Orange Is The New Black writer Marco Ramirez presents his story about boxer Jay Jackson, the first African-American Heavyweight Champion of the World, at the Bush Theatre.

Loosely based on the real-life story of Jack Johnson, whose story is one of great talent and triumph but also racism and injustice, The Royale explores the transcendence of sporting heroes as cultural icons of our time.

Despite being one of the greatest fighters who ever lived, one newspaper wrote at the time of Johnson’s first title fight: “If the black man wins, thousands and thousands of his ignorant brothers will misinterpret his victory as justifying claims to much more than mere physical equality with their white neighbors.”

The Royale plays in a season of four productions dealing with struggles for justice.