M U H A M M A D A L I

A LEGENDARY HUMAN BEING & A FIGHTER FOR JUSTICE

FLOAT LIKE
A
BUTTERFLY

STING LIKE
a BEE “Don’t count the
days; make the
days count."
-Muhammad Ali
A hero, a civil rights activist, a father, and a great humanitarian.

By Timothy
Muhammad Ali has passed away, but his legacy will live on forever. He is the Greatest. He not only
spoke up when few did. He worked constantly for the betterment of black people and the
betterment of the human race in general. Story after story show how many human beings of many
walks of life being helped and inspired by Ali. Muhammad Ali constantly worked in charities, ending
foreign policy disputes, and congratulated people on their accomplishments. He taught us to be
powerful and never to be ashamed of our identities. He taught about the importance of religious
freedom and his wit was extraordinary. He was an icon of the black liberation struggle and a
magnificent humanitarian activist. To understand his glorious, inspirational life, it is very important
to mention where and when he was born. He was born in January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky.
His parents are Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa O’Grady Clay. Back then, Louisville was in the
midst of brutal, legalized apartheid and many black people in Louisville suffered racism,
discrimination (many black people back then had to work in service oriented jobs), economic
deprivation, police brutality, poverty, etc. Urban renewal harmed neighborhoods in Louisville too.
Both of his parents loved Muhammad Ali a great deal. His mother was a sweet, spiritual woman and
his father was a gifted painter (and he praised Marcus Garvey). His younger brother is Rahman Ali.
His mother Odessa said that Muhammad Ali was prevented from drinking water because of his
color affected him. This incident and others (like the evil murder of Emmett Till) inspired
Muhammad Ali to be courageous to stand up against injustice.

During his childhood, Muhammad Ali loved to be around people and expressed a great deal of
humor. When he was 12 year old, someone stole his bike. His bike was a red and white Schwinn
bicycle. It was stolen outside of an annual convention at the Columbian Auditorium. He was angry
and he told officer and boxing coach Joe E. Martin that he wanted to box. Later, the officer taught
him how to box in the gym beneath the auditorium. He was great in his amateur career. The boxing
cutman Chuck Bodak later trained him. Muhammad Ali started to do amateur boxing in 1954. He
won six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, 2 national Golden Gloves titles, and an Amateur Athletic
Union national title. By 1960, it was a new era in his life. Muhammad Ali came into the 1960
Summer Olympics in Rome. In Rome, he defeated Yvon Becot of Belgium in his first fight. Later, he
won unanimous decisions over Gennady Shatkov of the Soviet Union and Tony Madigan of
Australia. His final match was when Muhammad Ali defeated Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland.
Muhammad Ali defeated him decisively in the final round. Therefore, Muhammad Ali won the gold
medal in the Light Heavyweight boxing competition. African Americans in general won many awards
in the international sports event of the 1960 Olympics. For example, Sprinter Wilma Rudolph was
the first women to win 3 Olympic Gold Medals. Decathlon Gold Medal winner Rafer Johnson was
the first African American Olympic Captain. African Americans athletes in 1960 won a total of 22
medals, 16 of them were gold. He was celebrated when he came home into Louisville. When
Muhammad Ali came back from the Olympics, he held a press conference at the airport. He was
wearing his gold medal and said:

"To make America the greatest is my goal

So I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole

And for the USA won the medal of Gold.

The Greeks said you’re better than the Cassius of Old."

After the Olympics, Muhammad Ali was denied the right to eat at an all-white lunch counter in
downtown Louisville, KY. Afterwards, he had thrown his gold medal into the Ohio River in anger
over racial injustice. Later, Muhammad Ali received a replacement medal at a basketball
intermission during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. His professional debut came about in October 29,
1960 when he won a six round decision over Tunney Hunsaker.
Early Times

For his professional career by the end of 1963, Muhammad Ali had a record of 19-0 with 15 wins by
knockout. Muhammad Ali even in the early 1960’s was known for his confidence and for his great,
witty communication skills. Many people didn’t like him (because of his outspokenness) while the
media always covered him. Muhammad Ali bragged about his skills and abilities. He joked about his
opponents. Muhammad Ali also displayed a great deal of confidence and he loved being Black. His
trainers changed from Archie Moore (who was a great boxer) and to Angelo Dundee. Ali hired
Dundee as his trainer and Muhammad Ali was a great friend of Sugar Ray Robinson.

