Rep. Lynn Jenkins Calls for 'Great White Hope' to Thwart Obama, Democrats

[FlyForFun]

If you did a bit more study, you would know this came from a racist mantra used by the media early in the 20th Century. A black boxer, Jack Johnson, was the boxing champion, and the media wanted to prove that he was inferior by getting a white boxer who could beat him...the Great White Hope. Your take on this is wrong.

Wikipedia reports:

In 1910, former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries came out of retirement and said "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro".[2] Jeffries had not fought in six years and had to lose around 100 lb (45 kg) to try to get back to his championship fighting weight.


The fight took place on July 4, 1910 in front of 22,000 people, at a ring built just for the occasion in downtown Reno, Nevada, and the ringside band played "All coons look alike to me". The fight had become a hotbed of racial tension, and the promoters incited the all-white crowd to chant "kill the nigger".[3] Johnson, however, proved stronger and more nimble than Jeffries. In the 15th round, after Jeffries had been knocked down twice for the first time in his career, his people called it quits to prevent Johnson from knocking him out.


The "Fight of the Century" earned Johnson $225,000 and silenced the critics, who had belittled Johnson's previous victory over Tommy Burns as "empty," claiming that Burns was a false champion since Jeffries had retired undefeated.
​

This anecdote proves fight promoters are pretty smart.

:smilewinkgrin:

 

[targus]

If you did a bit more study, you would know this came from a racist mantra used by the media early in the 20th Century. A black boxer, Jack Johnson, was the boxing champion, and the media wanted to prove that he was inferior by getting a white boxer who could beat him...the Great White Hope. Your take on this is wrong.

Wikipedia reports:

In 1910, former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries came out of retirement and said "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro".[2] Jeffries had not fought in six years and had to lose around 100 lb (45 kg) to try to get back to his championship fighting weight.


The fight took place on July 4, 1910 in front of 22,000 people, at a ring built just for the occasion in downtown Reno, Nevada, and the ringside band played "All coons look alike to me". The fight had become a hotbed of racial tension, and the promoters incited the all-white crowd to chant "kill the nigger".[3] Johnson, however, proved stronger and more nimble than Jeffries. In the 15th round, after Jeffries had been knocked down twice for the first time in his career, his people called it quits to prevent Johnson from knocking him out.


The "Fight of the Century" earned Johnson $225,000 and silenced the critics, who had belittled Johnson's previous victory over Tommy Burns as "empty," claiming that Burns was a false champion since Jeffries had retired undefeated.
​

I don't see the pharse "Great White Hope" used in your story.

Your stoy does not support your assertion that "Great White Hope" was a mantra.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I don't see the pharse "Great White Hope" used in your story.

Your stoy does not support your assertion that "Great White Hope" was a mantra.

I assume you are too young to remember, but the term "great white hope" was a well known phrase when I was a kid and it was known as beginning when Whites were enraged that Jack Johnson beat a white man for the heavy weight championship. The search for a "great white hope" who would recapture the heavy weight championship began. This was long before the play with the same title.

Jack Johnson, defeated Canadian Tommy Burns on December 26, 1908, in the World Boxing Championship held in Sydney. This initiated the quest to find a "Great White Hope" to defeat Johnson. James Jeffries, a leading white fighter, came out of retirement to answer the challenge. Jack Johnson won their fight on July 4, 1910. News of Jeffries's defeat ignited numerous incidents of white violence against blacks. However, black poet William Waring Cuney captured the exuberant African American reaction in his poem, "My Lord, What a Morning":

http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q="g...1&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=f92bcde7,ae5c7812

The play by the same title, "The Great White Hope" explores this and is a fictional account of this event in American History.

The Great White Hope tells a fictional idealised life story of boxing champion Jack Johnson, here called Jack Jefferson.[2] Acting as a lens focused on a racist society, The Great White Hope explores how segregation and prejudice created the demand for a "great white hope" who would defeat Johnson and how this, in turn, affected the boxer's life and career.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_White_Hope

So the history of the term defnitely is racist. The play explores the racist attitude.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

I don't see the pharse "Great White Hope" used in your story.

Your stoy does not support your assertion that "Great White Hope" was a mantra.

I won't do all your research for you. That was indeed the phrase used. Before you continue to make foolish assertions, check it out. It is common knowledge, but here is from Wikipedia's entry on Jeffries:

The media, eager for a "Great White Hope", found a champion for their racism in Jeffries. He said, "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro."[1]

​

If you want other sources, they are readily available if you just look into it.

 

[targus]

Whatever the history of the phrase - it does not automatically indicate a racist attitude on the part of Lynn Jenkins.

As I said some reflexively see racism where it does not exist.

For example - since abortion has historically occured at higher rates among minorities in the U.S. does that make any politician that supports abortion as a right a racist?

By extension - does that make anyone who votes for those politicians racist?

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Whatever the history of the phrase - it does not automatically indicate a racist attitude on the part of Lynn Jenkins.

