A “negro battle royal” was a brutal, humiliating spectacle during the Jim Crow era where young Black men and boys were blindfolded and forced to fight in a mass brawl for the entertainment and amusement of white audiences.
The Setup: Groups of Black participants were stripped to their trousers, gloved, and blindfolded inside a boxing ring.
The Event: The men attacked each other in a chaotic melee until only one person was left standing.
The Prize: The winner received a small cash prize, often consisting of a few coins thrown into the ring by the wealthy white spectators.
Common Venues: These fights took place at carnivals, Fourth of July celebrations, county fairs, smokers, and sports carnivals well into the mid-20th.
• 1.25″ (3.18 cm) thick poly-cotton blend canvas
• Canvas fabric weight: 10.15 +/- 0.74 oz./yd.² (344 g/m² +/- 25g/m²)
• Fade-resistant
• Hand-stretched over solid wood stretcher bars
• Mounting brackets included
• Blank product sourced from the US, Canada, Europe, UK, or Australia
