Alabama Kid

[Grant]

Just read some storries abot this this guy. What a life. He left the US because of its mistreatment of blacks and ended up in Australia marryi g and having 3 kids. Then gets deported because of the whte Australia policy.
During that time he fought from heavyweight down to middle even beating Ron Richards.
Great but sad story
Never allowed back to Australia. A shame on us.
Anyone hear how his family fared?

[Tinnie]

He has a very good record. Fought Maurice Strickland (i think) in NZ too.

If that is was why he was deported then that is disgraceful. I thought he may have been an illegal immigrant, either way the man had a family here.

Descendants from his American and Australian families were looking for information on him at another site a few years ago. I assume they have made contact with each other.

[Grant]

I only have one source for the white Australia Policy thing. But from what i have read the newspapers were full of the story back when it happened and their were numerous campaigns to allow him to stay. All to no avail. This story is screaming out to be told.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Just read some storries abot this this guy. What a life. He left the US because of its mistreatment of blacks and ended up in Australia marryi g and having 3 kids. Then gets deported because of the whte Australia policy.
During that time he fought from heavyweight down to middle even beating Ron Richards.
Great but sad story
Never allowed back to Australia. A shame on us.
Anyone hear how his family fared?

Giggy jazz He came to the wrong country if he was looking for equality especially back then.... My Grandfather went to the 1st World War
because he was aboriginal[he wasn't allowed into the pub's]his war mate's had to go to his house for a drink every ANZAC day
I'v heard my great uncle fought the Alabama Kid terrible story if he was never allowed back even to see his kid's,The Worlds a cruel place
even for god fearing WARRIOR'S

[Beltane]

The White Australia Act was a shameful period of Australia's history.

The April 1948 deportation of the Alabama Kid generated considerable sympathy for the "Kid", but the Minister at the time: Labor's Arthur Caldwell rode out the controversy and stood firm.

His family remained behind, as the wife was too ill to travel overseas and their three children were placed in the care of the Neglected Children's Department.

Undeterred by this disgraceful act, the Government in 1949 deported another black American boxer, Charles "Tiger" Parker, who had been living in Australia for 15 years, and had a wife and son.

[Chuck1052]

The Alabama Kid was in the Honorary Internationals category when he was recognized by Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame during 2011, a richly deserved honor. Does that mean he and others in that category are regarded as true members of the ANBHOF? If not, that is a shame. Frankly, I think that it is ridiculous that it was decided to have such a category. After all, the Alabama Kid and some other foreign-born boxers fought in Australia for many years.

- Chuck Johnston

[Tinnie]

Chuck i belive they are true members, in cases like Freddy Dawson and Clarence Reeves its possible they are more fondly remembered here than back in the states.

Alabama Kid was apparently returning to the usa in 1940 when his steamer struck a mine off th nz coast. He was rescuef and returned to Sydney.

Some sad stories in this thread. As a young fella i grew up proudly, being told what a tolerant and accepting nation we are. The older i get, the more stories i hear, the less truth i see in my younger ideals.

[Chuck1052]

Tinnie- A fellow named JJ Johnston (no relation to myself) spoke highly of Freddie Dawson as a fighter. JJ was an amateur boxer while living in Chicago ca. 1950 and later amassed a huge boxing collection while living in Los Angeles. I didn't know anything about Freddie until I met JJ.
It appears that Freddie was a top fighter in his day.

I didn't realize that the Alabama Kid was deported from Australia despite the fact he had a family, which included a number of children, there. It appears that he was a journeyman during his best years.

It does appear that Australia tried to prevent non-white people from immigrating there for decades.

- Chuck Johnston

[ClivePatrickLyons]

I did some research on my great uncle Bernie Monaghan I met him before his death in the late 70's he was pretty old by then I was still in primary school my mother use to tell me he fought The Alabama Kid but he probably did some sparring or even exo's with The Kid because he aint on my great uncles record but what I found was that The Alabama Kid was the referee of my great uncles last fight in Tasmania so that's their connection
probably mates of some sort

[ClivePatrickLyons]

I forgot to mention I noticed that The Alabama Kid fought 2 Aussie Legend's in Ron Richards and Dave Sands not many could boast about that

[Like a Boss]

I forgot to mention I noticed that The Alabama Kid fought 2 Aussie Legend's in Ron Richards and Dave Sands not many could boast about that

He fought Ritchie Sands as well.

[Old_Scores]

Hi Grant, not sure if one of the stories you read was in fact my article on The Alabama Kid. I guess I'll share it here for those with an interest. I'll also post a link to some footage of his first fight with Ron Richards, its amazing toe to toe action!

http://www.boxing.com/the_alabama_kid_k ... ralia.html

http://commerce.wazeedigital.com//licen ... ,australia

[Like a Boss]

Hi Grant, not sure if one of the stories you read was in fact my article on The Alabama Kid. I guess I'll share it here for those with an interest. I'll also post a link to some footage of his first fight with Ron Richards, its amazing toe to toe action!

http://www.boxing.com/the_alabama_kid_k ... ralia.html

http://commerce.wazeedigital.com//licen ... ,australia

Excellent quality black & white footage. Very willing affair too.

[Grant]

Hi Grant, not sure if one of the stories you read was in fact my article on The Alabama Kid. I guess I'll share it here for those with an interest. I'll also post a link to some footage of his first fight with Ron Richards, its amazing toe to toe action!

http://www.boxing.com/the_alabama_kid_k ... ralia.html

http://commerce.wazeedigital.com//licen ... ,australia

Excellent quality black & white footage. Very willing affair too.

Thanks mate iwill look at it when i get home. Will read up on the White Australia Policy as well.