Pardon Jack Johnson!

In early February, when I recommended several biographies of boxers for reading during Black History Month, I also urged renewal of the effort to pardon Jack Johnson, who endured the injustice and indignity of exile and prison for what essentially were private matters. So I was pleased to see the news that Senator John McCain and Representative Peter King, resolute backers of a pardon, plan to reintroduce a resolution to absolve Johnson of his absurd Mann Act conviction. Presented with a second chance to do the long-overdue right thing, President Obama should sign the bill.

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