One hundred years ago today, Jack Johnson knocked out the greatest of great white hopes, Jim Jeffries, in “The Battle of the Century.”

So raise a glass, pour some out for those who ain’t here, light a sparkler, and be inspired by the black man from Galveston who became heavyweight champion 12 years after Plessy v. Ferguson.  Here’s a short section of a poem about the fight in Jack Johnson’s honor.

The Battle of the Century

—Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries, July 4, 1910

1^st Round

Independence Day & the sun

is hiding in the sky like a scared

rabbit. No more ducking games

now,  Jim. No more fast talk

about darkies lacking the stomach

for a fight. Truth is, you never

did want to mix it up with me.

You knew the outcome & wanted

to be back on your alfalfa farm,

fishing from the other side of the world.

You fought like it from the start.

First, the clinching game. Clinching,

in the 1^st round. You feinted a bit,

then leaned into me like we were

dancing. Someone yelled: Cut

out the motion pictures! I smiled,

patted your shoulder on the way

back to my corner.