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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Happy Birthday, Mr. T!
Comments: (148)
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By: DARRYL on 11/08/2009 9:58PM
I SAY PARDON YES, BUT DONT FORGET IT IS STILL THE SAME TODAY WITH A NEW RACIST FACE, GAME CHANGED BUT STILL THE SAME. WWW.DJUSTICEOFONE.WORDPRESS.COM
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By: ray on 10/26/2009 6:30PM
damn...hell yeah this brotha should be pardon...shit to be banging white girls back in those days, my hats off to you....
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By: britney on 10/27/2009 11:21PM
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By: rikstik71664 on 1/28/2010 9:24PM
like fred sanford say's "Ya Big Dummy"
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By: Jewel on 1/29/2010 7:43PM
McCane (spelled correctly) and Peter King Kong both need to go sit down. Why? They are both full of $##! If they really gave a damn about racial injustice they would be working on helping victims of Hurricane Katrina that want to return to their homestead or getting a comprehensive healthcare reform bill passed. But no, they choose to waste the president's time with this nonsense. I'm not saying that Jack Johnson's pardon is irrelevant. But, I am sure that he would want to see justice for his people demonstrated on a daily basis in the here and now.
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By: martha sheard on 3/03/2010 6:18PM
To hell with Jack Johnson! Why should a Black President pardon him? Let a white one do it. Jack Johnson, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, etc. etc. All of them are sellouts who hate themselves for being born Black. White folks can have em.
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By: jjdezzy2003 on 10/22/2010 5:05PM
jim who cares if your a rep or a demo that doesnt make you smart
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By: Meanchick on 6/13/2011 12:55PM
Pardon? NOW? Really? The charges speak more loudly than a pardon ever could. This is a political move. Where was McCain during the previous Presidential terms? Is this supposed to be a ploy to make black angry at Obama? Epic Fail on your part McCain. Bad timing and classless on your part. I don't remember you mentioning this one time during your campaign. How about instead of a pardon, make it your goal to track down and convict all of the white men who lynched blacks back in the day?
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