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IMDbPro

Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson

  • 20042004
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 3h 34m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Jack Johnson in Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)
  • Documentary
  • Biography
  • Sport
The story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.The story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.The story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ken Burns
  • Writer
    • Geoffrey C. Ward
  • Stars
    • Jack Johnson(archive footage)
    • Keith David(voice)
    • Samuel L. Jackson(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ken Burns
  • Writer
    • Geoffrey C. Ward
  • Stars
    • Jack Johnson(archive footage)
    • Keith David(voice)
    • Samuel L. Jackson(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 4 wins & 5 nominations total

    Photos

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

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Johnson
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Narratoras Narrator
    • (voice)
    Samuel L. Jackson
    Samuel L. Jackson
    • Jack Johnsonas Jack Johnson
    • (voice)
    Adam Arkin
    Adam Arkin
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Philip Bosco
    Philip Bosco
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Kevin Conway
    Kevin Conway
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Brian Cox
    Brian Cox
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    John Cullum
    John Cullum
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Murphy Guyer
    Murphy Guyer
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Ed Harris
    Ed Harris
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Derek Jacobi
    Derek Jacobi
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Carl Lumbly
    Carl Lumbly
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Amy Madigan
    Amy Madigan
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Carolyn McCormick
    Carolyn McCormick
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Joe Morton
    Joe Morton
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Alan Rickman
    Alan Rickman
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Studs Terkel
    Studs Terkel
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    Jack Thompson
    Jack Thompson
    • Other Voicesas Other Voices
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Ken Burns
    • Writer
      • Geoffrey C. Ward
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      It is stated that as a young man Johnson would sometimes "ride the rails" to find bouts in other towns.This does not mean buying a train ticket. The rails referred to are the iron foot rails attached to the underneath of boxcars by the sliding doors, that served as a footstep. Attached at the ends, with a crossbar at the center, one would lay down on their back and hold on, with a bedroll or rolled-up clothes serving as a cushion under the back.
    • Quotes

      Jack Johnson: I have found no better way in avoiding race prejudice than to act with people of other races as if prejudice did not exist.

    • Connections
      Featured in Ken Burns: America's Storyteller (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Ghost in the House
      Composed and Performed by Wynton Marsalis

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Good but not perfect
    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
    helpful•20
    12
    • danval3
    • Jul 24, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 17, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • PBS (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Непростительная чернота: Взлеты и падения Джека Джонсона
    • Filming locations
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    • Production companies
      • WETA
      • Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
      • Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16 : 9

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