(SPORTS BOXING) Front page report on the death of Jack John

Sale 2663 - Lot 436

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Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200

(SPORTS--BOXING.) Front-page report on the death of Jack Johnson in his hometown Black newspaper, the Chicago Defender. 4 (of 12) pages, 23½ x 16½ inches, on one folding sheet; lacking interior pages 3-10, toning, folds, minor wear. Chicago, 15 June 1946

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The headline reads "Jack Johnson Killed in Crash . . . Former Champ Dixie Auto Victim." The accompanying article is illustrated with a photograph of Johnson's famous 1910 battle against the "Great White Hope" Jim Jeffries: "Johnson went on to literally tear the 'white hope' to pieces."

The fatal accident took place just a few days before a fight between Joe Louis and Billy Conn, also discussed on the front page. Six boxing champions appear on the top of the front page with their predictions on the fight--including Jack Johnson in one of his last published comments: "Louis is older but that will mean little. Louis' knockout punch will win." He was right: Louis won by knockout four days later.

At the center of the front page is a report on the recent Supreme Court ruling in Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia. As a Virginia transit worker removes a segregation sign, the headline reads "Jim Crow Dies on Virginia Bus," but the article discusses defiance of the ruling in the Deep South: "Supreme Court fails to Knock Out Jim Crow."