Unforgivable Blackness - The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)

Ken Burns's documentary style is so unencumbered; the subject matter is effortlessly presented. His regular mix of photos, subtle sound effects, excellent musical score, and actor readings of historical text hasn't changed since his breakthrough of The Civil War. And it doesn't need to. Even though this 220-minute production is a biography--on heavyweight champion Jack Johnson--the film resonates about the how race was dealt with in the early part of the 20th century. Four decades after the Emancipation, the American black was still struggling to find elementary terms of equality. Along came a strong and headstrong man who took on sport decades before Jackie Robinson and became the key figure in heavyweight fighting, a champion against the longest odds.

Samuel L. Jackson voices Johnson's words with great verve and helps create an absorbing picture of Johnson along with various historians and boxing experts laying down the tale of the tape. Here's a man so smart and patient in the ring who took great liberties in his day-to-day life, unafraid to showcase his success, and ruffle the morals of the time (including, most scandalously, marrying a white woman). Viewing film of his prizefights, the amateur eye can understand Johnson's style and bravura. Burns's certainly takes his time and, as usual, has a vast awry of facts of how the world reacted to news of Johnson's success and the conspiracy which led to his downfall. The highlight, natch, are two of Johnson's epic fights near the end of his reign as champ (and the search for a "Great White Hope"). The appearance of James Earl Jones (who won a Tony for his portrayal of Johnson in 1959) and Wynton Marsalis's musical score are grand touches. --Doug Thomas Amazon.com

An American Idol, Jack didn't Fall he only Rose

This needs to be a thousand stars!
Jack Johnson was an individual and a true American hero. He didn't care what whites or blacks thought about what he should do. James Earl Jones said it best, "he was a person that was self defined. He didn't let no one define him." Therefore he was a man and that's all everyone desires anyway. MLK later said in his dream speech "that he wanted blacks to be defined by the content of their character." But there are lessons to be learned. He didn't let not one tell him what he could or couldn't do. Most people back then would say" okay I am black therefore I will never have a shot at the title. But Jack followed Tommy Burns all around the world for a chance at his dream and he conquered it! He did the immposible the unthinkable.

First of all I am shocked that he didn't get killed by a white person. Boxing was more important than baseball back then. It was so important that when he beat (Jefferies former champ who Johnson could have beaten a decade ago) riots broke out over the country. Today in classroom history books you will hear about race riots breaking out because of the death of MLK. But you will never hear about the race riots because Johnson(black) beat Jefferies (white). Then on top of that being the True American he was, allowed him to think for himself to marry white women. Unheard of, this boldness in the face of KKK, and Jim Crow.

The film by Burns is great and accurate more accruate than "The Great White Hope" (Which is a great film as well). But it puts everything in the proper context. It shows how racist America was and still is on this subject. White America still has a problem with Miscegenation. It's sad how the first movie that appeared in the white house was the "birth of a nation" which was blatant racism that everyone in Washington thought was so great. What a racist upper society! I thought it was interesting Landis, the guys responsible for not permitting blacks to play MLB was on the scene during Johnson's trial. The person responsible for the fight in Reno Nevada, helped Johnson in jail to have all kinds of freedom (funny). Also how President Wilson lied when he said he would help blacks and enforeced jim crow. How the WWI didn't allow Johnson to fight and make money in Europe which was true.

Burns did a great job. I love how he uses the contextual words at that time to create the chapters. Love the old boxing video and photo footage. Funny how they cut off that heavyweight championship fight in the 14th round in Australia for the world to see history. Love the white people telling the truth in this film.

The Mann Act, its' funny they are doing the same thing to Barry Bonds. They are trying to get him after the fact when everyone else does it. The situations has it's simularities.

July 17, 2008

Awesome treatment of a very difficult subject.

I found Ken Burns treatment of the Jack Johnson story to be highly entertaining as well as informative. Other than having seen "The Great White Hope" years and years ago, I had very little information on this man. This progam details not only Jack's life but also the terrible portion of American history that I would categorize as "growing pains" (which we seem to still be having). I learned quite a bit not only about boxing, but about the history of laws that were used to control African-Americans. It looks like quite a few were actually written because of people's distaste for Jack Johnson. As for Jack Johnson himself, I noticed that some people here are saying that he was hated because his personality was strong he "had a bad attitude." Isn't that the new way of saying he was "uppity"? This man was just being a man and enjoying the lifestyle that being a wealthy sports celebrity afforded him. If this were a white man with the exact same "attitude" and lust for life and women, would his "attitude" even be in question? I highly recommend this program for anybody interested in American history, race relations or boxing! May 7, 2008

proud, black pugilist mindreader

Jack Johnson blocked punches immediately after they became ideas in his opponesnts' minds. Maybe the greatest defensive heavyweight ever. He was persecuted for not falling in line. Shame on the government. December 10, 2007

Awesome.

I have seen it twice now and I just love it. Such a great part of history that I did not know anything about before watching this film. I wish Ken Burns would do more of these smaller (comparatively speaking) niche features. If you like history and Ken Burns' documentaries, there is no way you won't like this. May 13, 2007

The penultimate unboxed-in boxer

After I'd seen "The Great White Hope," in 1969 or so, the name burned and simmered util the 2005 showing of this Ken Burns documentary. Even though the turbulent sixties shaked loose forgotten times and names, the bold frankness of this towering figure of an athlete,in public or private, did not achieve the treatment required to do justice until Burns applied his painstaking examination of period stills and movies. What he reveals is pure gold, a self-made man who grew beyond the racial and social bonds to achieve his dream. No handlers. No PR men. No hype. Whether rising in the first part or falling in the second half of this documentary, Jack Johnson burns with integrity, confidence and manliness, in a manner that no man or situation could shame. The heroism of his slow decline and public withdrawal was an equally inspiring lesson to anyone seeking the spotlight and letting go of it. His desire, courage and self-development(mental and physical) are worthy of emulation. This documentary, wonderfully narrated and written, leaves Jack Johnson standing alone at the top of the boxing greats. Not only do you feel the changing times at the turn of the century, you get to see the changing landscapes of the countryside and the booming cities as you travel with Johnson on his road to greatness.The bickering pettiness of today's athletes bathed in luxury and leisure today, pale against the backdrop of this great man. February 6, 2007

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