Muhammad Ali

Knockouttelegraph.uk.coBoxing is an intense sport that is enjoyed by people of all kinds. Some may think that it is just two guys beating each other but there's so much more. Boxing makes men and brings people together to cheer on their favorite boxer. No one brought people together more than Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali was a three time world heavyweight champion in the ring but off the ring he fought for black rights and also converted to Islam which caused a lot of controversy. He was born Cassieus Clay Jr but changed his name to Muhammad when he converted to Islam. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in late stages of his life, most likely due to the blows to the head he endured in the ring. Despite the disease Ali still became a human rights activist and still went around making the world a better place. Muhammad Ali possessed determination and courage which makes him a hero.

Even though the odds were against him most of his life, due to the color of his skin, Ali’s determination allowed him to push through. Muhammad Ali defied the draft for the Vietnam War saying, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong" (Muhammad).  He felt that he should not be forced to fight for a country that does not love or respect him and other people like him just because they had a different skin color. This brought tremendous public outcry against him and everybody hated him just because he was standing up for all people who were subjected to prejudice because of the color of their skin. In a press conference held after he made the bold move to defy the draft he stated, “You are my enemy, my enemy is the white people not the Viet Kong, Chinese, or Japanese. You are my opposer when I want freedom, you are my opposer when I want justice, you are my opposer when I want equality, you won’t even stand up for me in America for my religious beliefs and you want me to go somewhere and fight when you won even stand up for me here at home" (Muhammad). The white man tried to put him down because of the things he believed but he stood up to them and basically said he would rather die trying to fight for his rights then die for a country that doesn't care about them. Where most people would fold under the pressure of the whole world saying they are scum and worthless Ali pushed through by staying determined.

Crazy Eyessi.comAli also showed a of of courage throughout his whole life. “Im giving up my title, my wealth, maybe my future. Many great men have been tested for the same for their religious beliefs. If I pass this test I will come out stronger than ever" (Muhammad). Ali he the courage to stand up for himself even when everybody else was trying to bring him down. He decided to keep pushing through even though everything he worked so hard to get could all go away. “‘He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.’ Well, boxing is a risk and life is a gamble, and I got to take both" (Sawyer). Ali had to take a lot of risks throughout his life like not going to war when he was drafted, and also converting to Islam which sparked a lot of backlash directed his way. Like the quote says you don’t get anywhere in life if you are not courageous enough to take the risks and Ali became one of the greatest boxers and role models of all time because of the risks he took. Where others would back down from the challenge Ali would soar right through them with courage knowing that  he will end up stronger afterwards.

Determinedyoutube.com In conclusion, Muhammad Ali was a force to be reckoned with inside and outside of the ring. Nobody was faster and hit harder than him, and nobody was more stubborn and passionate the Ali. He inspired many black Americans to stand up for their rights in America and was able to stand tall when everybody around him was trying to bring him down. Their will not be somebody as great as Muhammad Ali was for probably a long time, but the messages of equality he conveyed are still represented to this day.

Works Cited

"Muhammad Ali." Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 52, Gale, 2006. Biography in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1606003283/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=9dfdd88b.  Accessed 1 Feb. 2018.

“Muhammad Ali.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 18 Jan. 2018, www.biography.com/people/muhammad-ali-9181165.

"MUHAMMAD ALI'S BODY BACK IN LOUISVILLE." States News Service, 5 June 2016. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A454288249/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=09a9ee05. Accessed 23 May 2018.

Sawer, Patrick. “His Longest Round: Muhammad Ali's Fight with Parkinson's Disease .” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 4 June 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/04/his-longest-round-muhammad-alis-fight-with-parkinsons-disease/