When the World Couldn’t Watch a Black Man Win | UNUM Short

In 1908, police stopped a title fight when storied Black boxer Jack Johnson was about to knock out his white competitor. Ken Burns tells the story in this UNUM Short, which explores sports as a mirror of our culture.

Do sports hold up a mirror to society? Students will grapple with this question and to think about the impact sports and athletes can have on a culture. Students will reflect on what they think the importance of sports are for a country and whether or not sports can truly bring us together, or drive us apart. They will examine the way sports can be a reflection of a country’s traditions and culture and research the various roles sports play in different countries.