Presidential pardon sought for first black heavyweight champ

[minkyboodle]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Researching a documentary on Jack Johnson, filmmaker Ken Burns decided that racism, not justice, sent the first black heavyweight boxing champion to jail nearly a century ago.

Burns decided to seek a presidential pardon. On Tuesday, civil rights leaders and Sens. John McCain and Orrin Hatch joined him to announce the filing of legal papers with the Justice Department.

The petition argues that Johnson's 1913 conviction under the Mann Act, a law passed three years earlier that banned the interstate transport of women for immoral purposes, unfairly punished him for a consensual relationship with a white woman.

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ap-jackjohnson-pardon&prov=ap&type=lgns

Glad to see Ted Kennedy Jessie Jackson Jr are working on this as well as McCain and Hatch as it is a worthy cause.

[H2O Man]

1. For the sake of historical accuracy:

Jack Johnson is the first widely recognized black heavyweight champion. In large part, it was because of his being part of the "modern" gloved era, as well as the length of his reign.

However, there had actually been a black American named Tom Molineaux, who in 1810 traveled to England and fought bare-knuckle champion Tom Cribb. Molineaux knocked Cribb out in the 28th round, winning the world's heavyweight championship.

The white folks weren't happy. An unruely crowd beat the hell out of the new champion, including breaking the fingers on both hands. After ex-champion Cribb recovered, Molineaux was forced to "defend" his title. Cribb knocked Molineaux out in 6 rounds to recapture the title.

Thus, before Jack Johnson won the title in boxing's modern era, there was a black champion. His one hour reign is, of course, the shortest in boxing history.

Molineaux was a "freed slave," by the way. His "owner" had been George Washington.

[minkyboodle]

2. First under the Queensberry Rules

as you stated. THanks for the great post about Molineaux, very tragic story. one of many I'm afraid.

[H2O Man]

3. Sure.

I was interested in the information you posted. While I am at a point in life where I dispise boxing more than I like it, I love boxers. Even those who beat me all those years ago! (grin)

Johnson was a complex character. I think it's fair to question if he would be comfortable being pardoned. He took great pride in his individualism.

Thanks for your post. I wasn't aware of this until reading your post here.

[dArKeR]

4. Pardon sought for ring legend

Washington - A group of lawmakers, civil rights leaders and sports enthusiasts filed a petition Tuesday with the US Justice Department seeking a posthumous pardon for legendary black boxer Jack Johnson.

The one time pugilist was immortalised in the celebrated play "The Great White Hope".

Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion of the world, was convicted in 1913 of violating a US vice law, after he had several high-profile romantic liaisons with white women.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1557293,00.html