Forgivable Blackness? Trump looking to pardon Jack Johnson

[Naha-Nago]

(CNN)President Donald Trump said Saturday that he is considering granting a posthumous pardon to boxer Jack Johnson on the advice of actor Sylvester Stallone.

"Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial," Trump tweeted. "Others have looked at this over the years, most thought it would be done, but yes, I am considering a Full Pardon!"

Johnson, the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion, was convicted in 1913 under the Mann Act for taking his white girlfriend across state lines for "immoral" purposes. The Mann Act purported to prevent human trafficking for the purpose of prostitution, but critics have argued it was applied inconsistently to criminalize African Americans and those with dissenting political views.

Johnson was convicted by an all-white jury in less than two hours and was imprisoned for a year. The sentence and imprisonment destroyed the boxing career of the "Galveston Giant." He died in 1946.

In 2016, then-Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. John McCain, along with Reps. Peter King and Gregory Meeks, petitioned the Obama administration to grant a pardon to Johnson. The bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to the White House asking that the pardon be given in honor of the 70th anniversary of the boxer's death.

"While it is unfortunate that this unjust conviction was not corrected during the boxer's lifetime, a posthumous pardon today represents the opportunity to reaffirm Jack Johnson's substantial contributions to our society and right this historical wrong," the letter said.

In March 2017, Sen. Cory Booker joined with McCain, King and Meeks to reintroduce a resolution urging Johnson's pardon.

"Despite this resolution passing both chambers of Congress several times in recent years, no pardon has been issued to date," McCain said in a statement at the time. "I hope President Trump will seize the opportunity before him to right this historical wrong and restore a great athlete's legacy."

The White House did not immediately return CNN's request for further comment on the President's tweet.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cn...s/donald-trump-jack-johnson-pardon/index.html

 

[LSN]

Sylvester “This fucking nigger here” Stallone??

 

[Ballatician]

Sylvester “This fucking nigger here” Stallone??

Yup racist.....

 

[Naha-Nago]

Part one of one of the best documentaries I've ever watched.

*two cents*

 

[Naha-Nago]

Sylvester “This fucking nigger here” Stallone??

Yup racist.....

So Jack Johnson SHOULDN'T be pardoned?

I'm confused....

If you knew the story of Jack Johnson or anything about the Mann Act, Johnson should have never been convicted.

I don't care if David Duke suggested that he be pardoned and it was forced through the Senate by the ghost of Storm Thurmond himself- I celebrate ANY BLACK man whose been wrong getting that wrong corrected.


*two cents*

 

[Ballatician]

So Jack Johnson SHOULDN'T be pardoned?

I'm confused....

If you knew the story of Jack Johnson or anything about the Mann Act, Johnson should have never been convicted.

I don't care if David Duke suggested that he be pardoned and it was forced through the Senate by the ghost of Storm Thurmond himself- I celebrate ANY BLACK man whose been wrong getting that wrong corrected.


*two cents*

He and Marcus Garvey should be pardoned, we’re just acknowledging that a racist petitioned Trump to do it.

 

[LSN]

He and Marcus Garvey should be pardoned, we’re just acknowledging that a racist petitioned Trump to do it.

right...idk how the assumption jumped to me not thinking he should be pardoned instead of to me being surprised by who suggested it

 

[Naha-Nago]

... we’re just acknowledging that a racist petitioned Trump to do it.

I hear you fam but...

The ghost of George Wallace could have came to Trump in a dream and whispered "Pardon that nigra, who doesn't like fast cars and faster white women?".

I don't care. I've wanted this particular wrong righted since I learned about Jack Johnson in high school.

He is my favorite athlete and one of the 5 people who ever lived I'd love to have dinner with.

I feel about Jack Johnson the way people feel about Lebron and Beyonce...I'm a STAN.

*two cents*

 

[Megatron X]

So Jack Johnson SHOULDN'T be pardoned?

I'm confused....

If you knew the story of Jack Johnson or anything about the Mann Act, Johnson should have never been convicted.

I don't care if David Duke suggested that he be pardoned and it was forced through the Senate by the ghost of Storm Thurmond himself- I celebrate ANY BLACK man whose been wrong getting that wrong corrected.


*two cents*

Obama was given the chance to pardon Marcus Mosiah Garvey and he didn’t. It’s fucked up that Trump is doing this cause it’s not a good look for Obeezy!

 

[Mr. Bizkits]

How about pardoning some black people still alive

 

[LSN]

Obama was given the chance to pardon Marcus Mosiah Garvey and he didn’t. It’s fucked up that Trump is doing this cause it’s not a good look for Obeezy!

that’s exactly why trump will do it if he does actually do it

 

[Naha-Nago]

Obama was given the chance to pardon Marcus Mosiah Garvey and he didn’t. It’s fucked up that Trump is doing this cause it’s not a good look for Obeezy!

