Boxer Muhammad Ali, was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., on January 17, 1942, he was the son of Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay. He lived in Louisville, Kentucky where he experienced discrimination and racial prejudice towards himself and his family, which led him to his fascination towards boxing. Later in his life, he would win the Olympic gold medal for boxing in 1960 and became the world heavyweight boxing champion in 1964, and was the first fighter to recapture heavyweight champion three times. But Clay was not only a boxer, he was also a philanthropist and social activist with astonishing effrontery, he spoke out against problems such as race, religion, and politics that cause him to become such a controversial figure. …show more content…
Clay at a young age was doing some spiritual searching and looking for answers drove him to Islam, but it was very unpopular at the time and decided to keep it a secret. In 1959, Clay heard of a sect called Nation of Islam or Black Muslims when he went to Chicago to compete in a Golden Gloves tournament and became fascinated by the group. The leader of the group was Elijah Muhammad. Clay was very intrigued of Muslims. He started to read the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam called Muhammad Speaks and also began to listen to record albums containing Muhammad’s sermons. (Remnick 126) After winning his gold medal in Rome, he returned home, Clay began to visit NAACP, CORE, and Nations of Islam meetings. The concept of equality in Islam was what interesting him the most. Messages from controversial figures such as Malcolm X resonated with Clay, making him an more voracious learner of Islam. (Remnick 133) As his career as a professional boxer progressed, his interested of the Nation of Islam began to leak out to the press. He denied these accusations due to the fear of losing the chance to fight Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship in 1963. Malcolm X, a member of high prestige in Nation, started to become close to Clay, With his time with Clay, he convinced him that his fight against Liston was the religious battle because of close relationships Liston had with white Catholic priests and soon Malcolm became such inspiration to clay.( Remnick 162) Bill MacDonald, the promoter of the Liston-Clay fight became genuinely worried that he would not gain profit in the fight because of how white Floridians, who were not willing to see a young black Muslim man, win as an Underdog. MacDonald soon confronted clay of the accusations; he explained to him if he was a member of the Nation of Islam he would have to cancel the fight and would not get another chance. Clay knew he was right and even thought this was his dream ever since he was a 12-year-old boy, he told him that his religion was far more important than the fight. The fight was off from that point. ( Remnick 170) Soon a publicist named Harold Conrad, was worried that the fight would not proceed. So he set off to look for Macdonald. When concluded his search Macdonald was not willing to risk profit in the fight that involved a Black Muslim man, in Miami where blacks were heavily discriminate. In desperation, Conrad proposes the removal of controversial figure Malcolm X, in doing so Clay will not be seen with him, and they would be fewer accusations of his involvement in the Nation of Islam. MacDonald agrees to the proposal, Conrad then searches for Malcolm X and convince him to leave for Clay. The fight between Clay and Liston was back on (Remnick 201) The fight between Clay and Liston was one of Clays most remarkable, inspiring and influential fight of his career.
