Muhammad Ali Biography Essay

When prominent boxers of the 20th century are discussed, many heavyweight champions are mentioned. Names like Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier always find their way to the front of the conversation. But it is Muhammad Ali, a three-time heavyweight champion and political activist, who always seems to find the forefront of it all. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, Ali came into the ring after his bike was stolen at the age of twelve. He brought up his anger to Officer Joe Elsby Martin Sr. who suggested he start boxing. Ali quickly became a star after winning a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics. At 6’3”, Ali demonstrated extraordinary speed and accuracy and he quickly became a contender for the heavyweight title.

Following his victory over Sonny Liston, the heavyweight champion during 1964, Ali’s fame and attention came from his induction into the Nation of Islam and his refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War due to his religious beliefs. Ali has since become vocal about injustice, Black America and Islam. Muhammad Ali’s encounter with the U.S. Draft Board and his exploration of media and professional boxing have made him one of the most significant African-Americans of the Civil Rights Era, which in turn has allowed him to aid the world through charities and spreading of knowledge.
Ali’s galvanization of the Civil Rights Movement began when he fought the Vietnam War draft board.

The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, lasted from 1954 to 1975. But, it was in 1965 that the U.S. first stepped onto Vietnamese soil. One year earlier, Ali dominated Sonny Liston in a six round event and announced his membership in the Nation of Islam (Whitaker “Muhammad Ali”). Subsequently, an amendment was made in the Army’s mental aptitude test guidelines; Ali who was classified as 1-Y, a classification for citizens who are restricted to Military use strictly in national emergency, became classified as 1-A, a classification used to denote citizens who are available for unrestricted military use (“Clay Hires”). Before, during and after this, African Americans continued their struggle for basic human rights. In the process, the great Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated. Despite the loss of many great African American leaders, the movement was a success. The U.S. government passed three acts to secure African Americans’ and minorities’ justice in the face of the law. The first came in 1964 in the form of the Civil Rights Act. The second, the Voting Rights Act, came in 1965. The last was the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Muhammad Ali’s encounter with the Draft Board was as important to the black community as the March on Washington in

1963.
Muhammad Ali, since the day America began their fight with the Viet Cong, expressed his distaste for the war. He was unique in the black community for thinking that. In fact, many African Americans believed that that war was holy and just. So, when Ali refused to be drafted because his Muslim faith did not sanction the war, he was reprimanded by all Americans alike (Ezra). As a result, he never allowed a chance to enlighten his African American brothers escape. In an interview with The Black Scholar published in June 1970, Ali said, “ What’s wrong with me going to jail for something I believe in? Boys are dying in Vietnam for something they don’t believe,” (32). The black community began to support Ali because they realized that he was fighting for what he believed in and that the U.S. Government was not acknowledging his right to freedom of religion. Ali emerged as a hero. “Ali represents an amalgamation of character traits that we as black people should emulate...Ali was willing to sacrifice for a cause he believed in,” (Jones “Meaning…”). The respect that Jones shows him became a universal feeling. Ali’s appeal was eventually brought to the Supreme Court where it became one of the greatest reasons why Ali is still a relevant topic today.
On June 28th, 1971, Warren E. Burger, the reigning Chief Justice, gave the following decision on the Clay v. United States case.
Both Clay and Negre were “by reason of religious training and belief” conscientiously
opposed to participation in war of the character proscribed by their respective religions.
That belief is a matter of conscience protected by the first amendment which congress
has no power to qualify or dilute as it did… when it restricted the exemption to those
“conscientiously opposed to participation in the war in any form.” For the reasons I
stated in Negre and Gillette v. United States… that construction puts clay in a class
honored by the First Amendment, even though those schooled in a different conception
of “just” wars may find it quite irrational. I would reverse the judgment below. (Clay v.
United States)
The most controversial sports figure of all time had won in America’s highest court system. Numerous plays, movies and documentaries have been created about Muhammad Ali, and not one has neglected to depict this significant event. In 2005, George Bush awarded Muhammad Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his commitment to equal justice and peace (Barra). Essentially though, it was Muhammad Ali’s exploration of the professional boxing setting and the media that allowed him to become such a profound world leader.
Muhammad Ali is one of the first African American athletes to use the media to successfully spread his opinion. “When you become great, popular or good at what you do, exploit your position for the good of other Blacks. Do you think they would listen to me if I was not a heavyweight champion of the world?” (Matthew “Ali Speaks”). That is what Muhammad Ali said in an interview with a reporter from the Philadelphia Tribune and he held quite true to it. In 1960, Muhammad Ali won an Olympic gold medal for boxing in the light heavyweight division. That same decade, Ali defeated Sonny Liston to become the world heavyweight champion and captured an impressive 29-0 record (“The U.S. Army”). After becoming such a dominating force in the ring, Ali used his publicity to share his political views
with America. He rarely declined interviews and conducted them with numerous African American newspapers and publishers. His name became so large during the late twentieth century that almost no one could claim to not know him. That is especially true during Ali’s feud with the Draft Board. Ali spoke largely of his Muslim faith and the peace he upholds with it. Dr. Ezra of Sonoma State University agrees that Muhammad Ali is the first black athlete ever to speak of only his principles and not uphold those of the white people, which is what many preceding black boxers such as Joe Frazier did. Ultimately, Muhammad Ali’s exploration gave black people a role model to look up to during the Civil Rights Movement.
With the status gained from his exploration and encounters, Ali did a great amount of significant things. Among those was Ali’s mission to Iraq in 1990 to meet with President Saddam Hussein. Ali brought 14 Americans back to the States who had been held hostage by Hussein for several months following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990 ("Ali To Bring..”). Those hostages lives may have been different had Ali not been the Muslim world leader that he was. Another thing we can attribute to Ali’s significance is the spotlight that has been placed on Parkinson’s Disease. Ever since his professional boxing career began, Ali was known for his quick minded retorts and speedy tongue. So, when Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and the once fast spoken champion began to speak with diminishing quickness, sadness struck his followers. Enormous awareness and funding was generated for Parkinson’s disease. Most agree that if a cure is ever found, Muhammad Ali deserves many of the thanks. Lastly, Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest black fighters to enter the ring. His significance is unparalleled in that regard. He was the first fighter to become heavyweight champion of the world three times.
Muhammad Ali’s encounter with the U.S. Draft Board and Supreme Court and exploration of professional boxing and media allowed him to become the most important athlete of the Civil Rights era and the years following it. Ali utilized his boxing fame to speak out on issues concerning not only himself but America as a whole. In doing so, he created a precedent for all athletes to follow. His outspoken nature allowed him to succeed in all of his endeavors and displayed that there is never a need for violence. This boxer simply would not lose. He said it best himself, “ I should be a postage stamp, because that’s only way I’ll ever get licked.”