For Team Obama, A Refresher on Jack Johnson and "The Great White Hope"

In a recent monologue, Bill Maher said that the United States has two main political parties: one party on the center-right: the Democrats, and one party in a mental institution: the Republicans. Frankly, his comment insults those who receive care at psychiatric facilities; at least they are looking for help.

The Republicans, however, proudly soak in their own bile, every week dishing out a new dollop of reaction. Last week, their national embarrassment was the Republican Congresswoman from Topeka, Kansas, Lynn Jenkins. At a town meeting, Jenkins called for a "great white hope" to emerge from the Republican Party to defeat Barack Obama's agenda. Let this sink in: in front of a small crowd of rabid supporters in Topeka, already in full froth about "death panels," she called for a "great white hope." Her examples of "great white hopes" were congressmen like Eric Cantor and Steve Ryan, both of whom are, among other things, white. Later, her spokesperson Mary Geiger may have made it worse by saying, "There may be some misunderstanding there when she talked about the great white hope. What she meant by it is they have a bright future. They're bright lights within the party."

Yes, white is "bright" while Obama brings the "darkness."

Team Obama, per their usual posture on the nuts of August, refused to stand up to this racist idiocy. His spokesperson Bill Burton said, "We obviously give Congressman Jenkins the benefit of the doubt." This has become the Obama administration m.o.: take a right hook to the face and just smile through your bloodied teeth.

Jenkins has since said she was "unaware of any negative connotation" and is sorry if anyone was offended. One thing is certain: if she did know the actual, unvarnished history of the phrase "great white hope,"

Jenkins may have chosen her words carefully. "Great white hopes" tend to get knocked into next week.

The yearning for a "great white hope" emerged when African American boxer, Jack Johnson became the first heavyweight champ with black skin in 1908. The media brayed for a "a great white hope" (a phrase coined by author Jack London) to restore order to the boxing world--and the world in general. Former champion Jim Jeffries, the Eric Cantor of the boxing world, was urged out of retirement to challenge Johnson, saying, "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro."

Johnson didn't give Jeffries, the press, or anyone else the benefit of the doubt. In a July 4th, 1910, Philadelphia Inquirer story titled, "Johnson Believes He's Jeff's Master," he is quoted as saying, "I honestly believe that in pugilism I am Jeffries' master, and it is my purpose to demonstrate this in the most decisive way possible.... The tap of the gong will be music to me." To call himself Jeffries' master, when people born as slaves and masters still lived throughout the United States, was verbal TNT.

The fight itself was the ugliest public display this side of a Topeka town meeting. As David Remnick wrote in King of the World, the ringside band played a song called, "All coons look alike to me," and crowds of whites chanted "kill the nigger." But Johnson, employing a highly cerebral defensive style, toyed with Jeffries, and made easy work of the winded former champion. In an early incarnation of the information superhighway, young children working as "telegram runners" ran through urban environs after every round, shouting out the progress.

The failure of the "white hope" caused--it is no exaggeration to say--a deep and abiding crisis in the media and white society. "That Mr. Johnson should so lightly and carelessly punch the head of Mr. Jeffries," wrote the New York World, "must come as a shock to every devoted believer in the supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon race."

Violent race riots exploded around the country when Jeffries finally hit the mat. Their character involved mobs of whites attempting to enter black urban neighborhoods, and being repelled.

After the smoke cleared, 151 African Americans were dead. It was the most national urban uprising that the U.S. would see until the aftermath of Dr. King's assassination in 1968. The backlash against boxing was immediate and intense. Congress even debating the banning of boxing altogether. All of a sudden, the violent, manly sport was pure sin.

Johnson was implored by Booker T. Washington among others to condemn the rioting. He refused. His defiance led to being prosecuted on Mann Act charges of white slavery (taking a white woman across state lines for immoral purposes.) The charges were so baseless that the US House of Representatives recently voted to exonerate Johnson posthumously. Incidentally, this vote gives lie to Jenkins' claim of being ignorant of the history. Either that or she didn't read the bill. But with every arrow Johnson took, in the eyes of the black community, he was becoming folklore.

In the words of one spiritual:

Amaze an' Grace, how sweet it sounds, Jack Johnson knocked Jim Jeffries down.

Jim Jeffries jumped up an' hit Jack on the chin, An' then Jack knocked him down again.

The Yankees hold the play, The white man pulls the trigger;

But it make no difference what the white man say, The world champion's still a nigger.

The great W.E.B. DuBois wrote the following about Johnson in 1914:

"Why then this thrill of national disgust?...It comes down, then, after all to this unforgivable blackness."

These words could be said about much of the "town hall right's" opposition to Obama today.

If there are disagreements with any part of the Obama agenda, we should shout them from the rooftops.. But for far too many in the confederate confines of the Republican Party--including those in elected office--opposition to Obama begins with the very color of his skin. Perhaps President Obama - and Rep. Lynn Jenkins - should remember: Jack Johnson fought back.

Follow Dave Zirin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edgeofsports

Comments

[Fernando]

As a boxer myself, I love these analogies!

