Muhammad Ali: Anti-War/Civil Rights Activist
By Stephen Lendman, MWC, 04 June 2016.
On Friday, June 3, boxing
great Muhammad Ali died at age 74 in Phoenix after a lengthy battle with
Parkinson’s disease.
great Muhammad Ali died at age 74 in Phoenix after a lengthy battle with
Parkinson’s disease.
Over time,
it eroded his motor skills and ability to speak coherently. His wife Lonnie
said even though his speech was impaired, “he sp(oke) to people with his
eyes…with his heart, and they connect(ed) with him.”
it eroded his motor skills and ability to speak coherently. His wife Lonnie
said even though his speech was impaired, “he sp(oke) to people with his
eyes…with his heart, and they connect(ed) with him.”
Born
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, rejected
what he called his “slave name.” Muhammad Ali replaced it. In 1975, he
converted to Sunni Islam after Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad died.
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, rejected
what he called his “slave name.” Muhammad Ali replaced it. In 1975, he
converted to Sunni Islam after Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad died.
He refused
army induction during the Vietnam war, publicly calling himself a conscientious
objector, famously saying “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet
Cong ever called me nigger.”
army induction during the Vietnam war, publicly calling himself a conscientious
objector, famously saying “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet
Cong ever called me nigger.”
At his
scheduled Houston army induction on April 28, 1967, he refused three times to
step forward after his name was called.
scheduled Houston army induction on April 28, 1967, he refused three times to
step forward after his name was called.
Warned he
was committing a felony, he stood firm. Arrest followed. The New York State
Athletic Commission stripped him of his boxing license and world heavyweight
championship title.
was committing a felony, he stood firm. Arrest followed. The New York State
Athletic Commission stripped him of his boxing license and world heavyweight
championship title.
Other US
boxing commissions followed suit. Ali couldn’t box anywhere for over three
years. On June 20, 1967, a jury found him guilty. An appellate court upheld it.
boxing commissions followed suit. Ali couldn’t box anywhere for over three
years. On June 20, 1967, a jury found him guilty. An appellate court upheld it.
Ali
remained free pending the result of his Supreme Court appeal. On June 28, 1971,
the High Court unanimously ruled in his favor at a time of nationwide anti-war
activism – not based on his claims, because the appellate court gave no reason
for denying his right to conscientiously object.
remained free pending the result of his Supreme Court appeal. On June 28, 1971,
the High Court unanimously ruled in his favor at a time of nationwide anti-war
activism – not based on his claims, because the appellate court gave no reason
for denying his right to conscientiously object.
His
conviction was reversed. He inspired Martin Luther King to voice public
opposition to the war. Famously he called America “(t)he greatest purveyor of
violence in the world – my own government. I cannot be silent.”
conviction was reversed. He inspired Martin Luther King to voice public
opposition to the war. Famously he called America “(t)he greatest purveyor of
violence in the world – my own government. I cannot be silent.”
Ali’s
anti-war activism “robbed (him) of his best years, his prime years,” his
trainer Angelo Dundee explained.
anti-war activism “robbed (him) of his best years, his prime years,” his
trainer Angelo Dundee explained.
Perhaps his
best remembered quotes were, saying “I am the greatest,” and “float like a
butterfly, sting like a bee.”
best remembered quotes were, saying “I am the greatest,” and “float like a
butterfly, sting like a bee.”
He’s less
well-known for saying “I know I got it made while other black folks are out
there catchin hell, but as long as they ain’t free, I ain’t free.”
well-known for saying “I know I got it made while other black folks are out
there catchin hell, but as long as they ain’t free, I ain’t free.”
Boxing is a
violent sport, yet Ali espoused peace and nonviolence, opposed militarism,
resisted racial discrimination and injustice.
violent sport, yet Ali espoused peace and nonviolence, opposed militarism,
resisted racial discrimination and injustice.
His star
power made his comments resonate. He abhorred the way Washington uses federal
tax revenues for war-making, once saying:
power made his comments resonate. He abhorred the way Washington uses federal
tax revenues for war-making, once saying:
“I buy a lot of bullets, at least three jet bombers
a year, and pay the salary of 50,000 fighting men with the money they take from
me after my fights.”
a year, and pay the salary of 50,000 fighting men with the money they take from
me after my fights.”
“Boxing is nothing like going to war with machine
guns, bazookas, hand grenades, bomber airplanes. My intention is to box, to win
a clean fight. But in war, the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill, and
continue killing innocent people.”
guns, bazookas, hand grenades, bomber airplanes. My intention is to box, to win
a clean fight. But in war, the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill, and
continue killing innocent people.”
Ali used
his fame to fight for justice outside the ring, fearlessly speaking his mind publicly.
The world’s most famous pugilist became an anti-war, civil rights, nonviolence
champion.
his fame to fight for justice outside the ring, fearlessly speaking his mind publicly.
The world’s most famous pugilist became an anti-war, civil rights, nonviolence
champion.
A personal
note: In the early 1970s while Ali was still active in the ring, I ran into him
in the lobby of my office building.
note: In the early 1970s while Ali was still active in the ring, I ran into him
in the lobby of my office building.
He was with
several others at the time. We passed like ships in the night. I didn’t intrude
to chat. Looking back, I wish I’d have extended my hand in friendship.
several others at the time. We passed like ships in the night. I didn’t intrude
to chat. Looking back, I wish I’d have extended my hand in friendship.
