Boxer
Jack Johnson became the first African American to win the World Heavyweight Championship back in 1908. During the height of his worldwide fame, Johnson made no secret of his affinity for white women, and as anyone knows, a lot of people, both black and white, disapproved of his dalliances in those days. He was married three times, each time to a white woman. When he married his second wife,
Lucille Cameron, two white Southern ministers called for Johnson to be lynched.
Instead, Johnson was arrested in 1912 on charges of violating the Mann Act, which prohibited "transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes." He was accused of doing that with Cameron, who was apparently a prostitute. Cameron refused to cooperate with the courts, though, so the prosecution had no case. A month later, Johnson was arrested again on similar charges. The prosecution was able to get testimony from Belle Schreiber, another prostitute that Johnson was apparently with in 1909 and 1910.
Johnson was convicted in June 1913 and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. He skipped bail and lived abroad in Canada, Europe and South America for seven years before returning to the United States and turning himself in.
It's widely believed that the charges were just a way to punish Johnson for his interracial relationships. In that regard, Senators
John McCain and
Peter King are trying to get President
Barack Obama to give Johnson a presidential pardon but have not yet heard a response.
"Regrettably, we have not received a response from you or any member of your administration," they wrote in a letter to the administration,
according to the Associated Press, adding that they hoped that Obama would be eager to "right this wrong and erase an act of racism that sent an American citizen to prison."
The White House declined to comment on the issue, but McCain understands that Obama is dealing with more pressing issues at the moment.
"The president's been very, very busy," McCain said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. "Hopefully, this letter will be a kind of reminder that it's important to get it done. But I'm not critical of the president yet. We'll give him some time."
A petition to pardon Johnson, which was organized by filmmaker Ken Burns, was originally filed with the Justice Department in 2004. Burns' 2005 documentary, 'Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson,' looked closely at the entire case.
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This Week in Black History: October 18-24, 2009
Jack Johnson wasn't the only black celebrity who was pursued by the government because he offended mainstream sensibilities. Actor Paul Robeson had his passport revoked for years over his leftist political views. Find out what Robeson and others were doing this week in black history.
Herbert Gehr, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images
Getty Images AsiaPac
BlackVoices.com
October 20, 1971
Calvin 'Snoop Dogg' Broadus was born in Long Beach, California. Snoop came to fame with the release of his seminal work 'Doggystyle' in 1993. This album was the first debut LP to reach No. 1 on the pop charts upon its release.
Greetsia Tent, WireImage
October 20, 1955
Harry Belafonte recorded 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' for his album 'Calypso' (1956). 'Day-O' is a traditional Jamaican folk song with many versions. Belafonte's hit helped popularize calypso music around the world. His 'Calypso' album was first LP that sold over 1 million copies.
Hulton Archive / Getty Images
October 20, 1955
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. Gillespie would go on to become one of the most respected and legendary innovators of bebop jazz. He toured and performed until his death in 1993.
Keystone / Getty Images
October 24, 1970
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women was founded in New York City by entrepreneur Jewell Jackson McCabe, pictured here. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women now provides mentoring, networking and professional development opportunities to African American women across the U.S., its numbers far exceeding 100.
AP
October 24, 1948
Kweisi Mfume was born Frizzell Gray in Silver Spring, Maryland. As a young man, Mfume provided financial support for his siblings after his mother died as a teen. (His father had abandoned the family in his youth.) Despite difficult beginnings, he went on to attain a masters degree in international studies, was a U.S. congressman and served as the president of the NAACP.
Paul J. Richards, AFP / Getty Images
October 19, 1943
The classic play 'Othello' opened at the Shubert Theater in New York City starring Paul Robeson in the title role. A huge success, the show ran for 296 consecutive performances, setting a record for a Shakespearean drama on Broadway.
Herbert Gehr, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images
October 20, 2006
The history of the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first military unit of black aviators, was added to the official curriculum of the United States Air Force Officers Training School. All future leaders of the Air Force will now visit historic sites, watch films and learn from historic personages related to the experiences of these legendary fighters.
