Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali may not seem like a hero to everyone, but to me he is because tried to stop racism and harassment. Muhammad Ali is a retired American Boxer and a Three-Time World Heavyweight Champion. Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942 as Cassius Clay. Muhammad Ali may seem like a regular boxer, but he actually is a Civil Rights Activist in a way. As a kid growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, life was hard for Muhammad or (Cassius when he was a kid). Muhammad was named after his dad Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. who was named after the 19th century abolitionist of the same name. Cassius was the younger of two brothers. Cassius's dad painted billboards and signs. Growing up, he and his older brother Rudolph “Rudy” clay (Rahman Ali) were growing up to be Baptists.

The Legend

One day Cassius was riding his bike down a park then he had left it one the ground to play. Then as soon as he came back it was gone. Cassius had thought it could have been anyone then he thought it could have been because he was black. Cassius went right away to the Louisville police and luckily he found Joe E. Martin who was a Louisville policeman and a boxing coach. He offered cassius boxing lessons so just in case he could protect himself. Later on when cassius grew up he became a professional boxer. After winning the championship by Sonny Liston in 1964 he revealed that he joined the nation of Islam. Many people started to dislike Cassius for his actions.

The Champion

Cassius clay has always been harassed for the color of his skin and for his religion. In 1975 Cassius converted to a Sunni Muslim and renamed himself Muhammad Ali. Then more people started to dislike Ali, he started to get less popular, but got better than ever in Thrilla in Mailla boxing match. Most of Muhammad ali’s interviews ask the same question over and over again what he thinks about racism. Or he’ll just start talking about racism or his religion and skin color. Muhammad ali has always been against racism and harrasment. In 1967 Muhammad refused to be conscripted into the U.S. military, due to his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War.

Three Time World Champion

He was arrested and found guilty on draft evasion charges. He didn’t go to jail, but he did get his boxing license suspended for nearly four years. Muhammad got his title back in the fight of the century boxing match. Muhammad Ali has given several speeches about racism like the speech about the Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali thought it would be wrong of him to attack Vietnam for the first reason he said that Vietnam or the people of Vietnam didn’t do anything to him and the second reason is that it was against his religious beliefs and he said that was the most important thing to him.

Muhammad is an inspiration to not only athletes, but to civil rights leaders. Muhammad Ali might seem like he is just an athlete, but from what you just read you can probably infer that he is more than an athlete he is a civil rights leader. When people think of heroes they think of Malcolm x, Rosa parks, and dr. martin Luther king jr. they don’t think of the people who may seem like just entertainers, but they are really more. That’s why I think Muhammad Ali is hero.