Jack Johnson was one of the best boxers of his time. Back in the early 1900s, his power and domination made him a formidable foe for anyone who opposed him in the ring. But as great as a fighter he was, he could not beat the racism and prejudice that confronted him. Some white people around the sport didn’t like Johnson because of his skin color and tried whatever they could to stop him.
On Oct. 18, 1912, Johnson was arrested and charged with breaking the Mann Act for “transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes.” At issue was his relationship with a white woman named Lucille Cameron, who was allegedly a prostitute. Johnson was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison.