I'm torn, however, between what I expect from Obama. He has to walk the very fine line between defending himself and not playing the victim, which is what these race taunts are trying to incite. I also think that some of the criticism for the right are not necessarily about race but about plain hatred of liberals.

Having said that, the Dem party has been hungering for not only a winner, but a fighter, and at some point Obama will need to start representing the interests of the majority who voted for him. Conservatives, generally speaking (and as bad as it will sound) respect power. Diplomatic gestures are seen not as politeness but as weakness. Obama will not be the fighter we are hungering for but history will prove his high-minded approach as the right one if, and only if, he can pass the agenda that he promised. If not, then these bringing "people together" compromises will be for naught, because those who elected him won't get what they voted for and those who never woulc accept him will hate him anyway.

[Fernando]

"... criticism from the right..." My bad. : )

[henrypapillon]

What the spokesman for the Obama Administration actually meant was " She is doing such an excellent job of hanging herself , as is most of the Republican Party, why use our rope, when they have brought their own.?" But of course that would give the Republicans a chance to say the Democrats brought up the idea of lynching and would feel free to use that also. But really, why beat on the Republicans when they are making the you know what out of themselves.?

[Brian3929]

Great article, Dave! Of course it's the Republicans who insist that we are in a "post-racial" society.

The "great white hope" phenomenon didn't end with Jack Johnson. In 1957 Floyd Paterson defended his heavyweight crown against a Swedish fighter named Ingemar Johanson. Many Americans wanted Johanson to win because they wanted a white man to have the title. That one also ended with a quick knockout of " the great white hope."

[Patrickvashon]

Two things that should be pointed out, first, Johnson had white women as mistresses, that provoked irrational hate among white men. As the article points out many of the Blacks alive at that time were former slaves and the White men had a fear that the Black men would treat White women as female slaves had been treated for 200 years. When Johnson left the country because of the Mann act prosecution he eventually fought and lost to Jess Willard, another farm boy. Allegations were made that Johnson intentionally lost for a big payday, he was on the canvas shading his eyes from the sun when he was counted out. What is truly amazing is that 100 years later some people still have such a primitive hate for a Black man,

[RosieLee]

As a little child in England I learned to sing the spinners' song:

The ink is black, the page is white
Together we learn to read and write
A child is black, a child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight, a beautiful sight

And now a child can understand
That this is the law of all the land, all the land

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
Together they grow to see the light, to see the light

And now at last we plainly see
We'll have a dance of Liberty, Liberty!

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight, a beautiful sight

Do you not see that the crass stereotype in in this article is as bad as talk of great white? Far better to sing together than to try to stir up hostility.

[marthamothra]

Excellent, Dave. I knew the story, but not in such detail. Thank you for ending with the thought that Obama should fight back. Civility is important, but there comes a time in fighting for civil rights, when you don't allow bigotry to go unnoticed.

[db08]

Barack is handling this as he should. As Ernest Gaines wrote (and I paraphrase) African Americans are the epitome of grace under the pressure of racism.
To paraphrase William L. Andrews in describing the work of Charles Chesnutt: racism is a crucible that placed black people under almost unbearable pressures and demanded of them tenacity of purpose, firmness of character, and imaginative ingenuity in order to preserve themselves, their families, and their community
This is the legacy and strength of black people. Barack fulfills that legacy.

[Greg2000]

Wow! Great post Dave and thank you God for the Nation magazine.

We all can agree that the rightwingers are the ones who are the quickest to run away from any conversation with some racial components. Because it's better fort them to make this country forget about its darkest past so they can revive it slowly but surely.

[LisaLisa1234]

"This has become the Obama administration M.O.: take a right hook to the face and just smile through your bloodied teeth."

I believe that [true] followers of Jesus around the country will look at that M.O. and see the words of wisdom from the book of Romans:

"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'

And they will find inspiration in the words of Jesus:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."

They will ask themselves, who lives a better example of this, those representing the religious right, or those whom the religious right opposes?

And the meek shall inherit the earth.

[MyNameIsJames]

Tell that to the millions of genocide victims that we have witnessed over the past century. Sounds good in a book - feels and looks bad "on the ground"

[joceeco]

LisaLisa, I respect your right to believe as you wish, but your comment is a load of BS. Obama is not addressing the issue at all. As President of all U.S. citizens, it is his duty to address such issues as race, and now would be a great time for him to do it. With the gift of speech that he has been given, he needs to firmly call out each racist congress man or woman and openly say to them and the American people that this will not be tolerated, rather than have Gibbs and other White House Aids downplay the racist comments by stating that they will give idiots like Lynn Jenkins the benefit of the doubt that she didn't mean the comment in the way it came across to 90% of Americans. Obama is afraid of possibly offending White Americans, the way he offended them during that lil' episode with professor Gates and the white officer, who was clearly prejudice, if not racist. Obama is already thinking about his reelection , rather than addressing the truth about the racism coming out of the republican party.

