A Critical Review of the 1913 Federal Mann Act Prosecution of Jack Johnson
Chicago Journalist Dorothy Tucker In Conversation With Biographer David Maraniss
In honor of Black History Month, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in partnership with the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter and the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, hosts a timely in-person program examining A Critical Review of the 1913 Federal Mann Act Prosecution of Jack Johnson. This event features Chicago Journalist Dorothy Tucker conversing with Biographer David Maraniss.
The event centers around one of the most consequential (and controversial) federal prosecutions of the early 20th century: the United States government’s 1913 Mann Act case against the first Black world heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson. The program is structured as a moderated conversation followed by audience Q&A, creating space for historical context, modern reflection, and meaningful discussion. Attendees will explore Johnson’s life and impact, the legal and social forces surrounding the Mann Act prosecution, and why this case still matters today. In particular, this case is especially when viewed through the lens of race, power, and the rule of law.
The program is free to attend, and attendees can receive 1.5 hours of D&I CLE credit. Taking place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, this event will run from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Dirksen United States Courthouse (Ceremonial Courtroom). The Dirksen Courthouse can be located at 219 S. Dearborn Street, Room 2525, Chicago. Attendees must bring a photo ID to enter the building. Following the presentation, the event will conclude with a light reception outside the courtroom.
Dorothy Tucker (Event Interviewer)
The conversation will be led by Dorothy Tucker, an award-winning television journalist with CBS2 Chicago News. A Chicago native with a keen interest in her city’s history, Dorothy has reported for CBS2 Chicago since 1984 and is currently a reporter on the station’s investigative team.
Additionally, Dorothy is the immediate past president of the National Association of Black Journalists. Her numerous honors and awards include multiple Emmy Awards, one national and three regional Edward R. Murrow awards, a national award from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity Leadership from the News Leaders Association, the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Association of Journalists, and the Chicago Association of Black Journalists’ Award for Outstanding Television Reporting.
David Maraniss (Event Interviewee)
David Maraniss is an associate editor at The Washington Post and a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University. He is currently researching and writing a book on the life of Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight boxing world champion. Notably, Johnson was convicted in 1913 in Chicago federal court in a racially charged Mann Act prosecution.
David has won two Pulitzer Prizes for journalism and was a finalist three other times. Among his bestselling books are biographies of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Roberto Clemente, Vince Lombardi, and Jim Thorpe, and a trilogy about the 1960s—Rome 1960; Once in a Great City (winner of the RFK Book Prize); and They Marched into Sunlight (winner of the J. Anthony Lucas Prize and Pulitzer Finalist in History).
In recognition of Black History Month, the FBA Chicago Chapter set up this exclusive event exploring the 1913 Federal Mann Act Prosecution of Jack Johnson. This event is free for both members and non-members. Sign up today!
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