IMDb > Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)

Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004) More at IMDbPro »

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
8.3/10   478 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ken Burns
Writer:
Geoffrey C. Ward (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 January 2005 (USA) more
Genre:
Documentary | Biography | Sport more
Tagline:
They couldn't knock him out, so they tried to tear him down.
Plot:
The story of Jack Johnson, the first African American Heavyweight boxing champion. | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations more
User Comments:
Good but not perfect more (8 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Jack Johnson ... Himself (archive footage)

Keith David ... Narrator (voice)

Samuel L. Jackson ... Jack Johnson (voice)

Adam Arkin ... Other Voices (voice)
Philip Bosco ... Other Voices (voice)

Kevin Conway ... Other Voices (voice)

Brian Cox ... Other Voices (voice)

John Cullum ... Other Voices (voice)
Murphy Guyer ... Other Voices (voice)

Ed Harris ... Other Voices (voice)

Derek Jacobi ... Other Voices (voice)

Carl Lumbly ... Other Voices (voice)

Amy Madigan ... Other Voices (voice)

Carolyn McCormick ... Other Voices (voice)
Joe Morton ... Other Voices (voice)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
214 min | USA:220 min (DVD version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color | Black and White
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Australia:PG
Filming Locations:
Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Company:
WETA more

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
Features Jeffries-Johnson World's Championship Boxing Contest, Held at Reno, Nevada, July 4, 1910 (1910) more
Soundtrack:
Black Bottom Stomp more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
4 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
Good but not perfect, 24 July 2007
7/10
Author: danval3 from Canada

As the author of a biography about Canadian heavyweight champion Tommy Burns, I can tell you Unforgivable Blackness didn't tell the whole story by portraying Tommy as a racist who had to be badgered into fighting Jack Johnson. Until Tommy Burns came along, all the heavyweight kings had been white Americans who openly drew the so-called 'colour line,' refusing to fight blacks. Tommy, who fought seven African-American boxers on his way up, announced the day that he won the title that he would take on all comers, regardless of race or religion. Among other things, Tommy Burns did the following: * Break the colour line by becoming the first white champ to fight a black boxer (Jack Johnson). * Become the first champ to give a Jewish boxer (Joseph Smith) a crack at the title. * Married a black woman. * Hire two black sparring partners. * Befriend and socialize with black fighter Billy Woods. Tommy Burns was a racist by the standards of 2007, often using the 'n' word in interviews. But by the standards of his era, he was a very progressive individual. And although director Ken Burns doesn't acknowledge it in his otherwise very good film, if it wasn't for Tommy Burns, no one alive today would know or care who Jack Johnson was. Dan McCaffery, author, Tommy Burns: Canada's Unknown World Heavyweight Champion

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (8 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
This Bike is a Pipe Bomb nrtopliffe
Great 'mint julips' quote scazza
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Great White Hope Ali When We Were Kings Joe Louis: America's Hero... Betrayed The Joe Louis Story
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Documentary section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.