Mandessy 1

Alyssa Mandessy

Professor Kane

Eng 115 T/Th2

22 October 2019

The People’s Champion: Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was not only one of the best boxers of all time; he was also a well known

civil rights activist. Ali’s coming out as a civil rights hero was when he rejected his draft into the

Vietnam War. He pledged that he would never serve a country that does nothing but disrespect

and treat him like less human because of his ethnicity. The jumpstart of his antiwar philosophy

began with himself and essentially began his path of being an activist. His decision demonstrates

resistance towards a white-dominated America that paved the way for the Civils Right

movement. Without the draft into the war, Ali would still succeed as a Civil Rights influencer

and activist because he had an abundance of platforms to speak on racial inequality such as a

boxer, his Islamic beliefs, and a musician.

As a world champion, Ali was mistreated and misunderstood by the media. Around the

1960s media was occupied mostly by white men. The white press would avoid calling Ali

“Muhammad Ali” and would rather call him by his given name “Cassius Clay” during his

post-interview after winning the heavyweight champion title. Ali felt as though his given name

was his “slave” name and refused to answer to anyone, including the media, who did not give

him the respect of calling him by his preferred name. He does this to express his freedom and

embrace it. Ali justifies the problem with people of color and media by demonstrating that no

person should restrict the expression of oneself because a white man refuses to accept it. Ali’s
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boxing platform reveals the black power within a white America as he speaks out on the injustice

with media and his commitment to freedom of speech, an amendment a person should not be

stripped of.

Muhammad Ali had a diverse representation as an activist. Ali converted to Islam in the

year of 1964. According to the Time article, “Exclusive: The Real Reason Why Muhammad Ali

to Islam” Ali converted because he believed Christianity was, “the religion of the oppressive

white establishment.” Not only did he speak for black Americans but he also represented the

Nation of Islam. Islam believers preach that everyone should embrace all races and ethnicities.

Ali was criticized for his change in religion by white people and his own fans who feared it. The

negative reaction by the people goes to show that racial inequality did not just rest upon black

versus white; all races and religions faced civil injustice. Ali argued with activists saying forced

integration would not show any progression within the civil rights movement. Instead of backing

down to the “superior” and waiting for change, he wants the people to challenge them and have

an “If you hit me, I hit you back.” mentality. Speaking for the Nation of Islam Ali spreads the

ideals of another religion to others and making other people respect foreign religious beliefs

rather than ignoring and judging it (Rubin). Ali showed that it is okay to understand a new

religion without having to convert. Opening people’s minds to other religions can reveal a new

perspective on life. Learning new religions gives room for better communication and

understanding of each other as a community.

In the late, 1970s Ali took up music when his boxing career ended. He used music to

insult rivals by calling out their names to essentially disrespect them. His lyrical playfulness and

huge ego inspired the rappers' music style. However, Ali’s influence on music was more than
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just lyrical play and use of metaphors. According to an article written by Angus Bately, Ali’s

Islamic beliefs impacted that way rappers wrote music. Bately states ​“the movement’s ethos of

regenerating black communities by instilling self-discipline, rejecting drugs and alcohol, and

seeking to counter white-dominated society’s racism with black nationalism and a message of

self-empowerment was a powerful brew, and of great appeal to politicized young black men

coming of age in the era of crack and Reaganomics.” Ali’s mindset of “If you hit me, I hit you

back.” has a greater range of influence which showcases his success as an activist. Ultimately,

Ali’s end goal of everyone having respect for all communities illuminates. At this stage of his

life, there is a fusion between the two diverse parts of Ali’s life: his religion and his ethnicity.

The black community is using Islamic teachings to create something of their own, in this case,

music.

Ali’s philosophy would still obtain the publicity it received when he refused to fight the

Vietnam War because there were many other civil rights activists who share the same values.

Martin Luther King Jr. believed in nonviolent direct action when going up against the oppressor.

He claimed that nonviolent direct action ​"create such a crisis and foster such a tension" as to

demand a response (King Jr. Paragraph 9). The publicity of two well-known civil rights heroes

coming together brings yet another platform for Ali to speak on. However, Ali and King working

together emphasized their philosophies more because they were influencers with different

religions with the same goal. The activists showed that people of opposing religions can work

together and have respect for one another’s beliefs without conflict. Ali focused on fighting

power with power. Martin Luther King Jr. shared the same mentality, however, he was more

passive-aggressive. King heighten the creation of tension. In ​Letter from Birmingham Jail, h​ e
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says, “create the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise from the dark depths of

prejudice and racism.” Like Ali, King believes that with no fight there is no progress. They

demonstrated that voice and action can work in conjunction. Essentially Ali and King built off

each other’s morals so publicity came with ease to Ali as he works alongside other civil rights

heroes.

Today we see that having a platform is important when advocating a movement. Ali had

an abundance of platforms to voice his opinions, he didn’t need a coming-out event to undergo

his antiwar and civil rights philosophy. In most recent times there is a natural reoccurrence of the

superiority of white people in America. For example, the #MeToo movement advocates for

women of color who have experienced sexual harassment. This movement is a platform for

victims to talk about what they went through and essentially take back their power, their voice.

Although this movement was for women of color they are still being ignored. However, white

women in America are the opposite. In the article “#MeToo Was Started for Black and Brown

Women and Girls. They’re Still Being Ignored” by Tarana Burke, she claims that people of color

never have justice as much as white people do. Burke states, “What history has shown us time

and again is that if marginalized voices--those of people of color, queer, people, disabled people,

poor people--aren’t centered in our movements then they tend to become no more than a

footnote.” Muhammad Ali and Tarana Burke have the same goal again of everyone having

respect for all communities. The natural injustice resurfaces, however, instead of taking direct

action vocal action is the better option to settle disputes within the #MeToo movement. If the

W.O.C community continues to share and supporting their voices will be heard and justice will

be obtained.
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The post antiwar movement may have made Ali a famous activist, however, Ali proves

that he would have an impact on the civil rights movement. Since Ali was a black Muslim

American, his own diversity shows the people that religions and races can intertwine. He

continuously expresses that power brings success. With his non-passive mentality/direct-action,

he gives people the confidence to counter white America.

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Works Cited Page

Zirin, Dave. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali and What Their Secret Friendship

Teaches Us Today.” ​The Nation,​ 15 Jan. 2016,

www.thenation.com/article/dr-martin-luther-king-muhammad-ali-and-what-their-secret-fr

iendship-teaches-us-today/​.

Anonymous. “How Muhammad Ali Found Home in Nation of Islam and Why He Embraced the

Religion.” ​Hindustan Times,​ 9 June 2016,

www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/how-muhammad-ali-found-home-in-nation-of-isla

m-his-start-as-a-muslim/story-1r8rl2aollpwKzJD34JylI.html​.

Rubin, Mike. “Muhammad Ali: 4 Ways He Changed America.” ​Rolling Stone​, 25 June 2018,

www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-sports/muhammad-ali-4-ways-he-changed-america

-155463/#

Burke, Tarana. “#MeToo Was Started for Black and Brown Women and Girls. They’re Still

Being Ignored.” 9 November 2017.

King Jr., Martin Luther. ​Letter from a Birmingham Jail. 1​ 6 April 1963.