[Typan]

My initial reaction to the statements of Congresswoman Jenkins was, like President Obama, to turn the other cheek. Statements like this are so clearly ignorant as to not warrant a response, right? But, though it might seem like the statement was insulting only to the President, it evidences an underlying current of racism toward all Blacks which can not and must not be tolerated. This is a divisive statement and Congresswoman Jenkins needs to be called on it. I would never want to feel as though my representative in Congress was seeking to replace the President of the United States because she just can't stomache the idea of a Black man in the White House. Perhaps if it were just another citizen spewing their racist intolerance, it wouldn't matter. But, this is someone who stood up and swore to represent each and every member of her District. It wasn't just insulting to Barack Obama - it was an insult to every Black American, and especially to the Black persons in her District. I'd like to know that my President, Black or White, would stand up and represent me. I'm not the President of the United States. I don't have to worry about offending those on whom I might have to rely for reelection. But, Mr. President, I'm tired of turning the other cheek. I think that occasionally, other noses need to be bloodied. It's time you came out of the corner and threw a few punches for all of us.

[DinkSinger]

There is no Steve Ryan in Congress. I think Ms. Jenkins meant Paul Ryan. While I am appalled by her use of the term "Great White Hope", her choices are interesting. Eric Cantor is Jewish and Paul Ryan is Roman Catholic. In Jack Johnson's day it would have been unthinkable for either man to be considered for the presidency. As you quoted from the New York World, the belief then was "in the supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon race." To this day, the Republican party has never nominated a Jew or a Catholic for president or vice president.

[MyNameIsJames]

Not that interesting - the operative word being "WHITE" - those other distinctions that you added - well alot of that has disappeared into the "melting pot" over the past 50 years.

[stewartjb]

The more great editorials like this one expose the racist right, the easier it is for Obama to remain ( presidentially) "above the fray. That's where he needs to be if there's any hope of legislating ourselves out of the terrible mess that the Bushies have put us all in.

So, keep it up, Dave!.

JBS

[Poboy]

Obama should not be above the fray.

He should be out on the field, marshalling his forces against THE ENEMY.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Nope..he needs to stay above it all.
He doesn't need to sink to their level. THEY are the ones with the problem...not him.
By continuing their racist rhetoric, they are showing themselves to be who they truly are.

[MrWebster]

Hey wait a minute. I thought Michael Steele was the GOP's great white hope. Is is any wonder that African Americans vote so strongly against the GOP.

[hoosier96]

Do you really want to see racism rear its ugly head? Watch a liberal go insane with anger whenever someone brings up somebody like Condoleeza Rice or Clarence Thomas. How dare they be conservative? Don't they know their place?

Google Ted Rahls political cartoons featuring Rice. Very revealing.

[db08]

One cartoon does not equal the Democratic Party....as you wrote "a liberal." You failed to mention that he was criticized by other liberals. Where is the criticism by other conservatives? Instead, we have pointing fingers saying "well, you did it too."

[BannedFromCommenting]

Yawn... thats such digging....

[cplKlyde]

Yea it reveals Ralls contempt for right wing liars like Rice.

[TheIndependenceParty]

As a kid growing up in Kansas, I heard the stories of the blood shed there over the decision not to allow slavery in that state, and the ultimate uprising of John Brown from that state in reaction to that dispute. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_%28abolitionist%29. Some would argue that no more firebrand radical has lived in this nation than Brown, nor had such an impact as he had by igniting the fever that led to the secession of the Confederacy and the ultimate humiliation of those states in the Civil War.

Someone should remind Representative Jenkins of that state's proud history, and sacrifice when thousands of Missourians flooded across the borders in a failed attempt to impose slavery on the territory in Kansas. Those murdering roughians lost and were ultimately driven back across the border. Perhaps she should run for office in Missouri next time, ... and perhaps a century ago, ... as it seems she holds more in common with those types, than of the founders of her state who drove slavery out of the Sunflower State before it could even hatch.

[Ohioan730]

"Soon we'll be done with the troubles of the word" -spiritual-

"Swing low sweet chariot" -spiritual-

"The angels in heaven done signed my name" -spiritual-

"Nobody knows the troubles I see. Nobody knows but Jesus" -spiritual-

"Glory, glory halleluiah when I lay my burden down" -spiritual-

*FAST FORWARD*

"...and still I rise" -Maya Angelou-

"...its been a long time coming but I know change is gonna come" -Sam Cooke-

"..we shall overcome"

"I have a dream" -MLK Jr.-

"Black is beautiful."

"I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. . . . Even in the helter-skelter skirmish that is my life, I have seen that the world is to the strong regardless of a little pigmentation more or less. No, I do not weep at the world—I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife." -Zora Neale Hurston-

"Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away, and that in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty." -MLK Jr.-

*FAST FORWARD*

"And although it seems heaven sent
We ain't ready, to see a black President -Tupac Shakur-

*FAST FORWARD*

"My president is black..." -Jay-Z-

Just listen to our music and poetry and you will know that we aren't worried about anything. We're getting to the mountaintop anyway.

[LisaLisa1234]

Beautiful.