How Did Muhammad Ali Impact Society

Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Joe Frazier are all famous boxers that contributed to the sport of boxing. Even though they influenced the sport, they did not have nearly the worldwide influence that boxer Muhammad Ali had. Muhammed Ali is considered until this day to be the one of the greatest boxers ever to step in a ring. Muhammed Ali proved to be an influential leader by influencing not only athletes but people around the world.

Cassius Clay or as most people know him as Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali was born on January 17th, 1942 in Louisville Kentucky. Growing up Ali was faced with many challenges. His family was not very wealthy and he grew up in the time that African Americans were highly discriminated against. Ali’s father taught him

and his brother to “always confront the things they feared, and tried to be the best in everything they did.”(“Soul of a Butterfly” 5) With this foundation Muhammed had, he could achieve whatever he wanted to achieve. And Muhammad did achieve many things including; BET Humanitarian Award, NAACP Image Award(President Award), World Heavyweight Champion, Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. Award and many others.(sports.jrank.org) Obviously Ali had many accomplishments through his life. Many of his accomplishments just came from helping others and standing for peace. Muhammed Ali died in 2016 from Parkinson's disease but his legacy still lives on through his influences and impact he had on the world.
In the 1960s Muhammad Ali was a huge advocate for Civil Rights.

Ali met with other influential leaders during that time such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. They discussed what to do about the Civil Rights Movement and how to go about it. Ali’s message of black resistance of the white control and black pride in the community helped move the Civil Rights Movement forward.(Pitlane Magazine) By bringing up the issues on Civil Rights he put a spotlight on it. This was a spotlight that was much needed and lead to change. Ali’s work with the Civil Rights Movement had an influential impact on the society, this impact was positive much like the other work he

did.
In the 1960s the Civil Rights Movement was not the only thing going on in America at this time. America was at war in Vietnam. At the time of the war the approval ratings of the war were above fifty percent. Then Muhammad Ali became eligible for the draft in 1966. Ali repeatedly refused to enter the Army. Ali believed that the war was “immoral” and made the comment “ I ain’t got no quarrel with the Viet Cong… They never called me nigger.”(Pitlane Magazine) Ali also stated that the war was against the Koran due to this not being a “Holy War.” After these comments the approval ratings dropped below fifty percent for the first time since the war began. (Block) Due to Ali dodging the draft he was sentenced to five years in prison and was stripped of his state boxing license along with his Heavyweight Champion title and belt.(Pitlane Magazine) Ali fought many times but his biggest fight was not in a ring but in a courtroom, the Supreme Court. Four years after Ali was convicted his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court. Ali gave speeches at college campuses that opposed the Vietnam War. This sparked even more controversy in the states. Muhammad Ali became an influential icon for the Anti-war Movement and an inspiration to those who did not approve of the war.
Muhammad Ali was not only influential in the United States but was also influential to the world. Ali made an impact on the world through his humanitarian work. He did goodwill missions to places such as North Korea and Afghanistan, as well as taking medical aid supplies to Cuba. Ali went to Iraq where he retrieved fifteen U.S. hostages from Saddam Hussein by just talking and reasoning with him.(Constitution Center) That day Muhammed Ali might have saved fifteen lives. Ali had a positive influence on those people's lives along with the injured and ill people in Cuba and also the people he helped out on his goodwill missions.
The boxing ring was another area of the world that Muhammad Ali influenced.

Muhammad Ali brought more spotlight to the sport than any other boxer. Ali was quick to strike jab punches but quicker to strike what some people would call cocky or others say confident comebacks in the media. For example, Muhammad Ali once said “if you ever dream about beating me, you’d better wake up and apologize.” This is the confidence that Ali took into and out of the ring today. Muhammad Ali also inspired others as well. Ali inspired great boxers such as Mike Tyson who told the audience that was watching him being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame a story about how Muhammad Ali had inspired him.(Rafael) Ali did not only influence the people of boxing but he brought new techniques to the ring as well. The technique that Ali brought to the ring was called “rope a dope.”(Biography Online) This is a technique that he used in the fight against George Foreman. “Rope a dope” is when Ali leans against the rope when being punched which allows most of the impact to be absorbed by the ropes. This tires out his opponent, then Ali strikes. Muhammad Ali influenced the boxing ring along with the people who were in

it.
Throughout time there have been many influential leaders. Muhammad Ali is one of those influential leaders. Ali proved his influences through his humanitarian work, his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-War Movement. He also proved that he is an inspiration to not only regular everyday average Joes but he inspires some of the so called “greats” in today's world. His influences hit hard in the lives of others. Ali touched many lives and that will always be remembered . Muhammed Ali may be dead, but his influences will live on forever.