Sugar Ray Robinson influenced Muhammad Ali in many ways. By late 1963, Muhammad Ali was
facing Sonny Liston. Sonny Liston was a brutal fighter, he had ties to the Mafia, and Liston had an
intimidating personality. Sonny Liston defeated Floyd Patterson and other boxers brutally and
convincingly. Yet, Muhammad Ali was never afraid of Sonny Liston. He would tell the world that he
would beat Sonny Liston. Muhammad Ali would tell Sonny Liston to his face that he will defeat him.
The boxing journalists in most cases believed that Liston would easily defeat Ali. Yet, they were
wrong. Before the fight, Muhammad Ali joined the Black Nationalist and separatist Nation of Islam.
The NOI grew, because of the massive white racism which existed in American society. Many black
people joined the Nation of Islam to seek a sense of community, unity, and respect in their own
community. The NOI was known for its reform programs and teaching programs. To the wider
public, the NOI was known for its views on white people. Its leader, during that time, was Elijah
Muhammad who called white people "devils." Muhammad Ali felt that the NOI was a family and
could inspire black people to make the changes needed to cause justice. Muhammad Ali first heard
of the NOI in 1959.
In 1961, Muhammad Ali came into NOI meetings and he met Malcolm X in 1962. Malcolm X was a
friend and mentor to Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali learned a lot about Blackness, about Africa,
and about life from the NOI. Malcolm X was opposed to using nonviolence alone in ending
oppression for black people. Malcolm X believed in self-defense and self-determination. He
unapologetically advanced justice and Malcolm X was crucial in expanding the influence of the
Nation of Islam. The economic problems in many black communities, the hypocrisy of a Cold War
society, and people tired of injustices also caused the Nation of Islam to flourish. Yes, I don’t agree
with the NOI on every issue, but they are right that racism is a serious problem in America, there is
nothing wrong with self-determination, white racism is totally evil, and the love of Blackness is very
important to embrace.

In other words, I AM BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL.

He Shook Up the World

The fight between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston took place on February 25, 1964 in Miami.
Muhammad Ali won in a stunning victory. Muhammad Ali has shown skills, defensive ability, and
quick punches to defeat Sonny Liston in a 7th round TKO victory for Muhammad Ali. Following the
win, a triumphant Muhammad Ali rushed to the edge of the ring and, pointing to the ringside press,
shouted: "Eat your words!" He added, "I am the greatest! I shook up the world. I'm the prettiest
thing that ever lived." He was 22 years old. His words that he shook up the world was very
prophetic. Soon after the fight, Muhammad Ali publicly announced that he has joined the Nation of
Islam. He rejected Cassius Clay as a slave name and he is said that he is not a slave. This decision
was opposed not only by reactionary whites, but by moderate civil rights leaders like Roy Wilkins
(who would support the bloody, evil Vietnam War until later on after Dr. Martin Luther King was
unjustly assassinated. Roy Wilkins also legitimately criticized the Nixon administration for its policies
against black Americans during the 1970's). The corporate media and the ruling class back then
were shocked at a courageous black man defining his name on his terms. Muhammad Ali's
confidence and his words in favor of black self-confidence was revolutionary and inspirational for
young black people back then and today. Muhammad Ali also supported the anti-colonial struggle
for independence in Africa just like Malcolm X.

Muhammad Ali would say that: "...I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to
me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get
used to me.” Malcolm X took Ali on a tour of the United Nations introducing him to African and
other diplomats. Malcolm X was in the Ali-Liston first fight to support Muhammad Ali. Malcolm X
believed that Ali’s victory against Liston was allowed by Allah and that Allah would guide
Muhammad Ali in the ring and out of it. Muhammad Ali was once called Cassius X and then
Muhammad Ali. “Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X”
documents the friendship of these 2 great men. According to the co-author Johnny Smith (he’s a
historian at Georgia Tech), the 2 met in 1962. In 1962, Muhammad Ali was drove by Sam Saxon (a
friend from training camp) to Saviour’s Day rally in Chicago. This was an annual event hosted by the
Nation of Islam. Saxton was already a member of the NOI. Muhammad Ali heard Malcolm X’s words
and became supportive of him. Malcolm X back then wanted Muhammad Ali to use his charisma to
get more people into the NOI. Muhammad Ali kept his new faith to himself until after he beat
Sonny Liston. The boxing establishment (which exploited black boxers for years and decades) back
then criticized Muhammad Ali for joining the Nation of Islam. The NOI is a conservative organization
and back then, they refused to promote active political engagement in the black freedom
movement via protests and other actions. When Muhammad Ali was in the NOI, he opposed
integration. Many young black activists loved Muhammad Ali back then, since he expressed
independence outside of what mainstream society wanted him to be. Julian Bond (or the late civil
rights leader) said these words about Muhammad Ali:

“…I remember when Ali joined the Nation. The act of joining was not something many of us
particularly liked. But the notion that he would do it, that he’d jump out there, join this group that
was so despised by mainstream America and be proud of it, sent a little thrill through you.… He was
able to tell white folks for us to go to h_ __; that I’m going to do it my way…”

