Black Jack

The first African-American heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson, was born in 1878 to former slaves. When his sisters stepped up to fight for him, his mother told Jack that in the future he must stand up for himself. Dion Graham is the ideal narrator for this endearing yet gritty story. Graham melodiously captures everyone in Jack's ever-expanding world. Jack believed he was a pure-blooded American because his ancestors came to the Colonies before anyone ever dreamed of the nation of the United States. For many years, he had to play second fiddle to white boxing champions because they refused to fight a black man. Finally, in 1910 he defeated Jim Jeffries to become the world's first black heavyweight champion. Graham's narration, along with the book's sound effects, music, and robust illustrations, enhances this special read-along. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine