Frank Jonientz, Library Technical Assistant, Connecticut Digital Newspaper Project
Connecticut State Library
TEACHER'S SNAPSHOT
Topics:
African Americans, Censorship, Civil Rights, Individuals in History, Popular Culture, Progressive Era, Racism, Sports & Recreation
Town:
Bridgeport, Statewide
Grade:
High School
Historical Background
In July 1910, Jack Johnson, an African American prizefighter, beat Jim Jeffries, a white prizefighter, for the World Heavyweight Championship. A commercial film of the bout was made and distributed. Before the film could be widely shown, state and local governments passed laws banning it.
D1: Potential Compelling Question
D1: POTENTIAL SUPPORTING QUESTIONS
- Why was the film censored?
- Who was pushing for censorship?
- What were some of the responses by government officials to the controversy?
- How did the companies that controlled the film respond to the banning of the film?
- How did the African American community respond to the censorship of the film?
D2: TOOL KIT
Things you will need to teach this lesson:
“Portion of the Crowd Listening to The Bulletin’s Fight Returns,” Norwich Bulletin, July 6, 1910 – Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
“Buckingham’s Attitude On Fight Pictures,” Bridgeport Evening Farmer, July 6, 1910 – Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
“Jeffries-Johnson Fight Pictures,” Norwich Bulletin, July 8, 1910 – Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
“Negro Parson Wants Fight Pictures Shown,” Bridgeport Evening Farmer, July 11, 1910 – Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
“War Against Pictures Leads To Prohibition Before 25,000,000, People,” Bridgeport Evening Farmer, July 11, 1910 – Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
“The Aftermath of the Great Johnson and Jeffries Fight at Reno, Nevada,” Broadax (Salt Lake City UT), July 16, 1910 – Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
Jack Johnson, Bain News Service, ca. 1910-1915 – Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
D3: INQUIRY ACTIVITY
If you choose, start by showing the 3:37 clip of the Johnson-Jeffries fight from 1910.
You may choose to use the full set of resources provided or focus on two or three articles. There is also a photograph of Jack Johnson available to share with the class.
Break the students into groups and have each group work with one or even a set of resources. Have students gather evidence and inferences about the controversy over the Johnson-Jeffries fight film. You may wish to use some of the supporting questions to guide the inquiry:
- Why was the film censored?
- Who was pushing for censorship?
- What were some of the responses by government officials to the controversy?
- How did the companies that controlled the film respond to the banning of the film?
- How did the African American community respond to the censorship of the film?
Bring the class together to share their findings and remaining questions. Discuss how or where students could find answers or learn more.
D4: COMMUNICATING CONCLUSIONS
- Students, acting as if they were living in Connecticut in 1910, will write a letter to the editor of the Bridgeport Evening Farmer or the Norwich Bulletin in response to any of the articles provided, arguing for or against the showing of the film in their town or in the state.
- Students will compare the Johnson fight film controversy to a contemporary controversy over popular culture or censorship and prepare a short oral or written presentation on the comparison.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Place to GO
Explore the photo archives at: The Amistad Center for Art & Culture, Wadsworth Atheneum.
Things To DO
Examine the controversy over the naming of Serena Williams as Sportsperson of the Year in 2015, as examined in this article: The Daily Beast- “Serena Williams: Diary of a Strong, Black Woman in White America” by Stereo Williams.
Websites to VISIT
Library of Congress: Topics in “Chronicling America” – Jack Johnson vs. James J. Jeffries
PBS.org: “Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson,” A Film Directed by Ken Burns.
Articles to READ
Orbach, Barak Y. “The Johnson-Jeffries Fight and the Censorship of Black Supremacy,” Arizona Legal Studies Discussion Paper No. 10-09, April 1910.
