Muhammad Ali Essay
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." This famous quote from Muhammad Ali not only described his boxing technique but also ruled how he lived his life. Born Clay Marcellus Clay Jr., Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, a time when blacks were still the servant class. While the Constitution of the United States declares, "All men are created equal with certain unalienable rights," many minority groups still suffered against racial equality. A 1940's movement began that would later bring change known as the Civil Rights Movement. Growing up in a poor community and being an African American himself, Ali had a hard time understanding why blacks had it so much harder than whites and took up boxing as a way to
…show more content…
However, he found out the hard way that was false when he was denied service at a local restaurant while hanging out with some of his African American friends. Even though Muhammad Ali didn't have to deal with the majority of the issues that most lower class African Americans had to deal with, he still felt obligated to make things right for his people using his celebrity status. He once said, "I know I got it made while other black folks are out there catching hell, but as long as they ain't free, I ain't free." With determination in his mind, he started out on his journey to fight for their civil rights. Muhammad Ali's first move was converting to the Islamic faith. It was here when he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali to show his courage and commitment. At this time, the Nation of Islam was very unpopular in the Unites States but Ali didn't mind swimming against the current. Not only was he using and showing his rights of freedom of religion, he was also making it very clear he was going against the government due to the fact that the Nation of Islam was anti-government and pro-black. While practicing the Islamic faith, Muhammad Ali joined the "Black Muslims" movement influenced by Malcolm X. As attention and stress built up, many different civil right riots broke out and Muhammad Ali stood behind
However, he found out the hard way that was false when he was denied service at a local restaurant while hanging out with some of his African American friends. Even though Muhammad Ali didn't have to deal with the majority of the issues that most lower class African Americans had to deal with, he still felt obligated to make things right for his people using his celebrity status. He once said, "I know I got it made while other black folks are out there catching hell, but as long as they ain't free, I ain't free." With determination in his mind, he started out on his journey to fight for their civil rights. Muhammad Ali's first move was converting to the Islamic faith. It was here when he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali to show his courage and commitment. At this time, the Nation of Islam was very unpopular in the Unites States but Ali didn't mind swimming against the current. Not only was he using and showing his rights of freedom of religion, he was also making it very clear he was going against the government due to the fact that the Nation of Islam was anti-government and pro-black. While practicing the Islamic faith, Muhammad Ali joined the "Black Muslims" movement influenced by Malcolm X. As attention and stress built up, many different civil right riots broke out and Muhammad Ali stood behind