So this poem is called "Alias," and it's
a sonnet made up of names that sports writers called
Jack Johnson.
"Alias."
John Arthur Johnson.
Jack Johnson.
'Lil Arthur.
Jack Johnson.
Tiny's boy, Jack.
Yellow streak nigger.
Bold Mr. Johnson.
Jack Johnson.
The big smoke.
Jack Johnson.
Flash nigger.
Jack Johnson.
The big sender.
Black animal.
Jack.
Texas watermelon pickaninny.
Mr. Johnson.
Colored man with cash.
Colored champion.
The colored winner.
Gentleman Jack.
Jack Johnson.
Galveston giant.
The heavyweight champion.
Smoke.
The big Ethiopian.
Fresh nigger.
The man they all dodged.
Papa Jack.
Champion Jack.
Johnson.
Papa.
Jack.
Jack?
Every one of those came out of like the Dallas Morning
Star, the New York Times, and LA Times.
It wasn't like some really backwater racist newspapers.
It was real newspapers.