The Great White Hope (1970)

James Earl Jones: Jack Jefferson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Reporter : Now you're the first Black man in the history of the ring who's ever had a crack at the heavyweight title. Now white folks, of course, are behind Brady. He's the redeemer of the race and so on. But you, Jack Jefferson, are you the Black hope?

  Jack Jefferson : Well, I'm Black and I'm hopin'.

  Goldie : Answer him straight, Jack.

  Jack Jefferson : Hey, look, man, I ain't fighting for no race, I ain't redeeming nobody. My mama told me *Mr. Lincoln* done that. Ain't that why you shot him?

• Jack Jefferson : I'm big, but I ain't dumb, hear?

• Jack Jefferson : Hey, man. What's my winning gonna do for you?

  Country Boy : Huh?

  Pastor : Give him self respect.

  Country Boy : Yeah, I be proud to be colored tomorrow.

  Jack Jefferson : Country boy, if you ain't there already, all the boxing and all the nigger-praying in the world ain't gonna get you there.

• Eleanor Backman : You have to stop it, Jack.

  Jack Jefferson : All I got to do is to be Black and die, lady.

• Smith aka Smitty, Evening Mirror Reporter : [about Brady]  You still think you can take him?

  Jack Jefferson : Well, I ain't saying I can take him straight off, and anyway, that'd be kinda mean. Big holiday fight. Can't send all them people right back home again.

  Smith aka Smitty, Evening Mirror Reporter : You're only worry is picking the round?

  Jack Jefferson : Yeah, and that takes some thinkin', man. You see, if I lets it go on too long and, you know, just sorta block and keeping him off, then they'll say "well ain't that one shiftless nigger? Why are they all so lazy?" But if I chop him down *too* quick, you know, the third or fourth round, and get to him all at once, "No, it ain't fair, the poor man's up there fighting a gorilla." But I'm gonna work it out.