The fight ended in the sixth round not from a knockout, but from the surrender of the (adjective) Sonny Liston. The fight strengthened his popularity and his reputation. Soon after the fight Clay, announce his involvement with the Nation. The announcement finally confirms the rumors that Clay was indeed a member of the Nation of Islam. Many felt betrayed by Clay because the Nation was very frightful to many and was suspected to be plotting to form an independent nation of African Americans. Others believe the Nation was using Clay, as the Nazis use Max Schmeling. Another theory was that Clay was only seeking to increase ticket sales. Clay responded by explained he was serious about his conversion to Islam and also defended the Nation of Islam …show more content…
(Saturdayeveningpost.com). On the day of his announcement, Elijah Muhammad welcomed Clay with opened arms to the Nation. Previously Muhammad kept his distance from Clay, believing Clay would lose the fight and disgrace the Nation. Muhammad declared that Clay won his fight because of Allah. Soon After, Clay drove up to New York to stay in Harlem. During the first couple of days, he did everything together. Malcolm was eager to have Clay join his newly form group called Muslim Mosque Inc., but the shattered relationship between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad was severe. When Malcolm X learned that Muhammad was in six secret relationships and some produced children. The teachings of the Nation was to the vow of celibacy until marriage and Muhammad were not married. Malcolm was deeply hurt by Muhammad’s deception and soon left the Nation and started his own group. Both groups were attempting to persuade Clay to join remain loyal. But on March 6, 1964, Elijah Muhammad announced that Cassius Clay was slave name Clays new name will be Muhammad Ali. Most members of the nation used X as their surname, but the Nation gave full names as the honor to members who have been serving the Nation for decades. Muhammad needed Clay not only to recruit members and revenue but in the War against Malcolm. Soon Ali’s and Malcolm's old friendship was gone. Throughout the years, Ali would dominate the ring and increase awareness of developing nation by organizing fights there, but it 1967 his biggest battle outside the ring was about to begin. In 1962, Ali was ordered to go to army induction center in Coral Gables to take a physical and written exam. He failed the test and was classified ineligible for active services. A couple of years later, he was training at his home when suddenly he gets a call that tells him that his score is now good enough. He was now eligible to go to Vietnam. Reporters by the dozen ask about his views on the war. He responded by saying the war in Vietnam is not his fight. Ali soon went on fiercely political stance and spoke on one college campus to the next, speaking out against the war. He learned more about war and begun to realize that he would not kill Vietnamese for a government that barely recognizes the humanity of its own people. Over the next year, the F.B.I will begin to surveillance him and give Ali the same treatment as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. On April 28, 1967, Ali was at U.S Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in Houston, where he was ordered to arrive to face induction. Ali’s name would soon be called into the Army when it did he had no response. An officer then took Ali and explain to him that refusing to the draft would result in five years in prison. Ali understood consequences. They again called his name and Ali again did not respond, and then an officer asks Ali to write out a statement stating his reasons for refusal. Ali wrote that he was a minister of Islam. His refusal touched many young people, especially young African Americans. Ali was sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined ten thousand dollars. Eventually in 1971, the Supreme Court would overturn the ruling, but Ali would miss more than three years of his prime of his boxing career and was stripped of his heavyweight championship. Also, Ali lost the goodwill of many Americans thought that Ali had no reason to avoid Vietnam and that he used religion as an excuse. Ali had no regrets. He would return to the ring on October 26, 1970, and staged a comeback and regained his title on October 30, 1974, against George Foreman. Ali would retire on December 11, 1981, with a record of fifty-six wins, five losses, and 37 knockouts. After his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy. He has promoted peace, humanitarianism, and hunger relief. He started to promote peace in 1985 when he flew to Lebanon to secure the release of four hostages. He has also been on goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea. After the collapse of the world trade center in 2001, Ali traveled to ground zero to defend Islam. He explained that Islam means peace and it is not a killer religion was his response to hate and violence towards Muslims. In 2002, Ali became the United Nation’s Messenger of Peace and traveled to Afghanistan. He has also provided over 232 million meals to the world’s hungry. Ali has hand-delivered food and medical supplies to children in Cote D’Ivoire, Indonesia, Mexico, and Morocco, among other countries. Ali has also supported charities in America, Ali has visited a myriad of soup kitchens and hospitals, and helped organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics.
He is also participating in Celebrity Fight Night every year, which generates funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. In 2005, Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George Bush and in 2002 won the BET Humanitarian Award. Another inclusion to his awards is the NAACP President’s Award for his public efforts. Today he still seeks to promote peace by making comments on recently acts violence that in the name of Islam such as the Paris attacks and San Bernardino shooting. He commented on the acts of violence as did the 9/11 attacks explained the values of Islam and explained that real Muslims know that the Islamic jihadist brutal violence is against the laws of Islam.
Muhammad Ali, arguably one of the greatest boxer of all time, not only fought in the ring but fought outside it as well. He inspired many African Americans to step up and fight for equality, but not only did he encourage African Americans, but he also encouraged white, whole Nations and the whole world. He went against mainstream America and was hated or loved for it. His contributions to the civil rights movement and defiance to unfair laws increase awareness in the United States. And still today he continues to promote peace and contribute to the
world.