Letting the banks off the hook and not pardoning these two men had me like... "Yo what the FUCK!?!" when it came to Obama.

Among other things...

*two cents*

 

[geechiedan]

The pardon request originated with filmmaker Ken Burns as he prepared to release his 2004 documentary Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. Burns gathered McCain and other advocates, ranging from boxer Sugar Ray Leonard to Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, and secured a law firm to submit the required application to the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice.

Burns personally petitioned President George W. Bush, who told him to speak to Karl Rove. “Not gonna do it,” Burns recalled Rove telling him.

He hasn’t gotten that close to Obama. “I had an opportunity earlier this year to address some folks at the Justice Department,” Burns said in an interview. “I thought I saw a twinkle in some eyes and interest and enthusiasm. That would have meant people would have gotten back to me with questions, with some type of response. But so far, I’ve heard nothing back.”

Congress passed a bipartisan resolution supporting the pardon last year. This year, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights votedunanimously in favor of one. In June, McCain, a Republican, sent a letter to Obama renewing the pardon request, co-signed by Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, Republican Rep. Peter King and Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks.

But Obama has focused his clemency efforts on living prisoners sentenced under outdated drug laws that had strict mandatory minimum terms for nonviolent crimes. He has granted clemency to 1,324 people – more than the previous 11 presidents combined – including 395 with life sentences.

Jeffrey Crouch, an American University professor and author of The Presidential Pardon Power, said it was “very unlikely” Obama would pardon Johnson. “If President Obama opens that door, it could very well distract from what he has established as his main focus with the clemency power: commuting the prison sentences of nonviolent drug offenders,” Crouch said.

Posthumous pardons are rare. Every clemency request must be investigated, and the Department of Justice says its “general policy” is not to accept posthumous applications, because its time is better spent on cases that could help the living. Nevertheless, Johnson’s application was accepted for review.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each granted one posthumous pardon. Clinton’s went to Lt. Henry O. Flipper, born into slavery in 1856 and the first black West Point graduate, who was victimized by a racist Army prosecution.

 

[Nzinga]

Why did Obama not do it?

 

[geechiedan]

Why did Obama not do it?

read above

 

[Naha-Nago]

*two cents*

 

[geechiedan]

 

[Ballatician]

I hear you fam but...

The ghost of George Wallace could have came to Trump in a dream and whispered "Pardon that nigra, who doesn't like fast cars and faster white women?".

I don't care. I've wanted this particular wrong righted since I learned about Jack Johnson in high school.

He is my favorite athlete and one of the 5 people who ever lived I'd love to have dinner with.

I feel about Jack Johnson the way people feel about Lebron and Beyonce...I'm a STAN.

*two cents*

Let’s not overblow cheap pardons and meaningless apologies from cacs.

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

uh thats nice but how about Mumia you know someone still alive that can enjoy their freedom..

 

[yureeka9]

Damn, why didn't Barack pardon him?!?

 

[water]

Damn, why didn't Barack pardon him?!?

This.

 

[World B Free]

Distraction.

 

[Gazoo]

John McCain has been trying to get Jack Johnson pardoned for years.

http://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4032510

 

[man-machine]

Damn, why didn't Barack pardon him?!?

Props to Geechidan for posting this but I keep seeing the same question:

But Obama has focused his clemency efforts on living prisoners sentenced under outdated drug laws that had strict mandatory minimum terms for nonviolent crimes. He has granted clemency to 1,324 people – more than the previous 11 presidents combined – including 395 with life sentences.

Jeffrey Crouch, an American University professor and author of The Presidential Pardon Power, said it was “very unlikely” Obama would pardon Johnson. “If President Obama opens that door, it could very well distract from what he has established as his main focus with the clemency power: commuting the prison sentences of nonviolent drug offenders,” Crouch said.

Posthumous pardons are rare. Every clemency request must be investigated, and the Department of Justice says its “general policy” is not to accept posthumous applications, because its time is better spent on cases that could help the living. Nevertheless, Johnson’s application was accepted for review.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each granted one posthumous pardon. Clinton’s went to Lt. Henry O. Flipper, born into slavery in 1856 and the first black West Point graduate, who was victimized by a racist Army prosecution.

 

[LSN]

Props to Geechidan for posting this but I keep seeing the same question:

But Obama has focused his clemency efforts on living prisoners sentenced under outdated drug laws that had strict mandatory minimum terms for nonviolent crimes. He has granted clemency to 1,324 people – more than the previous 11 presidents combined – including 395 with life sentences.

Jeffrey Crouch, an American University professor and author of The Presidential Pardon Power, said it was “very unlikely” Obama would pardon Johnson. “If President Obama opens that door, it could very well distract from what he has established as his main focus with the clemency power: commuting the prison sentences of nonviolent drug offenders,” Crouch said.

