The Johnson–Jeffries riots refer to the dozens of race riots that occurred throughout the United States after African-American boxer Jack Johnson defeated white boxer James J. Jeffries in a boxing match termed the "Fight of the Century". Johnson became the first black World Heavyweight champion in 1908 which made him unpopular with the predominantly white American boxing audiences. Jeffries, a former heavyweight champion came out of retirement to fight Johnson and was nicknamed the "Great White Hope". After Johnson defeated Jeffries on July 4, 1910, many white people felt humiliated and began attacking black people who were celebrating Johnson's victory.[1]
| Part of the Nadir of American race relations | |
 LA Times political cartoon about the riots. | |
| Date | July 4, 1910 |
|---|---|
| Location | United States |
| Type | Race riot |
| Cause | Jack Johnson vs. James J. Jeffries |
| Deaths | 11-26 |
| Non-fatal injuries | Hundreds |
| Arrests | Hundreds |
Background
editJack Johnson had attempted to become heavyweight champion in boxing for several years, but had trouble doing so as the sport was heavily segregated at the beginning of the 20th century. He eventually did become world heavyweight champion after defeating Canadian boxer Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia on December 26, 1908. Johnson being heavyweight champion angered many whites, who felt his victory was undermining the ideology of white supremacy.[1] Johnson's personal life also angered many white people, as he was notoriously flamboyant and married a white woman.[2] Johnson was considered to be the most hated man in America.[3]
Following Johnson's defeat of Burns, American novelist Jack London wrote a column calling upon Jim Jeffries to come out of retirement and face Johnson, so the heavyweight title could be reclaimed by a white man. Jeffries was out of shape at the time and initially refused to fight Johnson but agreed to do so once boxing promoter Tex Rickard offered Jeffries an unprecedented payout of $120,000 if he defeated Johnson. Jeffries accepted and publicly said his intention was "to win the title back for the white race." And "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro."[1] He became known as the "Great White Hope".[3] An editorial in The New York Times prior to the fight stated,
If the black man wins, thousands and thousands of his ignorant brothers will misinterpret his victory as justifying claims to much more than mere physical equality with their white neighbors.[1]
The fight
editThe fight occurred on July 4, 1910 in Reno, Nevada. Over 22,000 spectators watched the fight at the arena and tens of thousands packed in congregation halls across the nation to receive live telegraphs reporting on the fight. Johnson quickly began to dominate the fight and eventually defeated Jeffries with a knockout in the 15th round.[2][3]
The riots
editThe fight came during a period of heightened racism in the United States. Lynchings of African-Americans were common in 1910, with 67 lynchings of African-Americans occurring that year.[1] Many white people were dismayed by the result of the fight and were angered by African-Americans celebrating Johnson's victory and began attacking them. Within two days, 10 people had been killed in six different states.[3]
Riots occurred throughout the country in major cities such as Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati, Ohio; Houston, Texas; New York, New York and St. Louis, Missouri, as well as small towns such as Keystone, West Virginia and Mounds, Illinois. Additionally, Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Clarksburg, West Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; Johnson County, Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; Los Angeles, California; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans, Louisiana; Norfolk, Virginia; Omaha, Nebraska; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roanoke, Virginia; Springfield, Illinois; St. Joseph, Missouri and Wheeling, West Virginia all saw racial disturbances as well.[4]
It is unknown how many people were killed and injured during the riots, but it is estimated that between 11 and 26 people were killed and hundreds more injured.[5] This article lists 19 people who were killed, including 17 blacks and 2 whites.
Columbus, OH
editAround 400 Black Americans held a parade in Columbus, Ohio celebrating Johnson's victory, during which several brawls occurred.[6]
Houston, TX
editA report from Houston, Texas read, "Charles Williams, a negro fight enthusiast, had his throat slashed from ear to ear on a streetcar by a white man, having announced too vociferously his appreciation of Jack Johnson's victory in Reno."[7]
Louisiana
editAt least three black people were killed and several more severely injured after rioting in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Severe unrest occurred in Madison and East Carroll Parishes in Louisiana, where two black men were killed at Lake Providence, Louisiana. Rioting occurred in New Orleans as well.[4][8]
Little Rock, AR
editTwo black men were killed by white people in Little Rock, Arkansas.[4]
Mounds, IL
editOne black person was killed at Mounds, Illinois.[7][9][10]
New York City, NY
edit11 separate riots erupted in New York City, New York within an hour of telegraphs announcing Johnson's victory. Mobs of white people stormed into black neighborhoods throwing stones at and setting fire to buildings and assaulting black people. White people attempted to lynch two black men, one black man was beaten to death and more than 100 others were injured. Several white people were stabbed or shot by black people in self defense.[6]
Norfolk, VA
editOver 300 white navy sailors roamed the streets of Norfolk, Virginia looking for black people.[4][5]
Omaha, NE
editTwo black men were killed during rioting in Omaha, Nebraska.[4]
Pittsburgh, PA
editThree separate riots occurred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Black people celebrating Johnson's victory were clubbed by police after they blocked streetcars and harassed passengers.[6]
Pueblo, CO
editThe entire police force of Pueblo, Colorado was needed to quell a riot between black and white people.[6]
Roanoke, VA
editA black person was fatally wounded in Roundeye, Virginia.[7]
St. Louis, MO
editBlack people were confronted by police in two separate riots in St. Louis, Missouri after they met white people with resistance.[8]
Uvalda, GA
editDuring a race riot in Uvalda, Georgia white gunmen opened fire on a construction camp housing black workers. Three black men were killed and five more injured.[5][6]
Washington D.C.
editMobs numbering as high as 7,000 people engaged in violence on the streets of Washington D.C. Two white men were stabbed to death by black people, hundreds were injured and 236 people were arrested.[4][6]
Wheeling, WV
editIn Wheeling, West Virginia, a black man driving an expensive car — just as the playboyish Jack Johnson was famous for — was beset by a mob and hanged.[7]
Wilmington, DE
editA large riot occurred in Wilmington, Delaware. A white man was attacked by a mob of black people who were in turn attacked by a large mob of white people who chased them for several blocks.[6][8]
Aftermath
editAfter the riots, many state and local governments banned the motion picture film depicting the fight out of fear that showing it would spark more race riots. The riots led Congress to ban interstate transportation of boxing films in 1912; the ban was eventually lifted in 1940. The riots are notable for being the first instance of a nationwide race riot.[3]
See also
edit- The Johnson–Jeffries Fight, a motion picture of the fight
- Nadir of American race relations
- Red Summer, a series of race riots in the United States in 1919
- Long, hot summer of 1967, a series of race riots in the United States
- King assassination riots, a series of race riots that occurred after the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "A Black Champion's Biggest Fight". Saturday Evening Post. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Flatter, Ron. "Johnson boxed, lived on own terms". ESPN. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Gustkey, Earl (8 July 1990). "80 Years Ago, the Truth Hurt : Johnson's Victory Over Jeffries Taught Lesson to White America". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "MANY RACE RIOTS". chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. The Daily Gate City. 5 July 1910. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c Ward, Geoffrey C. (2010). Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 217. ISBN 978-0307492371. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Race riots in dozen cities follow Johnson fight victory". United Press International. July 5, 1910. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "When a black fighter won 'the fight of the century,' race riots erupted across America". 24 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Rucker, Walter; Upton, James Nathaniel (2007). Encyclopedia of American Race Riots, Volume 2. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 754. ISBN 978-0313333002. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ "Deputy Sheriff Wesley G. Davis". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ "Note Officer Davis was the law officer killed Mounds Illinois 4 July 1910". Retrieved August 12, 2016.