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Dylan Martin Toplas

English 1111

8 February 2023

Profile Assignment

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali knocks out Sonny Liston during their fight in 1965 (Matt Schudel) .

One of sports’ greatest moments. Muhammad Ali curls his arm across his body

as he looks down to his unresponsive opponent Sonny Liston. He is screaming at his

opponent and flexing his muscles as hundreds of spectators watch from the distance.

The fight would decide the winner of the World Boxing Council Heavyweight

Champion and this picture represents one of Ali’s most famous moments as he
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showed his tremendous strength and speed (Rattue). He is not surprised or scared by

the competition, in fact, Ali viciously screams at his opponent. After years of training

and developing his technique, all his hard work paid off. Against many doubts, he

had won his second title fight, becoming a world-famous athlete and even being

considered the athlete of the century by Sports Illustrated in 1999. Many people

know Muhammad Ali for his talent and dedication to the boxing community, but Ali

was also a great advocate for social justice and civil rights. Born as Cassius Clay in

1942, he used his fame and influence as a boxer to speak against the Vietnam War and

changed his name partly to spread the message of the Nation of Islam (Sims).

Nowadays athletes showing their support for numerous social causes is

common (Whitener). In the English Football Premier League, every match day

athletes take a knee before the start of the game to show their support to the “No room

for racism” protest. However, in the 1960’s it was practically unheard of an athlete

protesting due to the heavy penalties that would follow any signs of rebellion. In this

way, Muhammad Ali was one of the first athletes who publicly spoke against social

issues, at first about race and African American culture, and then against the Vietnam

War.

In 1967 Ali refused to take part in the war for pacifist reasons and 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 in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in

Louisville are treated like dogs?” (Zirin and Cooper). As for punishments, his boxing

license was removed, along with his titles and was given the charge of 5 years in

federal prison and a $10,000 fine (Gonyea). This meant that Ali was without a source

of income and no way to keep making boxing history in the years that could be the

peak of his career.

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The Vietnam War was a prolonged conflict that occurred between 1955 and

1975 in Southeast Asia, primarily involving the United States and North and South

Vietnam (History). The Vietnam War started as a result of the Cold War and the

spread of communism, with the United States supporting South Vietnam against the

communist North. The war involved heavy U.S. military involvement, including

bombing campaigns, ground troops, and covert operations, and resulted in millions of

deaths, including civilians. The war ultimately ended with the U.S. army retrieving

from the territory and Vietnam being under communist rule. The conflict overall

remains a highly controversial conflict, with its impact felt both in Vietnam and

around the world.

In preparation for the conflict, the U.S. army attempted to recruit as many

citizens as possible and Ali was no exception (Gonyea). However, Ali refused to take

part in the military, mentioning his religious beliefs and his opposition to the war. He

famously declared, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever

called me nigger." Ali was subsequently dispossessed of his boxing titles and faced a

prison sentence, but he remained steadfast in his convictions. The Supreme Court

eventually overturned his conviction, and in 1971 Ali was able to resume his boxing

career. Ali's stand against the Vietnam War made him a controversial figure at the

time, with many viewing him as unpatriotic and ungrateful.

As time passed the overall view of the Vietnam War has changed. Currently,

many people believe that Vietnam’s impact on global politics did not compensate for

the millions of lives lost in the conflict (War Room). As Dr. Jacqueline Whitt said,

“No vital or existential interests were threatened when American forces withdrew

from Vietnam. Less than two decades after the ignominious withdrawal, the Cold War

had ended […]” (Whitt). In 1971, the Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction for
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refusing the draft. This decision was seen as a vindication of his stance on the war,

and it helped to elevate him to a new level of cultural significance. As Ali's fame

grew, so did his influence on public opinion. In the decades that followed, Ali's legacy

as a social justice icon only continued to grow. He became a beloved figure not just in

the world of boxing, but in American culture at large. His refusal to participate in the

Vietnam War is now widely seen as a courageous act of protest that helped to shift

public opinion on the conflict.

Muhammad Ali may have been one of the world’s first athletes to adventure

into the activism scene, but he is certainly not the last. Athletes have often used their

platforms to raise awareness and advocate for social and political issues,

demonstrating a commitment to activism that extends beyond the playing field. In

recent years, athletes have become increasingly involved in social justice movements,

leveraging their visibility to promote positive change. From kneeling during the

national anthem to wearing t-shirts with messages of protest, athletes have found

various ways to make their voices heard. One prominent example of athlete activism

is former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the national anthem in

protest of racial inequality and police brutality (Bailey). His action sparked a

nationwide debate and drew attention to the issue, leading to widespread protests and

activism both within and outside the sports world. Kaepernick's activism resulted in a

movement that has continued to this day, with many athletes and activists continuing

to advocate for social justice causes. Other athletes have also used their platforms to

raise awareness and advocate for change. In 2020, following the murder of George

Floyd by police, athletes across multiple sports protested and spoke out against

systemic racism and police brutality. NBA players wore shirts with slogans such as

"Black Lives Matter" and "Say Their Names," while WNBA players dedicated their
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season to social justice causes and wore jerseys with Breonna Taylor's name (Zillgitt).

