History

Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson was the first African American Heavyweight Champion of the World. His dominance over his white opponents spurred furious debates and race riots in the early 20th century.

Part 2

1h 42m

As Part Two begins, Jack Johnson was on top of the world, the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World; the most famous — and the most notorious — African-American on earth. But forces were gathering in America to try to stop him. When no one could be found to beat the champion in the ring, the U.S. government set out to destroy him in the courts

Episodes

  • Part 2: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Part 2

    S1 E2 - 1h 42m

    As Part Two begins, Jack Johnson was on top of the world, the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World; the most famous — and the most notorious — African-American on earth. But forces were gathering in America to try to stop him. When no one could be found to beat the champion in the ring, the U.S. government set out to destroy him in the courts

  • Part 1: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Part 1

    S1 E1 - 1h 51m

    Follow Jack Johnson's remarkable journey from his humble beginnings in Galveston, Texas, as the son of former slaves, to his entry into the brutal world of professional boxing.

Extras + Features

  • Speeding Tickets: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Speeding Tickets

    S1 - 3m 11s

    Jack Johnson was given speeding tickets scores of times over the years, sometimes because he really was driving too fast — and sometimes simply because white policemen couldn’t stand to see a black man behind the wheel of a costly racing car. He also later joined a vaudeville troupe, where he made good money under tough working conditions.

  • The Jim Crow Era: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Jim Crow Era

    S1 - 4m 1s

    Jack Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion in the height of the Jim Crow era — a time in which slavery was abolished, but African Americans were not yet truly free.

Schedule

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