The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1946-06-22
snubbed Big Jack

Snubbed Big Jack
One would have supposed that
Jack johnson would have been
part Of the Joe Louis board of
strategy from first to last. He
never was. The greatest defen-
sive boxer In all fight history
who never bore scar from the
ring, Johnson iould have taught
Louis plenty. He never got the
chance. From the very begin
ming, the Louis management of
Roxborough, Blackburn an d
Black pointed out Johnson as a
bad influence and kept him
away from the Brown Bomber.
Johnson always resented this
slur and at one time said he
would develop a boxer to de-
feat Louis. This was pure
bravado on Johnson's part in
trying to conceal his wounded
pride. When white boxers
needed counsel they would Of
ten call in Dempsey, Tunney and
other past white champions.
johnson was never hired by the
Louis camp although he was
i-ed by W lite boxers who called
n great. Johnson was re-
cd to making personal ap-
ranC for a living when he
have been employed by
louis camp at the time he
s XII 4. This failure of two
Am-rica's greatest ring cham
pions to meet in friendship anc
mutual understanding is sheer
ta~edy. 1t seems that such
folly could have been averted
Jack was good sport. John
sons final fight prediction picked
Joe to win.
Hated By Khan
Tn Joe Louis management
which put on the dog against
Johnson and embittered the
young champion against the ole
master, could have used better
tact. Some Of the Louis man
agement, as we know, could il
afford to call themselves angels
Johnson was never as bad as
pictured by a hostile racial biased
press of his time. Johnson did.
MT drink, swear and caroust
Ike Boston's now glorified Johr
L. Sullivan. Johnson was framed
into debt, framed, some say
from his title. He always sale
the lurid stories concerning white
women were cooked up by people
OF KlaniSh nature who hated
to see a colored champion or ar
inter-racial marriage. He vol
unfairly went to jail, never hao
to serve his sentence, retained
his honor and won more friends
than he had when he held the
title. But he never won the
friendship Of young Joe.
Liked South America
Jack johnson, Texan born
was, I think, too far ahead Of
his time regarding social rela-
tons in America. He was toe
independent, too intelligent anc
acted too much like a white man
Johnson from his world wide
travels could speak several lang
uages including Spanish and
Frneh. He was an idol in many
verdi capitols; they raved over
i'm in Paris, Havana and Ma
lcid. At one time johnson
planned to take his title and
wife to South America to live
10 the utter CONSERVATION and
orrcr of U. S. boxing officialsl
: garding cultural development
Jack johnson was miles ahead
Of most white champions and
e re My young Joe could have
learned plenty from the older
man. Louis was taught to avoid
Johnson and Johnson's mis-
takes" as If Jack was a plague.
Johson's general mistakes were
human. But the ones for which
Jack was most censored were be-
cause he refused t ODE an Uncle
Tom and he acted too much like a
white man. If they had car,
John on got one, if they spoke
French, so cosld Jack. This is
the side Of Jack Johnson most
ignore. The reasons
are obvious.
Flashed Golden Smile"
In the Golden Boxing era