A Rhetorical Analysis Of Randy Roberts's Article Summary

Randy Roberts, author of the article “Jack Johnson wins The Heavyweight Championship” sheds light on the fight of Jack Johnson with Tommy Burns; he highlights the racial attitude in the twentieth century. Roberts opens his article by mentioning about the concerned whites, as the author proceeds, according to the whites it was a tragic and saddest day of their lives as the race won. Dixie was agitated, firstly, because Booker T. Washington dined at the White House and, secondly, the victory of Jack Johnson. However, blacks rejoiced all over the United States with this news. Roberts mentions about a journalist report, it stated that the genuine satisfaction the blacks experienced with the single victory of Johnson was not being observed in forty

Even the editor of Australian Star printed a cartoon displaying the fight being watched by both whites and blacks. , along with a letter stating that this fight may be looked back upon as a first great battle of a predictable race war. The author is also briefed about the racial tension in Australia since the times of colonies, the whites feared and were threatened by the lower races. Therefore, in 1900, the immigration restrictions aimed to keep the country white proposed and adopted. Johnson and Burns became both an example and contributed to their fears. Small White Burns became a symbol of small white Australia, fighting against the odds. While, Johnson was viewed as a corrupt and sensual enemy who had strength but lacked

Firstly, because of economics, the fight was filmed and secondly, he wanted to seek revenge and punish Burns, which he did. Punishment gave several wounds to Burns, but that wasn’t enough for Johnson, he also desired to humiliate him. He insulted Burns by mocking him, besides that he talked to the ringsiders who hated him and passed racial comments which gave more strength to Johnson. Burns was injured severely, however, every time the bell rang, he rose to face more punishments and insults, and his fortitude was self-inspiring. By the thirteen round, police entered to stop the fight, but Burns insisted that he could win. Despite being wounded, he wasn’t ready to give up. While everywhere was a stunned silence as the viewers couldn’t believe a black man wore a crown that once belonged to Sullivan, Corbett, and Jeffries. In Australia, as the author describes how an archetypical darkness which replaced the sweetness and light, people hated Johnson and was portrayed as a destructive beast. While in America the press wasn’t pleased with the fight but tried to cover it up by stating that Johnson was an American. Americans were unsettled by this news, blacks celebrated Johnson’s victory and believed that he had demonstrated that they were superior in physical and mental abilities. While Johnson openly admitted that Burns was very easy and he took revenge