The Great White Hopes: The Quest to Defeat Jack Johnson

by Graeme Kent, Harry Carpenter (Foreword)

In Sydney, Australia, in 1908 the talented black fighter Jack Johnson won the heavyweight championship of the world from the Canadian Tommy Burns. There was an immediate storm of protest. It was predicted that his reign would lead to civic unrest and race riots. This is the story of sport, racism, corruption and larger-than-life characters.

253 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

For eight years, Graeme Kent was Head of BBC Schools broadcasting in the Solomon Islands. Prior to that he taught in six primary schools in the UK and was headmaster of one. Currently, he is Educational Broadcasting Consultant for the South Pacific Commission.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing bonds an entire country of white people together, under one common goal, better than the quest to defeat a strong black man in power.

Luckily this happened over 100 years ago and we haven’t seen anything like that since.

Wait scratch that last sentence.

The book itself is a great history of boxing of that era but very repetitive.

[Kusaimamekirai · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When asked for his intentions should he lose, the pragmatic Smith answered grimly, ‘Fight again! And after that, more fighting, for that is how I live.’ ”

When Jack Johnson won the heavyweight championship of the world by knocking out Canadian Tommy Burns in 1910, he set the world on fire. Not only in the manner in which he did so by toying with Burns and openly mocking him throwing punch after punch, but because Johnson was Black. Rather Jack Johnson was unapologetically Black in that he dressed flamboyantly, raced fast cars, and dated white women (he famously said “I am not a slave . . . I have the right to choose who my mate shall be without the dictate of any man.”).
This was too much for the social mores of the day and so in the immediate aftermath of Johnson’s victory in which rioting White Americans across the country attacked and murdered innocent Black Americans, the search for a White challenger to Johnson began. For six long years, from England to Canada to Australia and back to America, fight promoters scoured the countryside looking for anyone to take on Johnson. “The Great White Hopes” looks at these challengers who in many ways lived as fascinating lives as Johnson did. They were a motley crew of farmers, actors, soldiers, steelworkers, and pretty much anyone of a decent size who could throw a punch. For many of them, this was a chance to make a name for themselves in an otherwise anonymous life. And of course, make some money along the way. Some went on to bigger and better things playing off of their fame as one of the “White hopes” . Most quickly sank back into obscurity and died penniless, forgotten, and cheated by unscrupulous managers and promoters.
As a fan of Jack Johnson, I really enjoyed this look at these obscure fighters (as well as some of the outstanding Black heavyweights of the day who never received the notoriety of Johnson) and the society that produced them. A book that can be enjoyed by boxing fans and non fans alike.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had this book on my shelf for a long time and finally read it these past couple of weeks after rekindling my interest in Jack Johnson following his recent pardon. While I was hoping it would give me some insight into the story of Jack Johnson, unfortunately, it did what the title of the book promised, looked at the many white boxers who were trying to unseat Johnson as heavyweight champion. So there was very little in here on who Jack Johnson was and instead, a lot of round-by-round recaps of over-matched fights. If you're into boxing history, it will serve its purpose, but if you want to learn more about Johnson, I'm sure there must be better options to consider.

[Daniel Headifen]

I think Duncs gave me this when K was born.