The man, the myth, the legend!!!

A quote am guessing you’ve heard over and over till it became

more oblivious. Though here is a man, who truly deserves the decorum, a man you’ve probably

heard of, “I am the greatest…I’m king of the world! I’m pretty! I’m a bad man! I shook up the

world I shook up the world! I shook up the world!” 1 He proclaimed with conviction. If the doors

of perception could be cleansed then everything would appear to man as it is, Infinite! Young Ali

believed more in the words he said. In an era of white supremacy with only sprouts of black rise

being seen, he and others spoke up. Spoke for equality, spoke for freedom, but freedom, wasn’t

one to be given, but earned. Achieving it, came with its fair share of sweat to the black man!

From the shadows Ali’s greatest fight was expected to dim his light. Contrary to this, it shone

brighter. Ali spoke and fought against- emphasis on ‘fought’- the controversial Vietnam war

whose participation was widely considered as an act of patriotism by most Americans at first.2

Born and raised as Cassius Clay, he shook the boxing world in ‘64 as he won against Sunny

Liston dubbed ‘the Big Bear’ the then world heavyweight champion. 3 He was known for his

immense strength and intimidating figure. Clay looked like a sheep being led to a

slaughterhouse. Months of trash talking had led to this he was the underdog of the match the

least favorite to win.4 5Much to the disappointment of the gamblers, that night he pulled off a

1
Hoose Van, The I’s Have it ...and Clay will be loudest, Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama), February 26,
1964: 13. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A1424B70CBA6098DF%40AAHX-149DF3E7103E89E4%402438452-
149DF1EF082B571F%4012-149DF1EF082B571F%40.
2
Owen John, He’s Not The Greatest, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, Washington), March 22, 1964:
30. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A142FE773BA94746A%40AAHX-16D77FC293A5BB93%402438477-
16D5D2196221EF49%4029-16D5D2196221EF49%40.
3
Cuddy Jack, Clay Wins Title Liston Hurt, Purse Held Up, Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), February
26, 1964: 1. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A1386BF60B4F67060%40AAHX-14065A944D0D7939%402438452-
1405FC43C7B981D1%400-1405FC43C7B981D1%40.
4
Miami Beach (AP), Cassius Fined $2500 For Wield Weigh-In Fireworks, Aberdeen Daily News (Aberdeen,
South Dakota), February 25, 1964: 1. NewsBank: Black Life in America.
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A114175180414EFE8%40AAHX-12195685D1E6CF38%402438451-
120F0EEE6814C5D0%400-120F0EEE6814C5D0%40.
5
Grimsley Will, Blabber Ballyhoo Failing, Bay City Times (Bay City, Michigan), February 23, 1964:
28. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
surprising win. In his own words, eyeing the press, drenched in sweet, a towel over his head

after triumphing over Sonny Liston he said with conviction, “I’m king of the world! I’m pretty! I’m

a bad man! I shook up the world I shook up the world! I shook up the world!”6 I apologize for

repeating the same set of words, but l just had to.

A slight change had been made to Clays’ fate. A new religion was calling! Islam was calling! 7

Under the guidance of Elijah Muhammad his name was changed to Muhammad Ali days after

defeating Liston.8 Initially, he dropped the Clay name replacing it with X a copyright of his then

mentor Malcom X. He described Clay as a name given to him and his family as a slave name. 9

Ali had done it again, he ignited a spark that would be one of the contributing factors to one of

his fights outside the ring, presumably the greatest! This public change even though announcing

he had been Muslim for some time had shaken most Americans. Ali describes Islam as meaning

pure, contrary to what people called its’ black members tauntingly black moslem. Islamophobia

was a thing back then.

