Johnson, Jack – Jack Johnson. In the Ring and Out

Description

Johnson, Jack ‘Jack Johnson. In the Ring and Out’ 1927 1st ed. 259-pages. National Sports Publishing Company, Chicago. Very good condition hardcover. No dust jacket.

Book Summary:
Jack Johnson: In the Ring and Out is the highly significant 1927 autobiography written by Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion. Published by the National Sports Publishing Company in Chicago, this 259-page memoir captures the voice, dramatic athletic career, and fiercely defiant personal life of one of the most controversial sports icons of the early 20th century.

The book features 16 black-and-white drawings and photographs, alongside a collection of introductory essays by famous cultural voices of the era, including sportswriters Damon Runyon and “Tad” (Thomas Dorgan), Ed W. Smith, and Johnson’s wife.
Key areas covered in the book include:
• The Ring Persona and Triumphs: Johnson details his rise to glory and his historic, landscape-shifting 1908 victory over Tommy Burns to claim the heavyweight crown. He discusses the intense social friction surrounding his dominance, which prompted a highly publicized media campaign to find a “Great White Hope” to dethrone him.
• Life “Out” of the Ring: Far more than a sports log, the memoir details Johnson’s unapologetic, lavish lifestyle. He addresses his love for fast sports cars, custom fashion, fine art, his ownership of a vibrant Chicago jazz nightclub, and his marriages to white women during a time of extreme racial prejudice and legal hostility.
• Legal Battles and Exile: The latter half of the text provides Johnson’s personal perspective on his targeted prosecution under the Mann Act, his subsequent years living as a fugitive and exile in Europe and South America, and his eventual return to the United States to serve time in federal prison.