No, she may just be ignorant. But it does put her judgment at question, as it was at best, a stupid thing to say. This could also be racist, we just don't know. I'd say this is yet another "macaca" moment.

By extension - does that make anyone who votes for those politicians racist?

No, but I am sure it appeals to those constituents who are.

 

[OldRegular]

Whatever the history of the phrase - it does not automatically indicate a racist attitude on the part of Lynn Jenkins.

As I said some reflexively see racism where it does not exist.

For example - since abortion has historically occured at higher rates among minorities in the U.S. does that make any politician that supports abortion as a right a racist?

By extension - does that make anyone who votes for those politicians racist?

Some people see racism where it does not exist and exploit it. Some people see conspiracies where that do not exist. Others ignore them where they do exist just as some on this Forum fail to recognize that the democrat party and their leaders are determined to turn this Constitutional Republic into a Socialist "utopia" in thrall to certain elitists in the democrat party. Those on this forum who support the move to Socialism know who they are. Some even try to justify their belief by Scripture.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Some people see racism where it does not exist and exploit it. Some people see conspiracies where that do not exist. Others ignore them where they do exist just as some on this Forum fail to recognize that the democrat party and their leaders are determined to turn this Constitutional Republic into a Socialist "utopia" in thrall to certain elitists in the democrat party. Those on this forum who support the move to Socialism know who they are. Some even try to justify their belief by Scripture.

Having trouble staying on topic, are we?

 

[OldRegular]

For example - since abortion has historically occured at higher rates among minorities in the U.S. does that make any politician that supports abortion as a right a racist?

By extension - does that make anyone who votes for those politicians racist?

The larger question is does it make them an abortionist? I say yes!

 

[OldRegular]

Having trouble staying on topic, are we?

No! Actually given that Rep. Jenkins is trying to rally support against the socialist democrats I would say that it is right on topic. I will repeat the OP in case the rarified atmosphere has gotten to you this morning.

Republican slip. What else needs to be said?

Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) got a wave of attention yesterday for remarking at a rally that the GOP needs "a great white hope" to challenge the Democratic agenda.

"Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope," she told the crowd. "I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington."

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08...hwart-obama/

 

[Magnetic Poles]

No! Actually given that Rep. Jenkins is trying to rally support against the socialist democrats I would say that it is right on topic. I will repeat the OP in case the rarified atmosphere has gotten to you this morning.

So you think her statement about the "Great White Hope" is appropriate? I am sure your honest answer will be quite revealing about your feelings.

 

[OldRegular]

So you think her statement about the "Great White Hope" is appropriate? I am sure your honest answer will be quite revealing about your feelings.

I have said before that I believe it was metaphorical. If that honest answer determines your opinion of me then so be it.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

I have said before that I believe it was metaphorical. If that honest answer determines your opinion of me then so be it.

OR, the question is do you believe it was appropriate?

 

[FlyForFun]

OR, the question is do you believe it was appropriate?

Dumb, most likely.

People want to be excused for using certain language.

While the Rep. may not be racist, she sure exhibited lack of sensitivity to others.

Thus while the term "niggardly" means "cheap, tightwad," it makes sense to avoid such terms for the sake of those who may misunderstand.

 

[tinytim]

You all know I am as conservative as can be.. and this was a stupid remark, as stupid as the gaffes that Biden makes... and even I make every once in a while.. (rarely... lol)

She should retract it..

Listen, I am looking for a great hope... But He was Jewish, and born a little over 2000 yrs ago.. .died, rose again, and IS coming back... so I guess I am looking for the Great Hebrew Hope....

Until then we have to do the best we can.

 

[OldRegular]

OR, the question is do you believe it was appropriate?

Properly understood I do not get excited about it.

The uproar is reminiscent of the racist label unfairly applied to Bill Clinton after the SC democrat primary; much ado about nothing.

The left has played the race card for years and unfortunately it works.

 

[Jerome]

Yes, racemongers often attempt to pervert language.
The phrase's origin predates the 1910 prizefight and had nothing to do with bigotry:

"...his unhappy followers, obstinate not to lose the great white hope that had come to illumine the gloom of the Jewries..."
Cosmopolitan Magazine 1897

 

[billwald]

I voted for Obama because there was a chance he would bring the troops home.

 

[FlyForFun]

I voted for Obama because there was a chance he would bring the troops home.

..and how's that workin' out for ya....?

:smilewinkgrin:

 

[rbell]

Well, isn't this interesting. People can call Obama or others they consider 'liberal' all kinds of names, negative ones of course. But if a person gives a link to a news article that shows a Republican or conservative in a bad light they are to be condemned.

This is not an obscure article. It was a lead article.

I did not paint all Republicans as racist and neither did the article. This lady did the damage all on her own.

Now, be as considerate to Obama as you want others to be with this lady. OK?

Republican slip. What else needs to be said?

Well...here you go. You lied, CTB. Sorry to break it to you.