Saturday, July 3, 2010
Parableof July 4,1910, Jack Johnson, Unforgivable Blackness
Parable ofJuly 4, 1910
As Oakland braces for a possible riotin response to the verdict in the Oscar Grant murder trial, let usrecall another date in American history that shall live in infamy, July4, 1910. On this day a century ago, Jack Johnson whupped a white man'sass to become the first black heavyweight champion of the world. Whatfollowed his victory was one of the bloodiest days in American historyas whites attacked blacks in mob fashion and killed them in vengeance,jealousy and envy.
Jack Johnson was a big, black, bold, arrogant,uppity North American African who terrified racist whites with hisbravado. Unashamedly, he paraded through the streets in his expensivecars full of white women. The USA created a law just for him, the MannAct or White Slavery, to prevent persons from crossing state linesallegedly for prostitution. Jack left the country but eventuallyreturned to face prison time for his "crimes." There is presently apetition before President Obama to exonerate Jack Johnson posthumously.
Morethan his athletic prowess, Jack Johnson symbolized the liberation ofblack manhood, for he let it be known he was indeed free to do what hepleased by any means necessary. In short, he was fearless. We would notsee such fearlessness until Black Panther Huey Newton drew his pumpshotgun on a pig in San Francisco. In that moment, the black manretrieved his nuts from the sand. But today in Oakland we seem to haveretreated and the enemy has advanced. We have a black mayor and policechief, yet blacks are being crucified by the police. It is as thoughthe Black Panthers were never here. Is this due to a collective amnesia,a political anorexia? There is most definitely a paralysis incollective action.
Where is the boldness of Jack Johnson, HueyNewton? This July 4th weekend, where is the liberation messageof Frederick Douglas? Douglas questioned the entire foundation of July4, 1776.
Where were you, July 4, 1776
in the celebration
onthe plantation
where were you, July 4, 1776....
--mx
Whatis the Declaration of Independence to a slave, or for that matter, to adescendant of slaves in 2010? Indeed, we have made great strides, wehave a black President, but he seems to get cut down at every turn,much like Jack Johnson. And in the end, he may be crucified, much likeJack Johnson, or for that matter, Oscar Grant. His generals mock him andTea Party trailer house trash whites want to lynch him.
Here inOakland, the consensus was that the judge in the Oscar Grant murdertrial would not release the verdict until after the 4th of Julyweekend for fear of racial disturbances since anger, money, alcohol andguns might be a potent mix in the hood during the holiday weekend. Infact, the jury did not go into deliberation until late Friday.
Perhapswe need to ponder the meaning of July 4th thisweekend, for the coming week may portend ominous events here inOakland, the very meaning of justice may be ridiculed from thecourthouse itself. The judge and jury may very well slam dunk justicein the face of the righteous. Just know for every action there is acorresponding and equal reaction. It may not be immediate, but it issure to come.
--Marvin X
7/3/10
https://theblacklist.net/
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