Posthumous pardons are rare. Every clemency request must be investigated, and the Department of Justice says its “general policy” is not to accept posthumous applications, because its time is better spent on cases that could help the living. Nevertheless, Johnson’s application was accepted for review.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each granted one posthumous pardon. Clinton’s went to Lt. Henry O. Flipper, born into slavery in 1856 and the first black West Point graduate, who was victimized by a racist Army prosecution.

thank you lol smh...cats ask “why?” but will overlook the answer...they’ll skip past your response too

 

[LSN]

funny coincidence tho...I saw a pic w/ obama and melania recently @ barbara bush’s funeral and I jokingly thought watch ‘dump’ try to publicly one-up him in the next few days...I thought it would’ve been via a clumsy twitter rant tho...anyway I’ll wait to see if he actually does it or just wants to come across like a “great guy” for “considering” it



trumps tweet came the same day hours after...again probably just a coincidence

 

[dHustla]

How about pardoning some black people still alive

Right! Symbolic victory..

 

[Mr. Met]

What good does this do now?

 

[Entrepronegro]

funny coincidence tho...I saw a pic w/ obama and melania recently @ barbara bush’s funeral and I jokingly thought watch ‘dump’ try to publicly one-up him in the next few days...I thought it would’ve been via a clumsy twitter rant tho...anyway I’ll wait to see if he actually does it or just wants to come across like a “great guy” for “considering” it



trumps tweet came the same day hours after...again probably just a coincidence

The Trump Family and the Obama Family are friends when political politics are put to the side.

 

[LSN]

The Trump Family and the Obama Family are friends when political politics are put to the side.

right...just like you and I are “friends” when your bitchassness, cooning and lying are all put to the side

 

[Entrepronegro]

right...just like you and I are “friends” when your bitchassness, cooning and lying are all put to the side

You ain't never been my friend you lying piece of shit.

 

[Simply_Black]

How about pardoning some black people still alive

This ^^^^

 

[yureeka9]

Props to Geechidan for posting this but I keep seeing the same question:

But Obama has focused his clemency efforts on living prisoners sentenced under outdated drug laws that had strict mandatory minimum terms for nonviolent crimes. He has granted clemency to 1,324 people – more than the previous 11 presidents combined – including 395 with life sentences.

Jeffrey Crouch, an American University professor and author of The Presidential Pardon Power, said it was “very unlikely” Obama would pardon Johnson. “If President Obama opens that door, it could very well distract from what he has established as his main focus with the clemency power: commuting the prison sentences of nonviolent drug offenders,” Crouch said.

Posthumous pardons are rare. Every clemency request must be investigated, and the Department of Justice says its “general policy” is not to accept posthumous applications, because its time is better spent on cases that could help the living. Nevertheless, Johnson’s application was accepted for review.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each granted one posthumous pardon. Clinton’s went to Lt. Henry O. Flipper, born into slavery in 1856 and the first black West Point graduate, who was victimized by a racist Army prosecution.

Ok, let me make sure I have this straight. A country that can put a man on the moon, a rover on mars, perfect nuclear weapons, build super computers and artificial intelligence and colonize virtually the entire globe can't find justice for a black man because they don't have the time, personnel and resources? Ok. Got it.



This is how the justice department looks:

 

[Jeanyus]

I swear to god I hate you dumb fools here. Every chance you get, you project uneducated niggas try to bash Obama. Obama pardoned thousands of LIVING niggas and y’all upset because he didn’t focus on some sentimental pardon that doesn’t make a god damn difference anyway since Johnson is fucking dead?! Obama’s pardons can directly affect black families in a positive way and make a difference. Giving pardons to niggas where they can get back with their families means more than a fucking posthumous pardon. Really?! Damn..... no wonder we are at the bottom of the totem pole....most niggas are plain stupid.

For dumb ghetto trash like you niggas, Obama would’ve had to give reparations for a million dollars to every black person alive for you niggas to be happy.... we need more abortion clinics to eliminate dumb niggas like y’all from reproducing.

 

[LSN]

I swear to god I hate you dumb fools here. Every chance you get, you project uneducated niggas try to bash Obama. Obama pardoned thousands of LIVING niggas and y’all upset because he didn’t focus on some sentimental pardon that doesn’t make a god damn difference anyway since Johnson is fucking dead?! Obama’s pardons can directly affect black families in a positive way and make a difference. Giving pardons to niggas where they can get back with their families means more than a fucking posthumous pardon. Really?! Damn..... no wonder we are at the bottom of the totem pole....most niggas are plain stupid.

For dumb ghetto trash like you niggas, Obama would’ve had to give reparations for a million dollars to every black person alive for you niggas to be happy.... we need more abortion clinics to eliminate dumb niggas like y’all from reproducing.

wow...I agree minus the self-hating remarks directed @ others...you also forgot “finally”