Robert Mullins - Beau Jack: The Boxing Life of Sidney Walker, Two-Time Lightweight Champion

Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. Its something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.

Vince Lombardi (19131970)

Sidney Beau Jack Walker was no ordinary personmuch less an ordinary boxer. Born in 1921 south of Augusta, Georgia, he faced adversity with every step he took. From being abandoned by his parents to being beaten up by a gang of white boys who stole his pocket change earned from shining shoes, life was demanding for Sidney.

It was challenging for a black boy growing up in the South. The 13th Amendment banning slavery was adopted in 1865, but sadly it did little to curb tensions between whites and blacks. The separate but equal doctrine declared by the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) reinforced separation of races as a way of life. In the 1930s and 1940s, segregation and racial tensions permeated American culture. Jim Crow laws and discrimination prevailed in the South. Schools were segregated, as were passenger trains and busses. Blacks and whites drank from different water fountains, ate at separate restaurants, worshipped in separate churches, and lived in separate neighborhoods. Public cemeteries, parks, streetcars, entertainment venues, barbershops, and restaurants were all segregated.

The mean annual income for a black male was less than half of that for a white male. Blacks were also often the first to be laid off from their jobs, and they suffered from an unemployment rate two to three times that of their white counterparts. Blacks were incessantly subject to animosity and racial slurs. Moreover, in the South, blacks were threatened with lynching or being held as peons by xenophobic white landowners.

Segregation permeated all aspects of society, including the world of sports. Black people were not allowed to compete in major league sports. It was 1946 before the first black athlete, Kenny Washington, was allowed to participate in the National Football League, and 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the race barrier in Major League baseball.

In boxing, progress was somewhat quicker, setting the stage for Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington to break the color barrier in their respective sports. In 1902, Joe Gans became the first African American to win the world lightweight title. In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first black world heavyweight championship, setting off race riots across the country. Johnsons accomplishment was a victory for the black community, but his disdain for the constraints of white society made him a poor ambassador for integration.

Then there was Joe Louis, world heavyweight champion from 1937 until 1949. No one can underestimate his impact. He was not only a civil rights pioneer but also a national hero. After debuting on July 4, 1934, the Brown Bomber went on a tear, winning his first 24 bouts. His first loss came against former heavyweight champion Max Schmeling of Brandenburg, Germany, on June 19, 1936. Schmeling knocked Louis out in the 12th round. Two years later, on June 22, 1938, Louis avenged his loss in a rematch with Schmeling. The bout was veiled with nationalistic and racial implications, as Adolf Hitler upheld Schmeling as a specimen of Aryan supremacy. Louis inflicted immediate and brutal vengeance, knocking Schmeling out in the first round. Overnight, Louis became a hero to Americans, black and white. His popularity transcended racial boundaries.

Beau Jack built on the advancements established by those before him becoming one of the most exciting and popular boxers among both blacks and whites during the forties. On his journey to two lightweight titles, he set amazing records that still stand today. Outside the ring, Beau was humble and polite, but he was a furious mass of flying punches inside the ring. Fans loved his unorthodox style. Listeners anxiously gathered around the radio on Friday nights to hear the aggressive and colorful Beau Jack in action at Madison Square Garden.

Beau started out life in rags but through his incredible heart and determination, made it to the top of the ladder. Ironically, Jack rose out of the wealthy opulent world of the southern white man, receiving financing for his boxing career from Bobby Jones, Clifford Roberts, and other founders of the Augusta National Golf Club. When his boxing days were finally over, he went back to where he started, shining shoes. He didnt complain, but counted his blessings. Jack enjoyed his final days shining shoes, working with youngsters in the gym, and visiting with the many improbable friends he made throughout the years.

Sadly, not many people in Beau Jacks hometown would even recognize his name, much less what he accomplished. A deeply religious man with gritty fortitude and integrity, he was and still is an upstanding role model. His story is inspiring.

Remarkably, only bits and pieces of Beaus life and accomplishments have been published. Many contain factual errors. It is my intent to change that. It is my hope that through Jacks story, the reader will attain a better appreciation for the man who rose from poverty and discrimination into the limelight of Madison Square Garden. A black American hero, his story documents the tragedies he encountered and his steadfast ability to overcome such adversities. Beaus story helps one comprehend the significant changes and progress toward unity that transpired during his life. Abraham Lincoln once said, I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. Beau Jack did just that, earning well-deserved admiration. His perseverance and love for others inspires us to never give up, but to become the best we can be through honesty, integrity, and respect for each other.