#Muhammad Ali

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Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., was a towering figure in sports, culture, and activism, whose life and legacy continue to resonate deeply, especially within the Black community. Known as "The Greatest," Ali was a three-time heavyweight champion whose skill, speed, and power redefined boxing. But he was more than an athlete—he was a revolutionary. As a proud Black man in an era marked by systemic racism, Ali refused to bow to societal expectations. He joined the Nation of Islam, changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and unapologetically embraced his identity, becoming a symbol of Black pride and resistance. His bold opposition to the Vietnam War, rooted in his religious beliefs and his refusal to fight for a country that oppressed his people, led to his title being stripped and years of exile from boxing. Despite this, he stood firm, showing the world the power of conviction.

Ali's fights were legendary, from the "Rumble in the Jungle" to the "Thrilla in Manila," but his battles outside the ring were equally significant. He fought for civil rights, spoke out against injustice, and became a beacon of hope for Black people worldwide. Even as Parkinson’s disease slowed him in his later years, Ali remained a global humanitarian, using his platform to promote peace and equality. When he died on June 3, 2016, the world mourned not just a champion but a man who stood for something far greater than himself. Ali’s legacy is one of resilience, defiance, and the unyielding belief in the dignity of Black people and the power of speaking truth to power.

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The GOAT

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Newspapers are the gateway to history.

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The legendary African Woodstock concert in Zaire accompanied the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali & George Foreman, 1974.

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Muhammad Ali for Esquire Magazine (1968)

Instagram @vrtlworld

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“Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them, a desire, a dream, a vision.” - Muhammad Ali

CARTER™ Magazine

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The Beatles and Muhammad Ali in the Ring, Miami Beach, 1964

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WHEN MUHAMAD ALI REFUSED TO GO TO WAR HE SAID THIS:

“I don’t hide from recruiting. I don't burn flags I'm not escaping to Canada I'm staying right here. Do you want to send me to jail? Okay, go ahead. Been In Jail 400 Years. I can be another four or five more, but I will not go 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I want to die, I'll die here, now, fighting you, if I want to die. You are my enemy, not Chinese, not Vietcong, not Japanese. You are the one who opposes me when I want freedom. You are the one who opposes me when I want justice. You are the one who opposes me when I want equality. Do you want me to go somewhere and fight for you? Not even here in America you defend my rights and beliefs. You don't even defend me here at home."

Muhammad Ali.

Life-

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Gordon Parks. Muhammad Ali, London, England 1966

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June 20, 1967 - On this day in 1967, boxing legend Muhammad Ali was given a prison sentence for refusing to join the US military and fight in the Vietnam War. He was sentenced to five years behind bars and fined $10,000, an unusually harsh sentence aimed at breaking his anti-war resistance. “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs?” argued Muhammad Ali. [source]