Summary:
Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, illustrated many protest movements. He was a proud Black African-American who didn't want to integrate into the White American way of life, and showed it by controversially converting to the Nation of Islam. When called upon to be conscripted in the Vietnam War Ali refused to because of personal and religious beliefs.
Clay/Ali is a figure of protest"
Not only do I agree with the following statement written above, but many others would share the same perception as I do. Muhammad Ali illustrated many protest movements. He was a proud Black African-American who didn't want to integrate into the White American way of life, and showed it by controversially converting to the Nation of Islam. When called upon to be conscripted in the Vietnam War Ali refused to because of personal and religious beliefs.
After his boxing career, Ali appeared on the global stage showing his support and love for children and war victims.
Muhammad Ali had an enormous amount of pride for his African roots, as he didn't want to integrate into the white society.
At an early age Ali saw the different treatment of Black and White people. He would here racial slurs such as "nigger" being taunt out, which verbally abused him.
After winning his Olympic gold medal in Rome, he returned to his hometown of Louisville and expected to be greeted as a hero. Instead he didn't receive a standing ovation and became utterly disappointed. A story suggests he was so upset of being refused service at a Louisville diner that he threw his medal into the Ohio River.
After defeating Sonny Liston, Clay revealed that he had converted to the Nation of Islam and decided to change his name to Muhammad Ali. This move didn't please most of America's white population since the Nation of Islam preached that integration is the wrong way for blacks and they should claim their own territory in the US instead. This suggests one of Ali's reasons for converting to Islam was to show a sign of protest to the white population of America, since most were Christians. Before a bout with Ernie Terrell, Terrell refused to call Ali by his new name. This offended Ali, as it showed, with Ali savagely beating him up during the bout and asking him throughout it "What's my name Uncle Tom."
No matter what, even if it meant he would never be able to box again and would loose millions of dollars while facing a jail sentence. Ali would not serve in the Vietnam War. It all started when Ali refused to step forward when his name was called out at a military induction centre. Ali was then explained the penalty for refusing induction into the army, five years in prison and a hefty fine. Ali was unaffected. He claimed his reason for refusing induction into the army was conscientious objector, because his religion didn't allow him to fight in any war. Ali was sentenced 5 years imprisonment, and a $10,000 fine. Plus, he was stripped of his title, his boxing license and his passport.
Ali was given various opportunities to go to Vietnam and be nowhere near a battlefield. He still didn't change his mind as he was against any form of war except a holy war against enemies of Islam.
While at the induction centre, Ali was given a beef sandwich, a ham sandwich, an apple and a slice of cake. He ate everything except for the ham sandwich since it was against his religious beliefs to eat any pork products. These actions by the armed forces enraged the African American community. Many protested outside recruitment offices with some young males even setting fire to their draft cards. The U.S District Court Judge Allen B. Hannay was issued with a sixty-seven page petition with Ali's reasons in relation to the conflict in Vietnam and his inability to cooperate with Army protocol.
This was a protest about personal and religious beliefs. The Vietnam War was costing 66 million dollars a day which led President Lyndon B. Johnson to increase income taxes and cut back on his programme to deal with poverty. The African Americans were the ones who suffered the most from this decision, as they had the highest poverty rate in America.
Ali's conviction was ultimately reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.
After retirement, Ali was still making headlines however, this time on the global stage. In 1990 Ali freed fifteen US hostages from Iraq during the gulf crisis. He being Muslim eased the situation. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Ali went on to light the Olympic flame despite suffering from Parkinson's disease which caused him to tremble heavily. Millions of viewers around the globe were impressed to see Ali do such an inspirational thing.
To sum it all up, Ali was a figure of protest.
Whether it was a case against the U.S government or an upcoming bout, Ali always had a point to prove.
He preached over sixty-five mosques throughout the U.S.A and during his trial he spent 90% of his time continuing to minister. 'Would have the government responded in the same way if it were a loyal Christian minister who refused to be conscripted to war"' Many had asked this same question. This makes me believe Ali had a point to prove and he did.
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