Jack Johnson Impact On Society

In modern society, many people find their primary source of entertainment to be sports. When they arrive from work, they would get on their couch and turn on the television. Afterward, they would start watching boxers like Mike Tyson or track and field sprinters like Usain Bolt. There is an endless amount of athletes and sports to watch from. The most important part about this is that every athlete has a different racial background. However, this was not the situation more than 100 years ago. Every sport was dominated by a white man. If you were a colored person in any sport, you would face heavy discrimination. Throughout all these challenges, a prominent figure, known as Jack Johnson(“Galveston Giant”), was one of the first African American

Jack Johnson became heavyweight champion in 1908, a time when Jim Crow laws were prevalent, and racism was a huge issue in America. Despite facing immense obstacles and opposition, Johnson remained a defiant and confident figure. His impact on the sport of boxing and the broader struggle for civil rights cannot be underestimated. It would be an understatement to say Jack Johnson’s life was hard. Jack Johnson was born in Galveston, Texas in 1878. He was the son of 2 former slaves. Johnson faced economic, racial, and discriminatory challenges from a young age. From a young age, he would work in physical intense labor, which built the foundation for his athletic ability. However, his boxing abilities came from a much more disturbing part of his life. Jack Johnson was involved in a battle

When he beat Tommy Burns, he “stoked fears of a black challenge to white supremacy”. Johnson’s legacy was a source of inspiration for many future notable figures. For example, one notable figure that was inspired by Jack Johnson is Muhammed Ali, an African American Muslim boxer. Muhammad Ali received his courage from Jack Johnson. When asked about Johnson, Muhammad Ali responded: “Jack Johnson was a big inspiration because of what he did outside of the ring. He was so bold. Jack Johnson was a black man back when white people lynched negroes on weekends.” Former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, admired Jack Johnson as well. Mike liked Johnson “because he really stood his ground”. He wouldn’t care about what other people thought of him. Johnson was proud of his racial identity. Many notable figures, such as civil rights activists, had similar comments regarding Johnson. The future generations admired his confidence, inside and outside of the