04/19/24
April 02, 2009
McCain Seeks Pardon for Boxer Jack Johnson: Sen. John McCain is seeking a presidential pardon for Jack Johnson, the legendary black heavyweight boxing champ convicted in 1913 of transporting a white woman across state lines. Johnson, who won the the world heavyweight title on Boxing Day 1908, fled the country for seven years after the conviction, only returning after reaching a deal to serve his sentence. "It was his misfortune to be the foremost example of the evil in permitting the intermarriage of whites and blacks," the prosecutor said after the trial.
McCain loves boxing. He introduced the same boxing reform bill year after year until he could get some support in the House. I don't know if I agree with him that Obama pardoning Johnson has any extra significance, but it is a nice gesture anyway.
I highly recommend the documentary by Ken Burns Unforgivable Blackness if you haven't seen it yet.
posted by bperk at 11:58 AM on April 02, 2009
I just enjoy the transportation, without even paying attention to whether any borders are being crossed.
In fact, if the transportation was going really well, I might not even be aware of what state I was in.
Or be able to adequately describe what state I was in.
I guess you could say at that point that I myself was being transported.
Now back to the McCain family. First, daughter Meghan starts taking on right wing women from the print and broadcast media empires, and now this. Interesting redemption for a candidate who tolerated the conduct that McCain tolerated from his supporters and colleagues during the campaign.
I think this is a worthy endeavor, but if McCain had been elected, is this what he'd be working on right now?
posted by beaverboard at 12:04 PM on April 02, 2009
On one hand, part of me wonders just what the point of a purely symbolic gesture like this is. It was not right at the time, but it passed into irrelevance long ago.
On the other hand, considering what Congress is doing these days (i.e. taking over every segment of our economy so they can run it into the ground), maybe it would be better if they focused on irrelevant and harmless stuff like this.
posted by TheQatarian at 01:35 PM on April 02, 2009
I don't think this wrong is so old that it can't be righted, at least in a small symbolic way. It's also well-timed for those of us who believe the rules against interracial marriage are comparable to the prohibition against another form of marriage that dare not speak its name.
posted by rcade at 02:16 PM on April 02, 2009
I have transported white women across state lines more times than I can count.
The problem with this was that they were all stacked in the trunk of your car and you were presenting them to a certain former Major League pitcher who shall not be named.
posted by THX-1138 at 03:48 PM on April 02, 2009
You can go to jail for a year for having sex with a white woman?
So it's true. Those women weren't just making idle threats.
posted by owlhouse at 05:03 PM on April 02, 2009
Kind of ironic that a law prohibiting the transportation of prostitutes over state lines is called the Mann act.
This is the same crime that Eliot Spitzer was charged with.
I am going to have to start making them get out about a block before the border and walk across on their own.
posted by dviking at 09:47 PM on April 02, 2009
I have transported white women across state lines more times than I can count.
Interesting. I missed that completely while perusing your soul.
posted by BoKnows at 10:13 PM on April 02, 2009
McCain loves boxing.
I really was never aware of this, it kind of makes sense of his opposition to MMA (specifically UFC) during its inception.
posted by HATER 187 at 03:45 PM on April 03, 2009
Sure, I'm with it. I don't see it as a waste when we formally acknowedge that we were wrong. Ridiculous charge to boot. That is a funny one.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:49 PM on April 03, 2009
/obligatory McCain is so old he was pals with Johnson joke
posted by billsaysthis at 03:16 PM on April 04, 2009
Finally! I was beginning to worry that joke would never happen.
posted by rcade at 03:32 PM on April 04, 2009
*lobbies for Shoeless Joe Jackson*
posted by scully at 10:05 AM on April 06, 2009
I have transported white women across state lines more times than I can count.