Congress Seeks Pardon For Boxing Champ

Jack Johnson, First Black Heavyweight Champion, Was Convicted On Racially Motivated Charge

(AP)  The first black heavyweight champion should be granted a presidential pardon for a racially motivated conviction 75 years ago that blemished his reputation and hurt his boxing career, the U.S. Congress recommended on Friday.

Jack Johnson became world heavyweight champion in 1908, sparking a search for a white boxer, dubbed "the Great White Hope," who could beat him.

In 1913, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act which outlawed the transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes. Authorities had first unsuccessfully tried to charge Johnson over his relationship with a white woman who later became his wife. They then found another white woman who testified that Johnson had transported her across state lines in violation of the Mann Act.

Johnson fled the country, returning in 1920 to serve nearly one year at Leavenworth. He tried to renew his boxing career after leaving prison, but never regained his title.

The Congress resolution, passed by voice, states that Johnson paved the way for black athletes to participate and succeed in integrated professional sports and that he was "wronged by a racially motivated conviction prompted by his success in the boxing ring and his relationships with white women." It urged the president to grant Johnson, who died in 1946, a posthumous pardon.

"He was a victim of the times and we need to set the record straight - clear his name - and recognize him for his groundbreaking contribution to the sport of boxing," said congressman Peter King of New York, author of the resolution.

The measure now goes to the Senate, where Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a senator from Arizona, has a companion resolution.

[samthor]

while you're at it, Free Leonard Peltier.

[pirmin3]

Is this all these dumb f-u-c-k-s in Congress have to do??? How about lavishing some of your largess on the living, in the USA???

[closethippy1]

For anyone wanting to know more about Jack Johnson, I reccomend the video Unforgivable Blackness/The Rise And Fall Of Jack Johnson. Narrated in part by Samual L. Jackson. It''''s a masterpiece.
Posted by One_Texan at 08:52 PM : Sep 26, 2008

I saw it, too. Awesome show!

[slim1h2o]

Go ahead and Pardon the guy, he deserves it, but don''t waste anytime on the matter.

Congress has far more important things to work on, like things for the living.

Our economy for one!

[juwboy]

Let`s also pardon Chuck Berry who was convicted of a similar "crime".

[dontbasucka]

This is just another black man who did something illegal but let''s erase it because all whites are no good dirty racists. Because I''m a worthless white person who has never done anything to be arrested for call me a name and pardon someone who died in 1946 so you can feel better about yourself. Never mind he associated himself with gangsters & was arrested by the federal authorities not a little back woods southern white racist sheriff in Hooterville. He broke the Mann Act which its primary intent was to address prostitution, immorality, and human trafficking. Black men today we know would never pimp out ladies or control their money or take them across state lines so I''m sure this was a setup to embarrass & harass an African American. Just do what you want & to be sure all my white counterparts go along with it call them racists so we remember how terrible a country we created & are to be blamed for. Make sure to take my daughter & wife whenever you want since as you know as a racists I deserve that. Never mind that black on white crime is a daily statistic while white on black murder, rape & robbery is almost non existent. Because of my character and who I am you have rights. Because of your chararacter and who you are I am losing mine.

[corepublican]

Are you kidding me? This has to be a joke. Sure, the man deserves a pardon, even if it comes way too late to actually mean anything to anybody. More importantly, why isn''t anyone asking why this was done now? It would appear to me that our elected officials have much more important issues to tackle at this very moment, seeing as how the economy is teetering on the brink of implosion. Bailout or no bailout, they should at least put up the facade that they are doing something productive that might help our country.

[hbevis]

I AM GLAD THEY FINELY GAVE THE MAN SOME RELIEF.
IT HAS BEEN LONG OVER DUE.

THIS FROM A 75 YEAR OLD WHITE MAN THAT HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY ANY RACE..

[musethalia]

If ANYONE needs to be pardoned by George Bush, it is our border patrol agents Compean and Ramos, who have been railroaded into prison by Johnny Sutton.
Where is the help for these two men? Obama nor McCain have done NOTHING to see that they are released from this goverment fraud situation. They are for giving all the illegal aliens amnesty. Think not, they both voted for comprenhensive immigration act that didn''''t pass (this time) stay tuned.

Posted by cattieJ at 07:09 PM : Sep 26, 2008

agreed - send ''em out to protect, they protect, then they get tried and burned at the stake...much like some of our soldiers -

where is the line drawn between duty and personal opinion - and w/ border patrol it''s usually the drug runners they end up killing only to end up in prison? Go figure - what a joke.

Amnesty is nothing short of insult to those who have strived and those who are working hard to become an American citizen through the legal hoops -

Illegals hold more ground than we can imagine based on rights reserved for legal citizens that they''re not even entitled to thanks to the ole special interest groups - just watch Carlos Mencia on HBO when he yells to his all mex auduence "We own this country you white puta" (or how ever it''s spelled)

[petro49l]

Jack Johnson was a good champ. He suffered because of white racism. His sacrifice made it possible for Joe Louis and Mohammed Ali. Jack fought in the ring to earn a living. Congress should agree that Jack Johnson stood for equality, liberty, and dignity.

[cattiej]

If ANYONE needs to be pardoned by George Bush, it is our border patrol agents Compean and Ramos, who have been railroaded into prison by Johnny Sutton.
Where is the help for these two men? Obama nor McCain have done NOTHING to see that they are released from this goverment fraud situation. They are for giving all the illegal aliens amnesty. Think not, they both voted for comprenhensive immigration act that didn''t pass (this time) stay tuned.