“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” Muhammad Ali's famous quotes is one of the most well-known quotes in the world. Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. known as Muhammad Ali, was not only the first African American boxer but he was the greatest to ever live. Muhammad Ali was considered a rebel during his time because his ambition to speak out to the public wrongfully gave him a pacifist reputation (Britannica).
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. grew up as a southern boy in Louisville, Kentucky. At this time in American segregation, was at its all-time high. His father worked as a billboard painter, and his mother stayed at home. Clay joined boxing when he was 12 years old. His mom Odessa Grady Clay stated “He never watched boxing when he was little”, but all of a sudden he was very optimistic about boxing. One day a thief had stolen Clays’ bike and told the police officer, Joe Martin he “wanted to beat the thief up”, then the officer stated, “Well you better
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He later then became very successful in 1956 winning the Golden Glove Tournament as a light heavyweight fighter. After a while Clays’ name was well known around the country after all the title matches he had dominantly won. He had later joined the USA Olympic boxing team fighting in Rome, Italy. Blazingly quick punches and his very famous footwork in the ring gave Clay world-wide audiences. Once he had come back to America, he was known as an “American Hero”, but wouldn’t be one much longer (Britannica School/ Muhammad Ali). Clay had joined a Black Muslim group called “Nation of Islam”, in 1964. Here Clay had changed his name. He was indecisive when coming up with his name. At first, he had called himself “Cassius X”, and later changed it to “Muhammad Ali”. He had then converted to an Islamic Orthodox Church in 1970. Muhammad Ali was very fascinated with Islamic rituals. Family and friends said he was in love with life and was at peace.
Later he died in 1981. He was 6-foot-1 ½ inches tall and 197-pound. Joe Louis “Barrow” was born on May 13, 1914. His father was a cotton picker from Alabama and his family fought with poverty for most of his childhood. His family moved to Detroit in 1924, at which point Joe first became involved in boxing.
(101). The type of people who made up his audience lived vicariously through him in regards to this era because they needed a place to switch up what was politically correct. Since this era had people lusting for a “safe place” for their linguistic desires it made it the only era in which Clay could have achieved being a megastar. However once this era ended his audience was able to move on, Clay on the other hand may never be able to
1960’s America, full of flashy clothes, music, news trends, and new inventions, but America in the 1960s also was full of racism, discrimination, and segregation. Muhammad Ali experienced some of this first hand when growing up in segregated south. There was certain limitations for Ali’s family when growing up in louisville Kentucky, such as how his dad, a talented painter, couldn’t get a better job and pay because of the fact that he was black.
Of the hundreds of boxers to have been a world champion at some point, none have held the title as long as Joe Louis did. For 11 years and 8 months, Louis, a black man, was king of the boxing heavyweight division. During that time he beat a Nazi, enlisted in the army, and did everything he possibly could to familiarize white America with black boxers. During his career, Joe Louis used his boxing prowess and earned wealth to fight against the segregation and racism he experienced, leading him to have one of the greatest boxing careers of all time and to pioneer a pathway for the careers of other black athletes like Jackie Robinson and Muhammed Ali.
Clay was able to easily receive a Kentucky license to practice law as he had already passed the Virginia Bar. After working with lawyers such as John Breckenridge and James Brown, Clay decided to form his own law firm. Clay’s main focus was on debt collection and land disputes. Promptly after starting his law firm, Clay quickly developed a reputation for his impressive legal and oratory skills. Over time, Clay began to grow his professional portfolio and gained more notable clients such as Aaron Burr in 1806.
He lived there most of his life before his parents obtained the opportunity to move their family to the great state of Kentucky. This is where Henry began his legacy of being an American Hero. He was able to overcome adversity and endured great suffering along with great failures. Henry Clay led his nation toward greatness and away from civil war. He began to woe his people by his quality of leadership and public speaking.
After the 1960 Olympics, Ali said that his name would now be Muhammad Ali and that he had joined the Nation of Islam, an organization that had a great impact on his professional and personal life ("Muhammad Ali." Contemporary Black Biography). Ali had become a political image of black society, perhaps the person that encouraged blacks the greatest after Martin Luther King and Malcolm X ("Muhammad Ali." Contemporary Black Biography). Ali was drafted to the military during the Vietnam war, but he refused to participate, on grounds of his spiritual ideals (Smith 78).
I Am The Greatest Before Muhammad Ali’s 1964 World Title fight against George Foreman, Cassius Clay delivered a very bold speech to show people that he knew and believed he was the best and that he could defeat George Foreman. He wrote the speech to show that he could do anything he sat his mind on. The bravery he displayed to his fans spread inspiration through the masses. Cassius Clay effectively used pathos, ethos, and logos to show people and his opponent that he was ready to fight, ready to win.
His first job as an assistant law clerk launched him into the world of law and politics which led to a colorful lifetime of helping mold the new nation. Although many historians debated his tactics, he was always known for putting the Union first. Upon his election to the U.S. Senate in 1811, Clay went to work to unify the United States. In the book, Henry Clay: The Essential American, the Heidler 's stated, "The Senate was Clay’s political home one where he left his mark indelibly on it… ".
It is was known that Barrow’s achievements and reigns were a strong symbol that stood out to represent an African American boxer who worked out his professional career and fought for African American’s equal rights. “Joe Louis, during his reign as heavyweight champion of the world
The United States has become a country that is culturally integrated with many nationalities and religions. Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X were both considered as strong influences within the nation of Islam during the Civil Rights Movement. Although they shared great similarities about the Islamic religion, they also shared many differences amongst each other. In the early 1960's Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, became a Muslim and was well known not only for his great boxing skills but for his controversial decision when he refused to be drafted to go and fight in Vietnam because of his religious beliefs; thus classifying Islam as a peaceful religion. On the other hand, Malcolm X was a minister who indicted white America for
He gave people hope that they can turn their life around during the depression. He lost everything including his children as many Americans did. However, he got that back by boxing which was all he had in the end. He thought risking his life was worth getting his children back, which inspired many people. In addition, made lots of people risk everything.
Cassius Clay, or more popularly known “Muhammad Ali”, was a very
Muhammad Ali has significantly benefitted modern society by creating equality between African Americans and whites, helping fight for a cure for Parkinson’s disease, and increasing the popularity of the sport of boxing. Muhammad Ali was not just one of the greatest boxers of all time; he was one of the greatest examples of all time. Muhammad Ali always said he wanted to be, more than a boxer, he wanted to inspire people all over the world (“Hauser”). To do this, Ali visited a lot of organizations such as, Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics making dreams of the young kids a reality.
Muhammad Ali was an athlete formally known as a Cassius Clay before he changed his name to Cassius X and later to Ali after joining the Nation of Islam. He is well known due to his mark on the world as an athlete in boxing. Besides him being an iconic boxer he also remembered as a person who fought for social and political change through his outspoken political positions and this the point where his greatness excelled . Ali had a great political influence on many individuals in the United States. Different occasions portray Ali’s stand on political and social change.