Jack Johnson, also known as the "Galveston Giant," was a trailblazing figure in Black history as the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion. He achieved this historic feat in 1908 when he defeated Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia. Johnson's victory sparked race riots in the United States and around the world, as many white Americans were outraged that a Black man had claimed the title of heavyweight champion.

Johnson faced significant racism and discrimination throughout his career, both inside and outside the ring. He openly defied the prevailing racial norms of the time, flaunting his success, dating white women, and refusing to adhere to societal expectations for Black men. His defiance of racial stereotypes made him a controversial figure but also a symbol of Black pride and resistance.

In 1910, Johnson defended his title in the famous "Fight of the Century" against former champion James J. Jeffries, who came out of retirement in an attempt to regain the title for the white race. Johnson soundly defeated Jeffries in a one-sided bout that further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of his era.

Despite his success in the ring, Johnson faced persecution outside of boxing due to his relationships with white women, which led to his arrest and conviction under the Mann Act, a law that prohibited the transportation of women across state lines for "immoral purposes." Johnson's conviction and subsequent exile from the United States in 1913 marked a dark chapter in his life, and he continued to face challenges and controversy until his death in a car accident in 1946.

Jack Johnson's legacy as a pioneering athlete and a defiant advocate for racial equality has endured over the years. In 2018, more than a century after his historic victory, President Donald Trump granted Johnson a posthumous pardon, acknowledging the racial injustice that Johnson faced and honoring his contributions to the world of boxing and Black history.