Ali proved to be a strong-willed individual that did leave a huge impact on America, but what impact had increased as time continued and his faults have been somewhat forgotten. Those believing that Muhammad was more of a hero than Jackie Robinson most likely feel that Ali’s action of standing up against the United States government, when he was drafted, was an act of courage and bravery. The main reason why Ali didn 't wish to go to war in Vietnam was because he believed he shouldn 't be fighting for a country that ultimately didn 't support his own people within its own borders. Ali has developed into a figure of courage after the time that his happened. In the 1960s when this originally happened, Ali had more enemies as a result of his religious and social views and ideas than fans. Today we see that what he did may be considered heroic, but back when it actually occurred, Ali was seen as a nuisance to America. He was spreading word and influencing people to act against their own country in a time of war. Since Muhammad Ali’s retirement from boxing the course of time has faded criticism of Ali and left mostly just the positive parts of his life and career. As a society we’ve buried the controversial side of Ali’s existence in our minds and history simply remembers his greatness as an athlete. Robinson had an impact on
Jackie Robinson was the first black major league baseball player. Most people know this, but they don’t realize how much of an impact he actually had. He did so much more outside of baseball. Jackie, like Rosa Parks, refused to give up his bus seat when he was in the army. He gave inspiration to many people of color in the United States.
Muhammad Ali is recognized as one of the best boxers of all time. Muhammad Ali was the world heavyweight champion of the world 3 different times. Ali ended his career with 37 total knockouts, one of the most ever.
history in the 1950's and 1960's by hitting the society. Ali was a great boxer who was very confident in his boxing game. Ali wanted to make a change in society by trying to get rid of the racial discrimination in America. Ali was also against the war in Vietnam. Ali said “Unless you have a very good reason to kill, war is wrong.” Ali sent messages of hope to the African American community by telling them to have pride. Ali said “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people while so called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs?” Ali said “The Vietnamese had nothing against him” (Schwartz).When he was drafted to fight in the war, a lieutenant called Ali by his real name, Cassius Clay, and he said, “Sir that isn't my name, my name is “MUHAMMAD ALI!” Ali said, again “Sir that is a slave name my name is “MUHAMMAD ALI” (Muhammad Ali [HH:MM:SS]). After that, Ali refused to serve in the Vietnam War. This lead Ali to the Supreme Court, and he was five years in imprisonment. Ali was precluded from the athletic commissions for fighting in the United States for three and a half years. Even though Ali was released from his five year sentence, he still had a jail sentence of four years, which was overturned by the Supreme Court (Schwartz). Ali was also stripped of the heavyweight boxing title because he refused to serve in the draft Following his suspension, Ali reclaimed
Due to his religious beliefs, Ali took what many people believed to be a controversial stand in refusing to enter into the United States Army for the Vietnam War. His refusal caused him to be sentenced in prison for five years. That cost him the title of the world heavyweight champion, the chance to partake in any boxing match anywhere, and the loss of his passport. I think that was the most vital moment in Ali’s career. It was a way of him breaking the idea that African Americans were expected to be submissive in American culture. It was his way of saying I can do whatever I want. That in my opinion is where people started to love and admire him he stood up for what he believed
Ali's impact on today's society is enormous because of his success in everything he does. You can visit the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and learn about Ali the poet, Ali the boxer, and Ali the dreamer (Visitor). The Muhammad Ali Center also offers an exhibit where you can learn about Ali's life. The Muhammad Ali Center is a non-profit organization and donations support the vision, preserve the legacy, and promote a global community. Ali has inspired many people through his boxing and through his peace work. He is a role model in whom one can find humor, equality, and good character.
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. later known as Muhammad Ali, was a black boxer, and was proud of it. Many African Americans were ashamed of their color, but Ali was different. He was the first boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship 3 different times. He had a great personality and was liked by the people. During his life, he made big decisions that changed the course of his life completely. Muhammad Ali's journey through life was a great inspiration for African American people, but Ali himself deserves the admiration of everyone.