Athlete activism has proven to be a powerful force for social change, demonstrating

that even those in the world of sports can use their platforms to make a difference.

Muhammad Ali has inspired many to take action and show support for social

causes. His impact on athletes and activism is still seen to this day. By continuing to

raise awareness and advocate for important causes, athletes can inspire others to take

action and contribute to a better world for all.

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Works Cited

Bailey, Analis. “Colin Kaepernick started protesting on this day in 2016.” USA Today, 26

August 2020, https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/08/26/colin-

kaepernick-started-protesting-day-2016/3440690001/. Accessed 9 March 2023.

Gonyea, Don. “In Political Activism, Ali Pulled No Punches — And Paid A Heavy Price.”

NPR, 10 June 2016, https://www.npr.org/2016/06/10/481523465/in-political-

activism-ali-pulled-no-punches-and-paid-a-heavy-price. Accessed 14 February 2023.

Grez, Matias. “What made Muhammad Ali 'The Greatest'?” CNN, 5 June 2016,

https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/05/sport/what-made-muhammad-ali-the-greatest/

index.html. Accessed 9 March 2023.

History. Vietnam War: Causes, Facts & Impact - HISTORY,

https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history. Accessed 18

February 2023.

Rattue, Chris. “Truth behind iconic Muhammad Ali, Sonny Liston photo.” Fox Sports, 27

May 2020, https://www.foxsports.com.au/boxing/when-muhammad-ali-knocked-out-

sonny-liston-the-story-behind-the-most-famous-image-in-sport/news-story/

f11e95c8a5c172b5c48852e8fe80bef9. Accessed 6 March 2023.

Remnick, David. “The Outsized Life of Muhammad Ali.” The New Yorker, 4 June 2016,

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-outsized-life-of-muhammad-ali.

Accessed 9 March 2023.

Schudel, Matt. “Muhammad Ali, boxing icon and global goodwill ambassador, dies at 74.”

The Washington Post, 4 June 2016,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/muhammad-ali-boxing-champion-and-

global-good-will-ambassador-dies-at-74/2016/06/04/cc3dc3bc-29c3-11e6-ae4a-

3cdd5fe74204_story.html. Accessed 14 February 2023.

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Sims, Alexandra. “Muhammad Ali: Why did the boxing legend change his name from

Cassius Clay? | The Independent.” The Independent, 4 June 2016,

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/muhammad-ali-death-cassius-clay-why-

did-he-change-his-name-nation-of-islam-a7065256.html. Accessed 22 February 2023.

The Unwritten Record. “This Week in Universal News: The March on the Pentagon, 1967.”

The Unwritten Record, 20 October 2014, https://unwritten-

record.blogs.archives.gov/2014/10/20/this-week-in-universal-news-the-march-on-the-

pentagon-1967/. Accessed 18 February 2023.

Wagoner, Nick. “Colin Kaepernick of San Francisco 49ers sits during national anthem prior

to preseason game.” ESPN, 27 August 2016,

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17401815/colin-kaepernick-san-francisco-49ers-

sits-national-anthem-prior-preseason-game. Accessed 9 March 2023.

War Room. “THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGACY OF THE VIETNAM CONFLICT: (A

WHITEBOARD) - War Room.” War Room - U.S. Army War College, 28 October

2019, https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/special-series/whiteboard/wb10-legacy-of-

vietnam/. Accessed 8 March 2023.

Whitener, Matt. “A history of athletes and activism.” Yardbarker.com, 8 November 2021,

https://www.yardbarker.com/general_sports/articles/a_history_of_athletes_and_activi

sm/s1__32219363#slide_1. Accessed 6 March 2023.

Zillgitt, Jeff. “Almost 100 NBA employees stage walkout to support NBA, WNBA players in

protesting social injustice.” USA Today, 28 August 2020,

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2020/08/28/nba-employees-stage-

walkout-support-players-protest-social-injustice/5655752002/. Accessed 9 March

2023.
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Zirin, Dave, and Lauren Cooper. “June 20, 1967: Muhammad Ali Convicted for Refusing the

Vietnam Draft.” Zinn Education Project, https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/-

muhammad-ali-convicted-refusing-vietnam-draft. Accessed 14 February 2023.