Johnson flouted conventions regarding the social and economic "place" of African Americans in American society. As a black man, he broke a powerful taboo in consorting with white women, and would verbally taunt men (both white and black) inside and outside the ring. Johnson was not shy about his affection for white women, nor modest about his physical prowess, both in and out of the ring. Asked the secret of his staying power by a reporter who had watched a succession of women parade into, and out of, the champion's hotel room, Johnson supposedly said, "Eat jellied eels and think distant thoughts."
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Great White Hope
Johnson flouted conventions regarding the social and economic "place" of African Americans in American society. As a black man, he broke a powerful taboo in consorting with white women, and would verbally taunt men (both white and black) inside and outside the ring. Johnson was not shy about his affection for white women, nor modest about his physical prowess, both in and out of the ring. Asked the secret of his staying power by a reporter who had watched a succession of women parade into, and out of, the champion's hotel room, Johnson supposedly said, "Eat jellied eels and think distant thoughts."
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2 comments:
There is an amazing PBS documentary on this great prize fighter and how he was destroyed for not accepting his racist fate.
Joe Louis learned a lot and survived longer. Ali finakly shattered the mold but even Ali felll victim by deriding another great boxer for having "black" features, Frazier. Ali made fun of Frazier;'s appearance.
Boxing is now alsmost a dead sport - the ultiomate fighting in a cage has captureed america the way twinkies once did.
Thank God for baseball, the one constant....other than for ticket prizes.
.....i know, i saw it.....but the best is the movie......the great white hope.
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