This pair of white satin boxers with the lettering “DÉPT.” caught my interest when I entered the Superfine exhibit because of how iconic boxing briefs are in popular culture. Heavyweight champions Jack John and Muhammad Ali popularized the boxing briefs as fashion. Jack Johnson, known as the “Galveston Giant” and the first Black Heavyweight Champion of the World, famously beat James Jeffries, known as “The Great White Hope”. His win sparked riots throughout the nation, but Johnson celebrated his victory by displaying a life of luxury. Additionally, Muhammad Ali, known as “The Greatest” boxer, also challenged racial prejudice in style, as he wore his signature Everlast shorts, which acknowledged the formalism of the tuxedo. These white satin boxing briefs exemplify Black resilience against attempts to silence their voices and the powerful impact of resistance against racial discrimination.
– Fiona Wong
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