It is also important to point out the historical significance of 1964. This was the year where the
black freedom struggle increased in its power. There was Freedom Summer where people went into
the Deep South to fight for the voting and human rights of black people. There was the campaign
for the passage of the Civil Rights Act, which passed in that year. In the summer of 1964, more than
12,000 civil rights activists were arrested. In that time, 30 buildings were bombed, 36 churches
were burned by the Ku Klux Klan and their supporters, and courageous people continued to stand
up for the freedom of black people. 1964 was the year of new urban rebellions in the Northern
ghettoes of Philadelphia, New York City, Rochester, and in other places of America. Malcolm X left
the Nation of Islam in March of 1964. At first, Malcolm X was silenced for 90 days by NOI leader
Elijah Muhammad, because of Malcolm X’s December 1963 statement about the assassination of
President John F. Kennedy. Later, Malcolm X was informed by the NOI headquarters in Chicago that
his suspension would be indefinite and he was still not allowed to speak in the mosques or publicly
on behalf of the organization. Still, Malcolm X continued to stand up for human justice. Muhammad
Ali disagreed with Malcolm X during that time on that decision. Ali and Malcolm X met for the last
time in public in Ghana in May of 1964. Ghana was led back then by President Kwame Nkrumah or
the founding leader of Ghana. He was a believer of Pan-Africanism and socialism. While Malcolm X’s
popularity declined in the NOI, Muhammad Ali’s popularity in the NOI increased by 1964. The last
meeting among Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X was when both say each other in Accra, Ghana (the
capital city) outside of the Ambassador Hotel. Muhammad Ali was with Elijah Muhammad’s son.
And what happens, recounts Smith, is this: "Ali and Malcolm, their eyes meet. And at that moment,
Malcolm says, 'Brother Muhammad! Brother Muhammad!' He wants to engage with him, say hello.
He doesn't know Ali is mad at him, that they're no longer friends. He's got this half-smile on his
face. And Muhammad Ali, just stone-faced, says, 'Brother Malcolm, you shouldn't have crossed the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad.' And he essentially walks away from him."

Later, Muhammad Ali regretted shunning Malcolm X after he left the NOI. Randy Roberts says, "One
of Ali's greatest regrets — and he said as much — is that he never patched things up with Malcolm,
that he never told Malcolm how important he was to him." Ironically, Muhammad Ali would later
leave the Nation of Islam and convert to Sunni Islam. Sunni Islam was the same orthodox Muslim
faith that Malcolm X would embrace after leaving the NOI. Both Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X are
icons of black people and of humanity in general. They have shown the world that liberty must be
given to all and justice is a principle worth fighting for.

Malcolm X would continue to promote pan-African unity (via his OAAU organization, which stands
for Organization of Afro-American Unity. The OAAU was evented in June of 1964) and he desired
the UN to try America for crimes against black Americans. Malcolm X would also question capitalism
and wanted international solidarity among the oppressed people of the world in order for human
beings to confront the Western imperialist, international power structure (which was dominating
peoples). Malcolm X would be assassinated by murderers in February 21, 1965. Muhammad Ali
fought Liston in a rematch in May 1965 in Lewiston, Maine. That fight was controversial since Liston
was knocked down by a difficult to see punch. Ali was the winner by knockout. Many people were
upset and believed that the fight was rigged (Ali vehemently denied this accusation), but
Muhammad Ali moved on. He fought former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson on November
22, 1965. Patterson said that he wanted to win the title for Christianity and Ali took offense to that.
Floyd Patterson made the following disrespectful remarks about Ali: "This fight is a crusade to
reclaim the title from the Black Muslims. As a Catholic, I am fighting Clay as a patriotic duty. I am
going to return the crown to America." Ali defeated Patterson a 12 round lopsided victory.
Muhammad Ali was about to fight Ernie Terrell in March 29, 1966, but technical issues prevented
that to happen.

This shows the legend

This is Muhammad Ali in 1966.
Muhammad Ali and his daughter,
Boxer Laila Ali, after she won a
fight in 2005. Two great
championships are found in this
image.
Muhammad Ali’s resistance to the draft was greatly admirable.
The Vietnam War and Ali’s Courage

The United States government promoted the Vietnam War for years. In February 1966, Muhammad
Ali was reclassified by the Louisville draft board as 1-A from 1-Y, and he indicated that he would
refuse to serve, commenting to the press, "I ain't got nothing against no Viet Cong; no Viet Cong
never called me n_______." This caused many more people to oppose him, especially war hawks
who believed in the Vietnam War. Back in 1966, a significant number of Americans supported the
Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali was soon banned from fighting in some places. He was slandered by
the press, far right people, and even by moderates for his courageous stand against an evil, unjust
war. He was widely vilified by sports writers, generally among the brainwashed and most superficial
members of the journalistic fraternity. Red Smith claimed that the fighter had made himself “as
sorry a spectacle as those unwashed punks who picket and demonstrate against the war.” Another
sports writer-sage, Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times, termed Ali a “black Benedict Arnold.” As
long-time peace activist Daniel Berrigan said, "It was a major boost to an antiwar movement that
was very white. He was not an academic, or a bohemian or a clergyman. He couldn’t be dismissed
as cowardly." Muhammad Ali was a very intelligent, courageous black man.
Still, Muhammad Ali stood by his convictions and stood up for what he believed in like a man.
Muhammad Ali was a champion and hero who was against war, discrimination, and racism. He
viewed the Vietnamese people as victims of the same colonialism as black people were in American
society.

