Jack Johnson.

Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson (1878-1946), American boxer who became the first African American heavyweight boxing champion. Johnson's athletic success created racial tensions in the early 20th century, when many parts of the United States had laws that upheld racial segregation (the separation of people on the basis of their race). John Arthur Johnson was born in Galveston, Texas. He left school after the fifth grade and worked in a succession of low-paying jobs. Johnson became interested in boxing while working as a janitor at a gymnasium. He quickly established himself as a leading black boxer in Galveston, and he turned professional in 1897. Over the next few years Johnson gained a reputation as a quick and powerful fighter. By 1903 Johnson was recognized as the country's best black heavyweight boxer, but he was unable to arrange fights against the top white heavyweights in the United States, John L. Sullivan and Jim Jeffries. They claimed that if they fought Johnson, they would sully boxing's reputation. Johnson became known internationally, however, and in 1908 he traveled to Sydney, Australia, to fight Canadian boxer Tommy Burns, who held the world title. Johnson won the match and became the world heavyweight champion. Over the next two years, Johnson defended his title five times. In 1910 former champion Jim Jeffries, spurred on by fans who wanted a white champion, came out of retirement to fight Johnson. Jeffries was billed as "The Great White Hope." The two fighters squared off on July 4 in Reno, Nevada, and Johnson won the bout by knocking out Jeffries in the 15th round. Johnson's reign as the world champion created racial tensions, because some whites resented his success. Racial tensions also developed over his marriages to two white women: Etta Terry Duryea, who committed suicide in 1912, and Lucille Cameron. In 1913 Johnson was tried for violating the Mann Act of 1910, which forbade transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes. The act had been passed to help fight prostitution, and Johnson was tried because he had at one point given travel money to a girlfriend who had worked as a prostitute. She used the money to travel across state lines. The case against Johnson was weak, but he was nonetheless convicted. Johnson moved to France to avoid serving time in prison. In 1915 in Havana, Cuba, Johnson lost his heavyweight title to American boxer Jess Willard after being knocked out in the 26th round. Johnson returned to the United States in 1920 and served a year in prison for his earlier conviction. He and Cameron divorced in 1924, and he married Irene Pineau, another white woman. After retiring from competitive boxing, Johnson worked as a businessman, wrote, and appeared in boxing exhibitions. His life was the subject of The Great White Hope (1968), a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by American playwright Howard Sackler. The play was adapted as the movie The Great White Hope (1970), starring American actor James Earl Jones. In 1990, long after his death, Johnson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.