Black Jack
The Ballad of Jack Johnson

Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson, is a picture book biography written in verse. It is the story of Jack Johnson, the son of former slaves, who learns to stand up to his bullies by fighting them. Black Jack becomes a professional boxer but is not given the opportunity to fight white boxers. He......more

The novel “Black Jack the Ballad of Jack Johnson” is about an African American man named Jack Johnson whose goal in life is to become the worlds best heavy weight champion. However the only problem is that Jack Johnson may not be let into the ring to fight and win that title, due to the color of his......more

Like a rhythmic one-two punch, the text of this picture book biography tells the story of boxer Jack Johnson who became the world's first black heavyweight champion in 1910. While I like some of the powerful text, some of the lines are awkward to say aloud without much practice. Still, young readers......more

In 1908, he became the first Black heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He was fighting at a time when, regardless of slavery having been abolished 45 years beforehand, African Americans were still subjected to extensive isolation and racism. His victory over James J. Jeffries -- in what was bi......more

22 December 2009 BLACK JACK: THE BALLAD OF JACK JOHNSON by Charles R. Smith Jr. and Shane W. Evans, ill., Neal Porter/Roaring Brook, June 2010, 40p., ISBN: 978-1-59643-473-8 "I'm Jack Johnson -- heavyweight champion of the world! I'm black! They never let me forget it. I'm black all right; I'll neve......more