The 1960's was a revolutionary time. The civil rights movement moved into a new phrase of
militancy. The status quo was opposed by many brave people. During the early 1960's, many black
students (many of them were from historically Black Colleges and Universities) and black youth in
general used demonstrations and civil disobedience against segregated lunch counters, stores, and
bus stations throughout the South. By the late 1960's, a new era of the black liberation struggle
existed. There has been many laws passed, but many people were rightfully angered at the slow
process of the civil rights movement and how economic problems still persisted (especially against
black people and the poor). During the summer of 1964, there were a thousand arrests of civil
rights activists, 30 buildings bombed and 36 churches burned by the Ku Klux Klan and their
sympathizers. Rebellions happened in 1964 in Rochester, Philadelphia, and Harlem, NYC. The 1965
Watts rebellion was bigger. Much larger rebellions happened in Detroit, Newark, and other cities of
America in 1967. The anti-Vietnam war movement expanded during the late 1960's. It wasn’t just
the SDS or MOBE which opposed the Vietnam War. SNCC, the SCLC, and the Black Panther Party all
also opposed the Vietnam War. Big national strikes and battles between American workers and
police on picket lines were on the order of the day. There were people of every color (like Ella
Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Unita Blackwell, Courtland Cox, Ruby Doris Smith Robinson, Cynthia
Washington, Gloria Richardson, Septima Clark, etc.) standing up for civil rights, economic justice,
and the rights of women too back during the 1960's. Internationally, hated dictatorships fell in
Greece, Spain and Portugal. The global crisis reached its potentially revolutionary peak in the great
French general strike, in which ten million people participated, in May-June 1968.

Muhammad Ali traveled to fight George Chuvaolo, Henry Cooper, Brian London, and Karl
Mildenberger in Canada and in Europe in 1966. He fought Cleveland Williams in the Houston
Astrodome in November 14, 1966 in a record breaking indoor crowd (during that time in November
14, 1966). Muhammad Ali won the fight in three round TKO. Some view Muhammad Ali's fight with
Cleveland Williams as his best boxing performance (with an excellent combination of power, speed,
and agility). Also, Muhammad Ali defeated Ernie Terrell in Houston on February 6, 1967.
Muhammad Ali was disrespected by Ernie Terrell by Terrell calling him "Cassius Clay" when
 Muhammad Ali said to him not to call him by that name repeatedly. From March 1966, Muhammad
Ali spoke out against the Vietnam War.

In March 22, 1967, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title after his refusal to be drafted to Army
service. Muhammad Ali opposed the Vietnam War, because it was an unjust war that destroyed the
lives of the Vietnamese people, it was against his religious beliefs, and he felt that he must fight for
justice domestically. Muhammad Ali wanted the world to know that the Vietnamese people never
lynched his ancestors, they never put his ancestors in chains via slavery, and they never deprived
black people of freedom, justice, and equality in America. Muhammad Ali was right.

These are 4 heroic human beings who inspire us to this very day.

Ella Baker Fannie Lou Hamer Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
 This was the historic sports summit of the top black athletes and other black leaders who were
assembled in Cleveland Ohio, which was held in June 4, 1967. These athletes, etc. had
Muhammad Ali’s support after Ali opposed the Vietnam War and refused to enter the Army. The
names of the people in the picture are the following: Bill Russell, Boston Celtics; Muhammad Ali,
Jim Brown & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the back row, there were the individuals of Carl Stokes,
Democratic State Rep.; Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie
Davis, Jim Shorter, & John Wooten.

Muhammad Ali said in 1967 that:

“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 in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs
and denied simple human rights? No, I'm not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and
burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker
people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned
that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it
again: The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by
becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality.... If I
thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people, they wouldn't
have to draft me, I'd join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I'll go to
jail, so what? We've been in jail for 400 years.” He also said famously that: "...My conscience won’t
let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big
powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me n_______, they never lynched
me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother
and father... Shoot them for what?... How can I shoot them poor people, Just take me to jail!”
An increasingly amount of support came for Muhammad Ali (about his stance in opposition to the
Vietnam War) from college students, progressive whites, black activists, and from young people in
general. As poet Sonia Sanchez remembered:

"...It’s hard now to relay the emotion of that time. This was still a time when hardly any well-known
people were resisting the draft. It was a war that was disproportionately killing young Black
brothers and here was this beautiful, funny poetical young man standing up and saying no! Imagine
it for a moment! The heavyweight champion, a magical man, taking his fight out of the ring and into
the arena of politics and standing firm. The message was sent!..."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an ally and friend of Muhammad Ali too. Both men spoke about
housing issues in Louisville, KY in a press conference. Dr. King said that black and brown people face
the same system of oppression. Also, in the late 1960's, Muhammad Ali was a social activist too. He
and Dr. King united in in Louisville to fight for fair housing for black people. This struggle was long
and it involved evil people to use violence against innocent people. Heroic protesters stood up for
what was right. Ali spoke to the protesters saying,

"In your struggle for freedom, justice and equality I am with you. I came to Louisville because I
could not remain silent while my own people, many I grew up with, many I went to school with,
many my blood relatives, were being beaten, stomped and kicked in the streets simply because
they want freedom, and justice and equality in housing."

