A free film preview and public discussion presented in partnership with Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society, The Institute on Race & Justice, and WGBH
Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 6:30 p.m.
Blackman Auditorium / Ell Hall / Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Jack Johnson - the first African American Heavyweight Champion of the world, whose dominance over his white opponents spurred furious debates and race riots in the early 20th century - entered the ring once again in a provocative new documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns. "Johnson's story is more than the story of a tremendous athlete, or even one who broke a color line," says Burns. "It is the story of a man who forced America to confront its definition of freedom, and that is an issue with which we continue to struggle."
Ford Hall Forum presented a sneak preview of Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise
and Fall of Jack Johnson on Thursday, January 13, 2005 at Blackman Auditorium
in Ell Hall on the campus of Northeastern University. A public discussion of
the film's themes immediately followed, led by distinguished panelists Ron Borges,
sportswriter, boxing journalist, The Boston Globe; Robin Chandler, professor,
women's studies, Northeastern University; and Bob Hall, professor, African American
Studies, Northeastern University. Peter Roby, director, Center for Sport and
Society, Northeastern University, moderated the discussion.
This free public event was presented in partnership with the Center for Sport and Society, Northeastern University; the Institute on Race & Justice, Northeastern University; and WGBH. The two-part film premiered on Monday, January 17 and Tuesday, January 18 at 9:00 p.m. on WGBH 2. The discussion segment of this event was recorded by WGBH and was available online as a webcast at the WGBH Forum Network. For more information about additional broadcasts and the WGBH Forum Network, visit www.wgbh.org/unforgivable.
Programs of the Ford Hall Forum are made possible through contributions from individual members as well as corporations and foundations, including the Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation, Houghton Chemical Corporation, Levine Katz Nannis + Solomon P.C., The Lowell Institute, The Millipore Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and Northeastern University.