Ali the Eloquent, Ali the Orator, Ali the Poet!!! He had a way with words. A way that moved

crowds, a way that made things go in his favor. Ali was undergoing a physical examination where

view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A1244BFDF920A8046%40AAHX-16FA7FBBC21CEB8F%402438449-
16F8C37397165241%4027-16F8C37397165241%40.
6
Hoose Van, The I’s Have it ...and Clay will be loudest, Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama), February 26,
1964: 13. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A1424B70CBA6098DF%40AAHX-149DF3E7103E89E4%402438452-
149DF1EF082B571F%4012-149DF1EF082B571F%40.

7
Cassius Visits UN; ‘Oh, I love it’ ,Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, Connecticut), March 5, 1964:
8. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A166E47BBEFADEDE5%40AAHX-1778B1FE98EC80FB%402438460-
1776AD9C1E74C772%407-1776AD9C1E74C772%40.
8
New York Times News Service, Just Who Is Heavyweight Champ? Either Cassius X or Muhammad Ali,
Observer-Dispatch (Utica, New York), March 7, 1964: 10. NewsBank: Black Life in America.
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A14352B390D0714C8%40AAHX-16C80E8B6F30C565%402438462-
16C6807AF25D6E95%409-16C6807AF25D6E95%40.
9
New York (AP) ,Greatest Declares Its Cassius X Now, Beaumont Journal (Beaumont, Texas), March 6,
1964: 23. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A1379ABB5EAD0D0AA%40AAHX-16BD28A2F8490C7C%402438461-
16BCEF0257C41C30%4022-16BCEF0257C41C30%40.
he annoyed one of the first Sergeants who complained to his Commanding officer. “I don’t need

a rifle l can beat anyone in the world with my hand. Just tell the Russians that Cassius Clay is in

the army and they will shiver and shake. I will slaughter the enemy. I will make mincemeat of

them. Send me to Berlin. I am your secret weapon.” “…he said these in front of the platoon and

now no one wants to learn to fire a rifle. In fact, they are all mad about being drafted. One recruit

said to me. I don’t see why the army needs us when it has Cassius Clay. We could have all

stayed home.10 The passage shows Ali’s Charisma and the attitude of the recruits. Although he

joked teasingly, he still moved and enabled the recruits to show their inner emotions.

What is a man if he doesn’t keep his word? What is a man if he doesn’t stand by his principles?

Ali was black, Ali was a Muslim. Racial and religious prejudice were what set the stage for the

fight of the century, dubbed Clay vs United States.1112 On grounds on being Black Muslim

minister, he refused to be drafted to the United States armed forces.13 His cry and plea to be

heard by the United States government brought out thousands on the streets of New York who

were against the war and could not air them out.14 The Feat of Clay!!! Ali inspired people to

speak for what was right…Peace!

10
Bachwald Art, ‘I am the greatest’, Anchorage Daily Times (Anchorage, Alaska), March 6, 1964: 4. NewsBank:
Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A14454275A04DAA79%40AAHX-16EFE9BCE1D538BD%402438461-
16ECDFE32A7B6EBC%403-16ECDFE32A7B6EBC%40.
11
Bowman, Winston. 2019. “Feat of Clay: Muhammad Ali’s Legal Fight against the Vietnam Draft.” Journal
of Supreme Court History 44 (3): 307–24. doi:10.1353/sch.2019.0005.
12
Chicago(AP), Clay’s Muslim Adviser Bitter, Beaumont Journal (Beaumont, Texas), April 13, 1967: 35. NewsBank:
Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A1379ABB5EAD0D0AA%40AAHX-16BD1FB8CC2AFB95%402439594-
16BCE242E47151D0%4034-16BCE242E47151D0%40.

13
Clay Refuses to Disclose Army Plans, Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) 70, March 17,
1967: 43. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-
view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A13871D95C4CF3082%40AAHX-1633FA7076E7C48C%402439567-
163548CFC2F78040%4042-163548CFC2F78040%40.
14
Byrne Kerry, On this day in history, April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refuses to serve military at height of Vietnam War,
Fox News, April 28, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/this-day-history-april-28-1967-muhammad-ali-refuses-
serve-military-vietnam-war