Every few years a rumor circulates around the web that Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight champion, invented and filed a patent for a wrench that was later dubbed the “monkey wrench” by bitter and racist white people. A quick trip to www.snopes.com quickly settles that while it is true that Johnson filed a patent for a wrench in 1922, he did not invent the wrench.

It should also be noted that the term “monkey wrench” was derived either from the twisting motion of the original design or possibly from the name Moncky. According to the Inventors section of www.About.com, Charles Moncky is the man who modified the wrench design in 1858 to what is now called the “monkey wrench”.

The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, whose mission is to use “objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and promote social justice,” explains that the wrench was actually invented and first patented in 1835 by Solymon Merrick. Throughout the years the wrench’s design went through many modifications which include the aforementioned monkey wrench (1858), the pipe wrench (1870), and the ratchet wrench (1913).

Johnson’s part in the history of the wrench marks a difficult time in his life. In 1912, Johnson faced trouble with the law for violating the Mann Act. According to www.History.com, the law stated that it was “illegal to transport any woman across state boundaries for any immoral purposes.” While some could argue that the Mann Act was made to combat illegal sex slavery, it is clear that the law was often used to arrest black men for having sex with white women.

In June of 1913, Johnson was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison, but instead of serving his time, Johnson fled the country. It wasn’t until 7 years later, in 1920, that Johnson returned to the United States and turned himself in to the authorities. While incarcerated, Johnson made modifications to a wrench he frequently used for tightening straps and patented the idea on April 18, 1922 with U.S.patent#1,413,121, after his release from prison in 1921.