Also, Muhammad Ali would inspire Dr. King to take a more

militant stand against the Vietnam War. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. would give his famous Riverside Church speech against
the Vietnam War in April of 1967 and he was in a NYC anti-war
demonstration where he gave a speech in front of the United
Nations building. There is a short wire tapped transcript that
the FBI recorded between Muhammad Ali and Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. In that transcript, Muhammad Ali is referred to
derisively as “C.” The transcript says the following:

“…MLK spoke to C, they exchanged greetings. C invited MLK to

be his guest at the next championship fight. MLK said he
would like to attend. C said he is keeping up with MLK and
MLK is his brother and he’s with him 100 percent but can’t
take any chances, and that MLK should take care of himself
On April 28, 1967, boxing and should "watch out for them whities."
champion Muhammad Ali refused
to be inducted into the U.S. Army
Like Muhammad Ali, Dr. King would be criticized by far right
and was immediately striped of
people and moderates because of his anti-Vietnam War
his heavyweight title. Ali, who was
stance. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continued to courageously
a Muslim, cited religious reasons
for his decision to forgo military
stand up against war and any injustice.
service.
Exile

He was convicted of violating the draft rules (in reference to the Selective Service Act) on June 20,
1967 and he was sentenced for five years in prison. He was free on bond. During this time, he spent
great time in Chicago. Yet, Muhammad Ali appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. During his
exile (from March 1967 to October 1970), he spoke to crowds of college kids, anti-war activists, and
other black civil rights organizations. His family and friends financially supported him and his family.
Muhammad Ali was in a 1969 musical play called "Buck White" which exposed how racism against
black people was totally evil. The show opened December 2, 1969 at the George Abbott Theatre.
Though not known as a singer, Ali is listed as singing virtually every song in the score, including such
titles as “We Came in Chains,” Mighty Whitey” and “Get Down.”

Muhammad Ali continued to promote black racial consciousness (in the midst of the powerful Black
Power Movement) and opposition to the Western genocidal war in Vietnam. Vietnamese men,
women, and children were burnt with napalm and other chemicals. American G.I.s in many cases
suffered emotional turmoil & heart wrenching physical harm as a product of that evil war. The
corrupt police, the FBI, the military, and the courts fought against the Black Liberation struggle, but
the struggle continues. Back then, many leaders and workers opposed the Vietnam War, poverty,
and other evils. Fannie Loue Hammer publicly opposed the Vietnam War. Eartha Kitt (she was also a
member of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) criticized the Vietnam War at a
White House luncheon in 1968. She said the following words:

“...The children of America are not rebelling for no reason. They are not hippies for no reason at
all. We don’t have what we have on Sunset Blvd. for no reason. They are rebelling against
something. There are so many things burning the people of this country, particularly mothers.
They feel they are going to raise sons—and I know what it's like, and you have children of your
own, Mrs. Johnson—we raise children and send them to war."
 The image on the left shows Muhammad Ali in New York City marching with Black
Panthers in September of 1970. The image to the right is the famous poet and activist
Nikki Giovanni interviewing Muhammad Ali on race, the Vietnam War, poverty, history,
culture, boxing, and other important issues.

Coretta Scott King was another courageous anti-war hero too. She spoke in opposition to the
Vietnam War in her speech in Central Park, NYC in April 27, 1968. Her words include the following:

“…The interrelatedness of domestic and foreign affairs is no longer questioned. The bombs
we drop on the people of Vietnam continue to explode at home with all of their devastating
potential. And so I would invite you to join us in Washington in our effort to enable the poor
people of this nation to enjoy a fair share of America's blessing.

There is no reason why a nation as rich as ours should be blighted by poverty, disease, and
illiteracy. It is plain that we don't care about our poor people except to exploit them as
cheap labor and victimize them through excessive rents and consumer prices.

Our Congress passes laws which subsidize corporation farms, oil companies, airlines, and
houses for suburbia. But when they turn their attention to the poor, they suddenly become
concerned about balancing the budget and cut back on the funds for Head Start, Medicare,
and mental health appropriations.
The most tragic of these cuts is the welfare section to the Social Security amendment,
which freezes federal funds for millions of needy children, who are desperately poor but who
do not receive public assistance. It forces mothers to leave their children and accept work or
training, leaving their children to grow up in the streets as tomorrow's social problems. This
law must be repealed, and I encourage you to join welfare mothers on May 12th, Mother's
Day and call upon Congress to establish a guaranteed annual income, instead of these racist
and archaic measures, these measures which dehumanize God's children and create more
social problems than they solve…With this determination, with this faith, we will be able to
create new homes, new communities, new cities, a new nation. Yea, a new world, which we
desperately need!”

This era of history was made of serious events. In December 4, 1969, Black Panther Chairman Fred
Hampton and Deputy Mark Clark were murdered in cold blood by the Chicago police. Muhammad
Ali's stand against the system of white supremacy should always be respected.

