but goes on about the racial tensions and bigotry of the era. It tells of Johnson battles against prejudice, racial tension rioting getting fights in the various places where Johnson lived and fought, US, Britain, Australia and France.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Runstedtler argues that early 20th century African-American boxer Jack Johnson seriously tested the global color barriers with both his success and bombastic life style in doing so. Whites in the US, Britain, France, and more struggled how to meet his challenge, both in finding a “great white hope” to defeat him and how to contain and commodify his otherness. Johnson himself openly pursued white women, a major taboo in the heart of both Jim Crow USA and the height of European domination of the globe through colonialism.

Chapter one explores his rise and the affair he had with a white Australian woman and defeat of Tommy Buruh in 1908, which doubled the challenge to the global color barrier. Chapter two looks to the search for a great white hope after his defeat of Jeffries in 1911, an international affair pursued by both boxers in the US and UK, despite his initial love England. Chapter three explores his exile after his conviction under the Mann Act during the height of the “white slave” hysteria, and how he adapted to permanent exile as part of a larger African-American celebrity ex-pat community. Chapter five notes that black celebrities in Paris were treated with open arms on first glance, but on the interior a deep commodification and exotification of blackness was the primary interest of French embrace of Johnson. Chapter six looks to how Johnson traveled in the Latin America, while chapter seven looks to what happened after Johnson returned to the United States in 1920, and the anti-colonial black radicalism opened up in the sporting world by Johnson’s pioneering.

Key Themes and Concepts
-Johnson exposed the fragility of whiteness both in the United States and in Europe, setting the stages for later black boxers, especially Joe Louis.

[Matthew Picardat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insight into Jack Johnson's experiences.