Have you heard about Jack Johnson, hes a hero in this land
I don't like to sing about boxing but I hope youll understand
It was the 1st year they gave teh heavyweight to a black man and in 1908 it aint so easy
He was born right after slavery died, right after reconstruction died, born right after none of that stuff really died at all
He would walk down the streets wearing gold and diamonds, always hold his head up high, and he never had to say yes sir or no sir to the white forlks as they passed him by, or as he passed them by
So the great white hope was pulled out of retirement to nurse the bruised and shattered white pride
And when Johnson beat him down there wasn't a man around at his side
When the fight was over there was beatings and murders, the worst race riot this country has seen
All because they didnt want a black man winning in their ring
Who said heroes had to be role models anyway?