Ali in 1974

His Return

By 1970, Ali was granted a license to box by the City of Atlanta Athletic Commission thanks to State
Senator Lerory R. Johnson. He fought Jerry Quarry in October 26, 1970 in Atlanta. He won after
three rounds after Quarry was cut. The exile caused him to lack ring experience for years, but his
soul was strengthened by standing up for his convictions. Later, Ali would beat Oscar Bonavena at
Madison Square Garden in December 1970. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his
conviction in a unanimous 8–0 ruling (Thurgood Marshall recused himself, as he had been the U.S.
Solicitor General at the time of Ali's conviction). By March 8, 1971, Muhammad Ali fought Frazier in
their first fight held in Garden, which was nicknamed the “Fight of the Century.” For weeks, there
was preparation for the fight. Muhammad Ali in some of his words about Joe Frazier went too far
(by calling Frazier an "Uncle Tom", etc. Frazier gave Ali money when Ali was banned from boxing).
There was excitement and crowds of people came to Madison Square Garden. The match was even
for most of the bout until Joe Frazier knocked Ali down in the 11th round with a left hook. Ali
immediately got up, but Muhammad Ali lost by decision.
This was the first lost in his professional career. On March 28, 1971, the Supreme Court in an 8-0
decision overturned the conviction against Ali. Afterwards, Muhammad Ali fought many opponents.
He had a slightly different style than before his exile, but he had an iron strong chin. In 1971, his
Fight of the Century with Frazier provided cover for an activist group, the Citizens' Commission to
Investigate the FBI, to successfully pull off a burglary at an FBI office in Pennsylvania, which exposed
the COINTELPRO operations that included illegal spying on activists involved with the civil rights and
anti-war movements. One of the COINTELPRO targets was Ali, which included the FBI gaining access
to his records as far back as elementary school; one such record mentioned him loving art as a child.

Ken Norton broke his jaw in another lost. Later, Joe Frazier and Ken Norton would be knocked down
by George Foreman. George Foreman was an Olympic champion from Houston, Texas. George
Foreman was tall, big, and very strong. He intimidated many opponents.

Zaire in Africa (and Later Years)

Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire in the fight nicknamed “The Rumble in
the Jungle.” Like with the Liston fight, many sports commentators viewed Ali as having no chance
against Foreman. Some (even Howard Cosell) said that George Foreman (who won the gold medal
in the heavyweight boxing completion in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City) was too powerful and
just fearless. Muhammad Ali trained in Africa and spoke about him being the Greatest of All Time.
Ali told the crowds of people in Africa "Ali Bomaye" in expressing his goal of defeating Foreman.
During that time, Zaire was a neo-colonial outpost for reaction and counter revolution. Mobutu was
a brutal dictator. Mobutu was the antithesis of the heroic Brother Lumumba. The African peoples of
Zaire loved Ali as shown in the classic documentary “When We Were Kings.” Before the match, in
Africa, thousands of people came into Zaire.

So, the fight in Zaire dealt with not only athletics, but heavily with politics in Africa. During the 20th
century, many African nations fought for independence. Many African nations became independent
by nonviolent means and by usage of self-defense against colonialism, racism, and imperialism.
There were progressive leaders in Africa who wanted change, opposed economic exploitation from
Western capitalist powers, and desired the people of Africa to have true freedom in a democratic
fashion. One such leader was Patrice Lumumba. He lived in the Congo, and Malcolm X called him
the “greatest black man who ever walked the African continent.” Lumumba was captured and
murdered by military forces (that were in support of Belgium, America, etc.). The West supported
the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko (who has been supported by the CIA and the IMF). Mobutu not only
murdered his opponents (which has nothing to do with Black Power), but he opposed citizens’
human rights. Mobutu was the leader of Zaire when the Rumble in the Jungle fight took place.
Mobutu used torture under the Stadium when the fight was going on according to Norman Mailer
in the great “When We Were Kings” documentary. Also, we also have to expose Western
imperialists today trying to control Africa too.

There were famous musicians who performed in concerts in Zaire too. Their names included: James
Brown, B.B. King, the O’Jays, Celia Cruz & The Fania All Stars, Mariam Makeba, and others.
Muhammad Ali punched George Foreman in a way that no fighter punched Foreman prior to that
match. George Foreman back then was strong and in his prime, but Muhammad Ali defeated him.
He allowed Foreman to tire himself out, and Muhammad Ali gave him a multiple punch one-two
combination that defeated him. Muhammad Ali and his fans celebrated in Africa plus throughout
the world. The Thriller in Manila fight in the Philippines was one of the most harsh, brutal fights of
Muhammad Ali's career. He fought Joe Frazier for the last time in that fight in 1975. The fight had to
be called off, because Joe Frazier's eye was severely injured and Muhammad Ali won. Muhammad
Ali said that that fight was the closest he felt to death in a boxing ring. On February 25, 1975, Elijah
Muhammad tragically passed away of congestive heart failure in Chicago. By 1975, Muhammad Ali
left the Nation of Islam and became a Sunni Muslim.

He came into Hajj in 1972 and by 1975, his spiritual views evolved to be more progressive. Many of
his closest friends were black and people of numerous colors globally. Additionally, Muhammad Ali
supported the right of return of the Palestinian people and he visited refugee camps in southern
Lebanon. Muhammad Ali continued to fight people like Ken Norton, Joe Frazier again (in the 1975
fight of the Thrilla in Manila. Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines was dictator in that time too), and
Leon Spinks. After the Manila bout, Muhammad Ali fought Jean-Pierre Coopman, Jimmy Young, and
Richard Dunn. Richard Dunn was defeated by Muhammad Ali by a knockout. He would end his
boxing career in 1981. Muhammad Ali won 56 fights of the 61 fights. He had 37 knockouts.