Changing the view on african americans with only one word NO.Muhammad ali was one of the g.o.a.t.’s And Muhammad Ali was though in prison because he refused to serve in the vietnam war for the people how took his rights away.Muhammad Ali was inspired to change the draft laws because he was fined for not entering the draft.
He was fearless. He was powerful. His footwork was more beautiful than a ballet dancer. He is an Olympic Gold Medalist. He is the G.O.A.T of boxing. He is… Muhammad Ali. I will inform you about the biography of Muhammad Ali of how people saw him in real life, the Movie Ali how it portrayed Muhammad Ali based on his life through screen write, and the Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali is considered one of the greatest athletes in boxing history, but before there was the Greatest of All Time or the acronym G.O.A.T World Heavy Champion Muhammad Ali, he was just a little kid that went by the name Cassius Clay.
“LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!” shouted the ring announcer to the cheering crowd as the opponents entered the ring. Boxing is one of America’s most famous sporting events drawing crowds from every walk of life. One boxer that has captured the hearts of many people over the years is Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali may be known as “The Greatest” athlete to ever live. Even people who don’t follow boxing know Muhammad Ali. He has achieved a lifetime full of accomplishments including things such as receiving an Olympic Gold medal and being recognized for giving millions of meals around the world to try to stop hunger. Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky. The famous boxer began his hobby at the young age of 12 when a very influential event occurred. Clay had his brand new bicycle stolen. This enraged him, and gave him the desire to learn how to fight. After that day, Clay was known for the dedication he put into his boxing and work ethic that could only be matched by professionals (The Boxer). Muhammad Ali may be one of the most recognizable athletes to ever live, but is even better known for what he has done for the world over his lifetime. Ali’s amazing athletic feats, flamboyant entertainment, political endeavors, and activist lifestyle would have had an even greater impact if he was alive in the 1910s.
The truth is, Jackie Robinson paved a way for future generations of African- Americans because of his bravery, ambitiousness, and how he still kept his composure. He is an inspiration because he took the bull by the horns, and didn’t let is color get in the way of his
Muhammad Ali, whose birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, was born in Louisville, Kentucky January 17, 1942. He was named for a white, Kentucky abolitionist, Cassius M. Clay, and received the name Marcellus from his father’s name. Ali’s father, Marcellus Clay was a mural painter who did a lot of work for many churches in the community and his mother Odessa (Grady) Clay was a domestic worker. As a young boy, Cassius Clay was full of energy and carried a loud mouth wherever he went. One day when Ali discovered that someone stole his bicycle, he became enraged and made loud threatening comments by exclaiming that he would “whup whoever stole it.” Upon hearing these threats, Louisville police officer Joe Martin persuaded Ali to take out his frustration in the boxing ring rather than on the dangerous streets of Louisville. At age 12, Ali’s boxing career had officially begun.
Standing at 6'3" with a milk chocolate completion. With short curly hair,Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest boxers American has every produce. He is also my hero, the reason why he's my hero is because he kinda STOPPED slavery. Also he help kids get off the street in his home town. And finally he has helped feed over 22 million people who went hungry.
Muhammad Ali is an example of an athlete who voiced his political ideologies in sports to advocate for the Civil Rights Movement and protest the War. As an Olympic gold medalist, heavy weight titlist, and many other victories, he used the fame to project his humanitarian efforts. Ali refused to serve in Vietnam due to his religion and as a result, he was stripped of his 1967 title . He retired in 1981 with an incredible 59 wins and five losses, but he will always known as symbol of courage, will power and strength, not for his career milestones, but for breaking racia...
Muhammad Ali is an example of an athlete who used politics in sports to advocate for the Civil Rights movement and protest the war. As an Olympic gold medalist, heavy weight titlist, and many other victories, he used the fame for humanitarian efforts. Ali refused to serve in Vietnam due to his religion and as a result, he was stripped of his 1967 title. He retired in 1981 with an incredible 59 wins and five losses, but he will always known as symbol of courage, will power and strength, not for his career milestones, but for breaking racial barriers.