the great white hope play summary

The Great White Hope, play by Howard Sackler, later adapted as a film, loosely based on the life of turn-of-the-century African American boxer Jack Johnson. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Bibliography and a Free Quiz on The Great White Hope by Howard Sackler. The Great White Hope won three of the most important awards on Broadway—the Pulitzer Prize, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and a Tony—a phenomenal achievement in the history of twentieth-century theatre. In 1969 the play won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Tony Award. Jack's celebration is cut short, as Jack is framed for crossing a state line with Eleanor, his white fiancé (Jane Alexander in her first film role), a violation of the Mann Act. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Parents Guide, IMDb's Top 1000 Voters - Top Films of 1970. The title refers to the hopes some fans had for a white boxer to end Johnson’s reign as heavyweight champion and is a symbol of racism and suppression. Jack Jefferson (James Earl Jones) as a boxer, dealing with the racism and hatred of early-20th century white America. To escape a prison sentence, the pair flees to Europe, where Jefferson is unable to find work. When Jefferson refuses, Eleanor commits suicide. Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! Thematically, the play also explores, with depth, perceptiveness, and brutal honesty, the nature of racism and racial conflict in American society. In Havana, Jack agrees to enter the boxing ring for what might be the bout of his life. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Great-White-Hope-play-by-Sackler. The play is based on the life of black boxer Jack Johnson. Be the first to contribute! Plot Keywords There's just one problem, he is also the first black heavyweight champion, and that bothers a lot of people. help you understand the book. In 1970 the film version of the play was released with Jones and Alexander reprising their roles. The title refers to the hopes some fans had for a white boxer to end Johnson’s reign as heavyweight champion and is a symbol of racism and suppression. It looks like we don't have a Synopsis for this title yet. But as a black man, he's not only fighting other boxers, but … The great white hope : a play Item Preview remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. Taglines This Study Guide consists of approximately 88 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - He is not only the first black heavyweight contender; he is also in love with a white woman. Written in three acts, The Great White Hope covers the years from 1908 to 1915 and centres on fictional heavyweight boxing champion Jack Jefferson. The Great White Hope won three of the most important awards on Broadway—the Pulitzer Prize, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and a Tony—a phenomenal achievement in the history of twentieth-century theatre. The Great White Hope opened in December of that year at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. He eventually abandoned his plans and completed the play in 1967. Updates? EMBED (for wordpress.com hosted blogs and archive.org item tags) Want more? A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down. The voices of Sackler's characters, black and white, offer a colorful collage of insights. Jefferson is a proud, outspoken African American and is romantically involved with a white woman, Eleanor Bachman. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Synopsis submission guide. The Great White Hope premiered during the civil rights movement, and its themes of black defiance, interracial relationships, and struggle in a racist America spoke to an audience that had witnessed similar events firsthand. Jefferson must not only deal with the hatred of whites, he must also deal with the ostracism of some members of the black community who feel he has sold out. The Great White Hope Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to Both Jones and Alexander were nominated for Oscars. When the couple attempts to cross the Ohio state line, Jefferson is prosecuted for interracial marriage under the Mann Act, a law enacted by Congress in 1910 to regulate interstate commerce as a way to address the problem of prostitution and immorality in general. There's just one problem, he is also the first black heavyweight champion, and that bothers a lot of people. Boxer Jack Jefferson (James Earl Jones) is the world's reigning heavyweight boxing champion. The Great White Hope, play by Howard Sackler, later adapted as a film, loosely based on the life of turn-of-the-century African American boxer Jack Johnson. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It then opened on Broadway with Jones and Alexander, where it ran for 546 performances. Jack's celebration is cut short, as Jack is framed for crossing a state line with Eleanor, his white fiancé (Jane Alexander in her first film role), a violation of the Mann Act. In examining the motivations of these characters, the audience gains exposure to a wide range of perspectives and, by extension, a much greater understanding of the issues surrounding them. | Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Although the work is fictional, many of the events of the play, such as Jack's arrest, actually happened to Johnson at some point in his life. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Great White Hope. Many revivals of the play have occurred around the United States, including a production at the Arena Stage to celebrate the theatre’s 50th anniversary season in 2000. Corrections? The Great White Hope premiered at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., in December 1967 with James Earl Jones as Jefferson and Jane Alexander as Eleanor. When white American fighters refused to compete with Johnson, he traveled to Australia and defeated Tommy Burns in 1908, becoming the first black Heavyweight Champion of the World. The Great White Hope (Original, Play, Broadway) opened in New York City Oct 3, 1968 and played through Jan 31, 1970. Facing a prison sentence, Jack escapes to Europe, with Eleanor in tow, encountering problems in England, and then France, and eventually landing in Cuba. Sackler's work explores with deep consideration the consequences of Johnson's achievement in a climate of deep racial unrest. The play is based on the life of black boxer Jack Johnson. Order our The Great White Hope Study Guide, teaching or studying The Great White Hope. | | Facing a prison sentence, Jack escapes to Europe, with Eleanor in tow, encountering problems in England, and then France, and …

Babe Movie Quotes, Lane Kiffin Nebraska, Scotch Pine Identification, Public Domain Movies And Tv Shows, Robert Whittaker Twitch, Melancholy Personality, Fast And Furious Google Docs, Kim Hye Ja Movies And Tv Shows, Hold On Lil Tjay, Safl Staff, Lovebirds Names For Male,