This play is based on my own original historical research from primary sources, e.g. newspaper accounts, marriage, court and census records – of a now forgotten African-American welter weight boxing champion – Cecil Lewis Thompson, professionally known as Young Jack Thompson – who was born and died young in Los Angeles.

As he actually came to maturity in Oakland and San Francisco, he was initially lauded as “The Frisco Flash”, but soon the realities of being a black boxer in a world of white promoters, gangsters and gamblers took its toll. Young Jack’s story closely intersected with both a real life Jewish and an Irish boxer who also ended up champs in the same era. Despite it all, Young Jack won his crown twice, so he had a way of coming back after adversity.

The genre is heightened realism mixed with surrealism and utilizing especially the devices of the Erwin Piscator and Bertolt Brecht’s Epic Theatre.