Newspaper Article: “Dark Cloud Seen on White Hope Horizon”
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LOOK
Look at the language used in this article, especially the terms “dark cloud” and “white hope.” Why do you think the author chose these two terms, and what attitudes do they reflect?
THINK
Look at and think about the words that are used to depict the Black and the white boxers in the article. What emotions do you think the journalist was trying to elicit by using this language?
DO
What would be a non–discriminatory way to write this headline? Try writing a few alternatives in a fair way with a partner.
Details
Date December 31, 1912
Materials - Paper
- Ink
Transcript
Newspaper Article: “Dark Cloud Seen on White Hope Horizon”
Dark Cloud Seen on White Hope Horizon.
It Looms Up on Eve of Big Battle and Is Nothing Less Than Mr Sam Langford, of Boston, Mass,
San Francisco, / Dec 31 – While the boxing enthusiasts are fixed on Los Angeles, where Al Palzer and Luther McCarthy will meet tomorrow in a 20-round bout for the heavyweight white championship of the world, a dark cloud looms up on the horizon, hurrying northward from far-off Australia.
That cloud takes definite form in Sam Langford, the dreaded “Boston Tar Baby.” who recently knocked out Sam McVea, and who now calls himself the heavyweight champion of the world. Jack Johnson has steadfastly refused to fight Langford for one reason or another, and now the man who defeated Jeffries is in the bad graces of clubs and boxing “fans” alike and hardly would be allowed to fight if he wanted to.
There is no doubt of the ability of Langford to wade through the present day crop of heavyweights, apart from Jack Johnson. He is rather short as heavyweight fighters go, but he is one of the most powerfully built men in the world, and in addition is fast, clever and can hit like a trip hammer.
With the exception of Joe Jeannette who has shown unmistakable signs of slipping backward in the last year or more when confronted by men of first class, there is no heavyweight in the world, again barring Johnson, who could stand up under the sledge hammer punches of Langford. Palzer, McCarthy, “Gunboat” Smith, Jesse Willard and all the others would be clay in his hands.
Luther McCarthy is a man of moods. Some of his mood give Billy McCarthy, his manager, the shivers. McCarthy’s latest escapade was to visit a circus and insist upon entering the cages in which the trained lions were kept.
For 15 minutes he made the lions go through stunts, while his manager stood outside the cage begging him to come out while he was still alive and intact. McCarthy’s greatest delight is in riding fractious [broncos] which have records for being “bad.” All these little shows of “temperament” a couple of days before a big fight are none too assuring to his friends.
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
- Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
- Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
He competed in both lightweight and heavyweight matches, fighting many tough-to-beat opponents.
Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
He competed in both lightweight and heavyweight matches, fighting many tough-to-beat opponents.
Despite his accomplishments, many newspaper articles portrayed Langford negatively. The language and images often used to describe Langford and other Black athletes were racist and perpetuated negative stereotypes of Black people in sport.
Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
- This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
- Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
- Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
He competed in both lightweight and heavyweight matches, fighting many tough-to-beat opponents.
Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
He competed in both lightweight and heavyweight matches, fighting many tough-to-beat opponents.
Despite his accomplishments, many newspaper articles portrayed Langford negatively. The language and images often used to describe Langford and other Black athletes were racist and perpetuated negative stereotypes of Black people in sport.
Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
Summary
- This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
- Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
- Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
Essential
This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
He competed in both lightweight and heavyweight matches, fighting many tough-to-beat opponents.
Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.
In-Depth
This is a newspaper article about Sam Langford, who was born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia.
Langford rose up the ranks in professional boxing in the 1930s and met with much success.
He competed in both lightweight and heavyweight matches, fighting many tough-to-beat opponents.
Despite his accomplishments, many newspaper articles portrayed Langford negatively. The language and images often used to describe Langford and other Black athletes were racist and perpetuated negative stereotypes of Black people in sport.
Because of racism, he never had the chance to compete for a world boxing title, even though many boxing experts considered him one of the best of his era.