Years later, Muhammad Ali was officially diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This disease slowed
his movements, but his mind was ever strong. For decades, Muhammad Ali has raised money and
spoke out in favor of Parkinson disease research. Muhammad Ali fought for humanitarian causes
like fighting poverty, promoting literacy, and advancing peace. Ali supported Jesse Jackson in 1984
when Jesse Jackson was running for the Democratic Party nomination. Afterwards, he supported
Reagan’s reelection. Ronald Reagan was an enemy of people of black African descent (and all
freedom loving peoples in general). Reagan allowed the invasion of Grenada in 1983 with an U.S.
invasion, he used policies to cut investments in U.S. communities, and Reagan was a far right
person.

Muhammad Ali negotiated the peaceful departure of American hostages in Iraq during 1991.
Muhammad Ali was the most recognizable human being in the world. He helped to light the flame
in Atlanta during the Summer Olympics of
1996. 1996 was in the time when Bill Clinton
was President of America. Bill has praised
Muhammad Ali, but he has not followed in
Muhammad Ali’s anti-imperialist footsteps.
When Bill was President, he bombed a
Sudanese pharmaceutical plant, thus
preventing many important medications from
getting to those who needed them. He also
ordered the large scale bombing of various
parts of the former nation of Yugoslavia.
Clinton is also responsible for a US military
attack on Mogadishu, Somalia. Bill Clinton
This building is the Muhammad Ali Center. It is
ordered a coup in the island nation of Haiti found alongside Interstate 64 on Louisville,
and deposed its democratically elected Kentucky’s riverfront. It was created in November
president, Jean Bertrand Aristide. Bill Clinton 19, 2005. It has six stories, an amphitheater, and a
then and now is a known supporter of the plaza. The cultural center features exhibitions
regarding Ali's core values of respect, confidence,
capitalist status quo, so we know who William conviction, dedication, charity, and spirituality. It has
Jefferson Clinton is (he is a neoliberal ally of many interactive exhibitions.
the machine).

Muhammad Ali signed autographs and allowed people from many walks of live to visit his home.
Throughout his life, Ali gave human beings compassion. He supported religious tolerance during the
aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He opposed the reactionary agenda of Donald Trump in 2016 too.
 Both Legendary Human Beings

Laila Ali Muhammad Ali

Boxing Record
24-0 with 21 KOs
Awards and accolades
• 2012 AOCA Awakening Outstanding
Contribution Award
• 2004 IWBF Female Light Heavyweight title
• 2005/2007 WBC World Super
Middleweight title (2 defenses)
• BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year
(2002)
Boxing Record
61-5 with 37 KOs
The Olympic Games
1960 Rome Light heavyweight
Awards and accolades
• 6 Time Ring Fighter of the Year
• 2 Time National Golden Gloves Champion
• 6 Time Kentucky Golden Gloves Champion
• Martin Luther king Memorial Award
• Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Presidential Citizens Medal
• International Boxing Hall of Fame
• Philadelphia Liberty Medal
• CSHL Double Helix Medal Honoree

Muhammad is here with her daughters Hana

Ali and Laila Ali.
 Like Father, Like Daughter. Laila Ali loves her father and we love Laila
Ali’s accomplishments.
Laila Ali is famous for being an undefeated boxer from 1999 to 2007 (she held the WBC, WIBA,
IWBF, and IBA female super middleweight titles and the IWBF light heavyweight title), but she is
much more than that. She is a daughter of one of the greatest men in history and she is a mother.
She was born in December 30, 1977. She was born in Miami Beach, Florida. She overcame a lot and
has Muhammad Ali’s determination and confidence. Her last fight was against Gwendolyn O’Neil in
South Africa. Laila Ali has been in TV shows and in other areas. She has talked about health too in
the show Everyday Health with Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca. Her book, entitled, “Reach! Finding
Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power” (with co-author David Ritz) wanted to motivate and inspire
young people. She was honest in the book about her life and experiences. Recently, she has
commended Colin Kaepernick for his stand against police brutality and racial injustice. Today, Laila
Ali is living her life as a black woman.
In 2014, Ali tweeted in support of Trayvon Martin and the Black Lives Matter movement. Also, it
is always important to give credit to black women. Black women are leaders and deserve
liberation. A great black woman raised Muhammad Ali and we honor Brothers and Sisters
fighting for real change in our world.

Honoring a Hero

Muhammad Ali received more awards and acknowledgements. Muhammad Ali was named the
"greatest sportsman of the 20th century" by Sports Illustrated in 1999. It is ironic that many of the
same people who hated Ali are now sending him accolades after his passing. What he wanted to do
is to put smiles in people’s faces, to inspire children, and to speak truth to power. He had
Parkinson’s disease, but the disease never crippled his spirit. Muhammad Ali during the 21st
century went into the hospital multiple times to handle health related issues. The final days of his
life was spent with his family and friends. It was an emotional time for them. We praise Ali's family
and friends for their love & strength. On June 3, 2016, he passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona from
complications from a respiratory illness. He was 74 years old and his family was there with him. We
all mourn Muhammad Ali's passing. He was another great example of living black manhood. He
gave his life for the improvement of the world and he loved his family and his children. His
contributions are endless. He bravely stood up to oppose the unjust Vietnam War. He defended
the human rights of black people.

