Black in an Unenlightened Age

I came across an article today about how Indianapolis Motor Speedway founder Carl Fisher considered allowing Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion, to run some exhibition laps around the Speedway at the September 1910 race meet. This triggered outrage in the racing community, with some threatening to boycott the Speedway.
 
Fisher had already hosted Johnson, a auto racing enthusiast, at the Speedway when it was under construction in 1909. Johnson was scorned for his success in what can only be described as racist times. There were few exceptions in white America, but Carl Fisher, who measured a man by his willingness to work and his accomplishments, was one of them. For all Carl's foibles, this fact speaks to his character.