Black Jack

Tells the story of the first black heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Johnson, who rose through the ranks in the early twentieth century.

Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2010: To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Jack Johnson becoming the first black man to win the World Heavyweight Championship on July 4, 1910, award-winning author Charles R. Smith Jr. and illustrator Shane W. Evans have teamed up to create the powerful and poignant Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson which chronicles Johnson’s life, from early on as the child of two former slaves to his crowning achievement. In capturing Johnson’s battles in and out of the ring, the authors relay one of life’s most important messages: never give up on your dreams, no matter what barriers stand in your way.

A Look Inside Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

Black Jack was a brave man	Black Jack chases Tommy Burns
Jack vs. Tommy in the ring	Jack knocks the champ down