The Social Value of Muhammad
Ali
It has been said that there are few opportunities in life to prove
yourself a man; Muhammad Ali took advantage of every one that came his
way , in doing so endeared himself to his countrymen and the world and
became immortal in his own time. In a world where the majority of the global
population is impoverished it seems that people all over are in need of
hope. Muhammad Ali did just that, he provided hope to a desperate world.
the times were the 1960 and the country was being torn apart. poverty on
city streets were rising, racial tension was quickly coming to a head,
and uncle Sam was killing American youth in an immoral, profit driven war
overseas. The emergence of a young Cassius Clay coincided with white America's
fear of growing black militancy towards an oppressive social and economic
system. It was this same white America that had cheered young Cassius to
a gold metal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, that turned their backs on him
when he joined a radical black separatist movement and changed his name
to Muhammad Ali. With this same action he had swept him self in controversy
with the white majority, who now viewed him as a hostile militant black
threat. In the black community this militant black Muslim was revered as
a hero, the refreshing voice that socially oppressed blacks needed. It
was this voice that told black women that they were just as beautiful as
white women, that black men could survive without whites, it was also the
voice that said black men will not fight the rich mans economic war in
Vietnam; It was Muhammad Ali that angered white America by flat out refused
to be inducted into the Army based on his religious beliefs. Ali stood
toe to toe with the strongest government in the world and said "NO".
They were determined to bring him to his knees but he never compromised,
not once. The effect that "no" was played out largely on black
America's streets where people were amazed at the courage Muhammad Ali
was displaying. It quickly became clear to the U.S. Government and the
rest of the world that Ali would not back down from this position. He had
been striped of his title, lost his boxing license, and was sentenced to
5 years in prison for upholding his religious beliefs. Of all the fights
Ali has ever fought this one with Uncle Sam was so important for people
all aver the world. People saw for the first time a Black man stand up
in the face of Oppression and say, No I will not avail my self to your
unjust wars, I will no longer work to make you rich, I will no longer wear
you social chains, I demand equality and I will take nothing less!
The case against Ali was overturned by a supreme court ruling in 1970;
the court had given him his freedom back but he had to get the title back
himself. Refusing the Army had launched Ali past any fame sports had brought
him; he had transcended sports. throughout Ali's career that spanned a
total of 61 pro fights, he proved himself time and time again to be an
"Man". coming back form his suspension was said to be impossible.
With the odds stacked high against him, he shocked the world again by defeating
George Foreman and taking The title back in 1974. He continued to uplift
people around the world by continually proving that the underdog can and
does win. he proved this in 1978 by taking the world title a record 3 times.
In a time where hope was fading from the social sceen of many people's
lives Muhammad Ali was the Hero that they needed, the man who proved that
with enough faith in yourself not only will the opposition fall but mountains
will fall.
-Erik Hansen- 29sept98
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