USAAF / AP
October 23, 1947
The NAACP made an official appeal to the United Nations, asking the international community to address the horrors of racism in the United States. Entitled "An Appeal to the World," this petition was prepared and presented by W.E.B. Du Bois.
AP
October 24, 1935
Langston Hughes' play 'Mulatto' became the first play written by an African American to become a Broadway hit. One of the literary stars of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes used his production to explore the experiences of mixed-race blacks.
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
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Comments: (148)
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By: Tom Cole on 10/21/2009 2:08PM
STAY AWAY "R's"! That means you McCain, Palin, and everybody else.
You have done enough, we hate you!
(You are enemies of the working middle class.)
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By: Jim on 10/21/2009 2:29PM
You know something idiot. As a business owner (also a Republican), I provide jobs for the "working class". In fact I've quite paying myself and I took my salary and divided it to my employees.
You are soooo stupid that you actually believe the Democrats are your friends! All they've done is help keep you dependent on them. Break free. Become independent of the government. Stand up for yourself. I know it's tough have a government raise and support you from "cradle to grave" but that's what they want and apparently what YOU need.
STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!
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By: Doug on 10/21/2009 2:34PM
Hey Tom,
North Korea awaits you!!!!!
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By: Jack on 10/21/2009 2:37PM
So, Skip, just what is "middle class" to you? I'm amazed that the line between middle class and upper class move around when it suits the socialists.
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By: Mersal on 10/21/2009 8:07PM
This is just politics. McCain doesn't give a damn about Jack Johnson. He just is postering. Kind of pathetic. This issue came up in 2004. You didn't see him asking that wacko Bush to pardon him did you. That's why i can't stand the Republicans of today. just people of no integrity, full of hate and anger and full of sh*t. they disgust me. And i make upper 6 figures so you broke ass republicans back off. then they hide behind God as though he doesn't know their heart and is fooled. Please
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By: David Buffamoyer on 10/21/2009 2:12PM
Good for john McCain, good for Jack Johnson and it would be smart of Obama. This is clearly a case of Racism and should have never been allowed to happen. I am kinda suprised the annointed ones handlers didnt think of it for publicity, but either way he needs to apologize to his family and wipe that record clean.
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By: Mkrmorgan03 on 10/21/2009 2:48PM
Why must Obama do this? Why didn't the two George Bush's, clinton, and Reagan do this a long time ago? This is a political stunt for McCain. yes Obama should, but it shows no one had the heart to do it before because they showed their true colors and didn't care about what was right or wrong!
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By: E. Martinez on 10/21/2009 3:57PM
Do you seriously believe McCain "cares" about Jack Johnson? LOL
It's SO easy to read between the lines but the fact that you Reukes can't seem to do so only tells me how it's important it is to keep you the minority in our Government!!
McCain is USING this man and his story because we have an A.A. President! Did he ask BUSH Sr. or BUSH Jr. to pardon him, you know, during their Presidencys? NO, didn't think so. Now ask youself why. Oh wait, I forgot. When it comes to the Repukes, asking questions such as this one, one that lends itself toward "what's his REAL AGENDA", those are questions you're more than willing to OVERLOOK!!!
Are you going to tell me had McCain won, this would have been #1 on his list of things to get done in his first yr??? LOL That's a bunch of B.S. and you know it!!
While I agree with McCain on "righting a wrong" in this case, by asking the President to do so and by making it PUBLIC (or was that letter leaked? lol)SHOWS you what his TRUE MOTIVE is and it's NOT what he'd like you to believe!!! *rolling eyes*
Peace
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By: Rangerfan on 10/21/2009 5:03PM
Ya know, you started off strong but your juvenile use of the term "annointed one" just makes you sounds petty. I've never heard anyone except, Rush, Fox News viewers and Fox News talent refer to the President as the "annointed one". That's fine I suppose but don't you feel just a little stupid writing something like that?
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