43 Still Braddock wouldn’t stop. He couldn’t. His family badly needed the
purses, so he’d gone up against Al Stillman in St. Louis. In the ninth round, Jim laid a terrific right to the young man’s jaw. Braddock won the
match, but had reinjured his hand.” Cerasini, 2005: 48-49
And the most courageous thing he ever does is his fighting against Max Baer, the Heavyweight Champion of the world. It is because Max Baer has killed
two boxers in the ring but he still wants to fight him and becomes the new Heavyweight Champion of the world. Even he knows lots people underestimate
him, included his wife. Of course James J. Braddock has preparation before fighting against Max Baer. He has to train his ability in fighting because he does
not have exercise since the promoter does not give him match. And his trainer is Joe Jeannette. He is the same trainer when James’ famous and get many matches.
Since James’ get the opportunity to fight again, Joe Gould as his manager also does sacrifice to get lots money to pay the gym and trainer. It is because Joe
Gould sees the ability and courageous inside James in fighting his opponent. So he has struggled to get match and money for James. This happens because Joe
Gould considers James J. Braddock and Mae Theresa as his family. This relationship only happens to couple Joe Gould and James. That is why Joe Gould
sells his living room furniture for James. Joe smiled back at his wife. The two of them and Mae were sitting on
folding chairs in the middle of the empty living room, sipping hot tea that Joe had prepared. He glanced at Mae. “Yours?”
Mae nodded without speaking, still feeling off balance. She’d come here expecting a knock-down-drag-out, but Joe and his wife had been warm
and civil. And their circumstances had left her in a mild state of shock. Sorry, said Joe, gesturing to the door. Clearly, he felt badly about not
answering the door right away. But you just don’t want folks to see you down is all. Cerasini, 2005: 146-147
44
B. James’ Motivations for Survival as Seen in His Struggle Against Poverty
In every action of his struggles, James always does it with a sincere heart, with specific goals and motivation. James struggles everything is not only for
himself, but also for his family. He realizes who he is; he lives with wife and three little children. His characteristics demand to do all things which can make another
people whom he loves and proud of him. Since the Great Depression attacks the situation of his family and environment are getting worse. Many people lose their
job, and they lose everything they have because the bank goes under. Since then, he and his family feel the adverse effects of the Great Depression that is poverty.
James is like so many other millions people in America lose everything. He loses everything he has because he is dismissed from his job as a boxer. One reason is
his right hand is injured, another is the promoter team does not allow the injury boxer to fight. From the beginning James becomes a boxer many promoters doubt
his ability as a boxer, because of his body is not included standardization of a boxer and because he does not have much experience in it so he calls as an
amateur boxer. Johnston’s eyes went back to Braddock. The boxer looked like a walking
bruise, his right hand hanging by his side a sickly purple color, swelled and deformed and probably six months away from being able to open a
pickle jar, let alone deliver a professional-level punch. One pathetic look from Johnston said it all. It’s over, Jimmy. Get it through your head.
Braddock refused. “I broke my hand, okay? You don’t see me crying about it. I don’t know what you got to complain about. We did that
boondock circuit for you. I didn’t quit on you.” Braddock’s desperate look turned deadly serious. “I didn’t always lose. And I won’t always lose
again.” Johnston said nothing.
“I can still fight.” When Johnston spoke again, his bluster was gone, his voice quiet. “Go
home.”
45 “I can still fight.”
“Go home to Mae and the kids, Jim.” Cerasini, 2005: 59
Many things James do as his struggle to prove himself and his family that Great Depression cannot break the relationship in his family. With no work
available, James struggles to win the hard situation so he can put food on the table for his wife and his three little children. That is why he becomes an extraordinary
person by doing many things he can do for people who becomes his spirit through this hard situation. After losing his job as a boxer, his wealth from fighting is
depleted for everyday needs, such as electric heater, milk and food. It makes James to work harder to earn money to pay the bill of electric heater and to buy
milk and food. All that mattered in the world was keeping this family together. Jim was
killing himself trying to do it, taking as many jobs as he could find. But it wasn’t working. Every week, no matter how many hours Jim toiled, they
fell further behind. They had lost their heat and electricity. Cerasini, 2005: 93
Working in the Port is his first choice to do. This is not easy to do but many people choose to go to the port to get work. He needs to wake up every
early morning to get this job and he also rely on his luck in this work because the port leader decides the workers by using pointed system to the people who already
waits in front of the gate. But James’ luck is about to give him job in the port for some days. He does not care with his injury hand, but he still works in the port
and trains himself to pull up scoop with his left hand. “I can use my left.” Cerasini, 2005: 55 means that he seriously wants to work at the port to earn
some money. His wife, Mae Theresa, always gives him support. The love of his wife and three children supply power for him to do this hard work. He shows to
