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The Big Smoke
Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Award and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the National Book Award in Poetry—a collection that examines the myth and history of the prizefighter Jack Johnson The…
About The Big Smoke
Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Award and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the National Book Award in Poetry—a collection that examines the myth and history of the prizefighter Jack Johnson The legendary Jack Johnson (1878–1946) was a true American creation. The child of emancipated slaves, he overcame the violent segregationism of Jim Crow, challenging white boxers—and white America—to become the first African-American heavyweight world champion. The Big Smoke , Adrian Matejka's third work of poetry, follows the fighter's journey from poverty to the most coveted title in sports through the multi-layered voices of Johnson and the white women he brazenly loved. Matejka's book is part historic reclamation and part interrogation of Johnson's complicated legacy, one that often misremembers the magnetic man behind the myth.
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More by Adrian Matejka
The Big Smoke — frequently asked
- Is The Big Smoke on Spotify?
- Yes — we've confirmed The Big Smoke as an audiobook on Spotify. Open it from the links on this page.
- Is The Big Smoke on Apple Books?
- Yes — The Big Smoke is available as an audiobook on Apple Books.
- Who wrote The Big Smoke?
- The Big Smoke is by Adrian Matejka.
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