So, he was not just the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time (as he has beaten previous
champions in multiple decades. Ali defeated Liston, Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Lyle, and Spinks.
Muhammad Ali was blessed with amazing reflexes, excellent speed, and a huge determination or
will). Muhammad Ali was an outstanding humanitarian who loved to be around people. He helped
the sick, allowed his house to house people from many walks of life, and he promoted love and
peace worldwide. He defended the oppressed and Muhammad Ali was a heroic black man who
believed in human liberty. He continued to speak out in favor of justice in 2016. I send prayers and
condolences to Muhammad Ali's friends and family. Many of our legends and heroes are passing
away.
Sister Laila Ali gave a very moving, touching tribute to Muhammad Ali in the BET
Awards in Sunday night of June 26, 2016.
Muhammad Ali's life and legacy represent an opportunity for athletes, musicians, lawyers, social
activists, and all of us in general to not only speak up against injustices, but to stand up for our core
convictions. We live in a class struggle and we desire human liberation to be made into a reality for
all. We have murderous, evil drone strikes and assassinations against people in the world (which
have been called "kill lists"). Many Wall Street individuals are complicit in financial corruption and
they haven't been prosecuted either. There is torture in the world. There is the evil persecution of
whistleblowers too. We witness an American city of Flint, Michigan being given poisoned water. In
2016, the United States continues to oppress African/black people. Rampant police brutality is a
real problem that harmed black people and others. A prison industrial complex has been
destructive to our people and gentrification has harmed black people and the poor too. Structural
oppression in America is real. We have French people standing up for labor rights. We witness Afro-
Columbians and Afro-Brazilians fighting for their human rights. Political courage is rare in our
contemporary society. That is why it is necessary to us to fight to end the mass incarceration
system, to promote the growth of jobs, to advance adequate housing, to advance universal health
care, and to advance an educational system that honors true black history & black culture for real.

The struggle isn't over, but Muhammad Ali (who was willing to go to jail and lose all of his money
for the sake of his principles) taught us to keep our heads up and fight for what is right. All of us
should be inspired to be anti-imperialist, to stand for economic justice, to oppose police brutality,
to fight for racial justice, to fight for gender justice, to improve the environment, and to make
society much better than it is currently. It is certainly clear that we honor this Brother and be
inspired to live out our lives in service to our communities.
The Funeral of Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali’s funeral was held in Louisville, Kentucky. The day before the funeral, there was a
Muslim prayer service where thousands of people attended. It occurred in Freedom Hall. It was
filled with Americans and international people, with Muslims, with Christians, and with young plus
older human beings. “Ali touched on the lives of every creed, colour, race and nationality,” said
Muhammad Ziyad, a friend of the boxer since the 1970s. “And he put this plan for his funeral
together.” His friend Talut El-Amin, who was part of Ali’s entourage, added: “It was important to
him to have people from all walks of life..." He was a champion in more ways than one. In Louisville,
gracious people mourned and celebrated his life. There is a picture of a nine year old girl named
Akera Price-King. She held up a sign in front of Muhammad Ali’s boyhood home. The sign reads:
“…With the Greatest Respect You shook up the World in Life and Death RIP Champ.”

There is a picture of a 2 year girl named Lena Worthington

who dons pink boxing gloves at Cave Hill Cemetery. There was
a motorcade that traveled through Louisville and his family
will bury Muhammad Ali in a private ceremony at a Louisville
cemetery. During the route of the motorcade (which carried
Ali’s body from A.D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home. It traveled
to the hospital where he was born, then the Muhammad Ali
Center, pass his childhood home, through his high school from
which he graduated, and pass Columbia Gym, and into the
cemetery after the public memorial), there are tons of people on the sidewalk. Many people in
Louisville took photos, some folks held up signs, and others waved as the hearse passes by. Shortly
after 10 am. , more than a dozen girls carried a sign reading “Ali is Parkland.” They chanted, “RIP
Muhammad Ali, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Some 200 more people began chanting and
bobbing with them. There were many rose petals scattered outside of the Cave Hill Cemetery.
Mayor Greg Fischer gave his condolences too.

Thousands of people throughout the city gave their final respects to Muhammad Ali. Ali’s cherry red
casket was draped in an Islamic shroud. Will Smith, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, and three other
family members are his pallbearers. After that, more than 15,000 people commemorated Ali’s life in
a public memorial. The public memorial is at KFC Yum! Center. Some 300 dignitaries and celebrities
were expected to attend the public memorial. The public memorial was interfaith. Senator Orrin
Hatch spoke in the funeral too. Muhammad Ali is being eulogized by people like comedian Billy
Crystal, former President Bill Clinton, and journalist Bryan Gumbel. Poetry will be read by Attallah
Shabazz, Malcolm X's eldest daughter, while Valerie Jarrett (who knew Muhammad Ali), a senior
adviser to President Obama, gave a statement too. Other guests of note include Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan. The service was held by an imam and it
included speeches from clerics from multiple religions. Ali's wife, Lonnie, and daughters, Maryum
and Rasheda, spoke. Some of the greatest speeches I heard in the funeral came from Atallah
Shabazz, Lonnie Ali, Rabbi Michael Lerner (who spoke truth to power on many issues), and Pastor
Dr. Kevin Cosby of Louisville. After the service, a private reception for friends and guests existed at
the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. Muhammad Ali was our hero and we will continue to fight
for social justice.

RIP Brother Muhammad Ali.