Full Description
For six decades the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a useful tool of racial oppression--the existence of the title far more important to the white public than its succession of champions. It took some extraordinary individuals, most notably Jack Johnson, to challenge "the color line" in the ring, although the title and the black fighters who contended for it continued until the reign of Joe Louis a generation later. This history traces the advent and demise of the Championship, the stories of the 28 professional athletes who won it, and the demarcation of the color line both in and out of the ring.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
One. Clearing a Path
Two. The Core Four
Three. The Black Prince
Four. King of the Battle Royal
Five. Crafty Texan
Six. Colorado Giant
Seven. Galveston Giant
Eight. The Idol of Paris
Nine. Joseph "Joe" Jeremiah Jeannette
Ten. Boston Tar Baby
Eleven. The Black Panther
Twelve. "Big" Bill Tate
Thirteen. The Leiperville Shadow
Fourteen. The Toronto Terror
Fifteen. Bearcat Obie
Sixteen. Driving the Last Spike
Appendix A. Roster of Pool Fighters
Appendix B. World Colored Heavyweight Championship and Timeline—Selected Entries
Appendix C. World Colored Heavyweight Champions & Associated Members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
