Jack Johnson (2) (1878–1946)

African-American historian Gerald Early refers to Jack Johnson (1878-1946), the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world, as 'the first African-American pop culture icon.' Johnson is a seminal and iconic figure in the history of race and sport in America. His memoir, My Life and Battles, was first published in French-originalliy as a series of articles in 1911 and then in revised form as a book in 1914. Translated and edited by Christopher Rivers in 2007, My Life and Battles show more reveals Johnson's brashness, wit, theatricality, and invariable charm, all the while divulging his colorful life, both inside and outside the ring.

Prase for My LIfe and Battles-

'In this lively and entertaining book, one of the most controversial figures of the twentieth century pulls back the curtain to tell us, in his own words, his side of the Jack Johnson story. It's part playful, part boastful, part self-defensive, but it's always insightful and an important piece of sports and cultural history that has been missing up to now.'-Bert Randolph Sugar, author of Boxing's Greatest Fighters

'Christopher Rivers gives a revealing look at Jack Johnson when he was at the top of his profession. It is Jack Johnson as Jack Johnson wanted the world to see him-proud, humorous, defiant, and not too concerned with literal truth, or why he should scrape and bow to the mundane world of facts. He was, after all, his own creation.'-Randy Roberts, professor of history, Purdue University, and author of Papa Jack: Jack Johnson and the Era of White Hopes

'Of all American boxers, there has been no one like Jack Johnson. Surely this extraordinary man is the most eloquent of all, and, with Archie Moore, the most intelligent. Chris Rivers is to be commended for so capably translating this remarkable document.'-Joyce Carol Oates, Roger S. Berlind Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, Princteton University

Contents

Foreword by Geoffrey C. Ward
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter One Enter the world
Chapter Two My first experience in the ring
Chapter Three The tragii-comic story of a black preacher, a little colored boy, and a bottle of gin
Chapter Four I arrive in Boston
Chapter Five My beginnings in the noble art
Chapter Six I go into politics
Chapter Seven Joe Choynski teaches me what a knockout is
Chapter Eight I fight for beans!
Chapter Nine My old friend Sam McVey
Chapter Ten Two formidable opponents: Marvin Hart and Sam Langford
Chapter Eleven I make some New Year's resolutions
Chapter Twelve I go to Australia
Chapter Thirteen I go kangaroo hunting
Chapter Fourteen I meet up with Bill Lang and send old man Fitzsimmons off to dreamland
Chapter Fifteen In pursuit of Tommy Burns
Chapter Sixteen I am champion of the world!
Chapter Seventeen I defend my title
Chapter Eighteen The boxer as man of the world
Chapter Nineteen Stanley Ketchel's terrific right!
Chapter Twenty Mr. Jeffries' pretensions
Chapter Twenty-One The fight of my life
Chapter Twenty-Two Who will be the winner?
Cahpter Twenty-Three I begin training
Chapter Twenty-Four I set up camp in Reno
Chapter Twenty-Five The end of Mr. J.J. Jeffries
Epilogue
Appendix 1 Advertisement from La Vie au Grand Air for the serialized Johnson memoir (January 1911)
Appendix 2 Chronology of the life and battles of Jack Johnson (up tto 1915)
Notes show less

A probably ghost-written biography of the Great fighter. It's pretty vanilla, having been completed in 1927. He feels he's been hard done by, and very probably was.