Muhammad Ali`s Significance in the Civil Rights Movement - Term Paper Example

Topic: MUHAMMAD ALIS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Introduction Civil rights movement was a well-known union that was given support by a large population colossal whose main agenda was to achieve equal access to public places. The movement also aimed at ensuring equal treatment and opportunities for the black American citizen the fundamental rights and benefits that entitled to a U.S citizen. Although the movement’s inception dates back to early 19th century, its peak was from 1950’s and 1960’s. African-American people along with white people led movements at both National and local level pursuing their goals through legal avenues, negotiations and peaceful protest demonstrations. The civil rights movement was focused in on the Southern part of America where most of the African American population dwelt and racial discrimination in several aspects was very high. During the onset of the nineteenth century, the state and local governments had passed division laws known as Jim Crow laws (Foner and Garraty, para.2). Muhammad Ali’s career is shining bright during the peak period of the civil rights movement when he is discriminated back in his country after winning the Olympics. He throws away the Olympic gold medal and gradually becomes a member of the civil rights movement by joining Malcolm X’s nation of Islam. NOI as the organization was known a deep hatred towards white people. On his move to Islam, Muhammad Ali had no apologies and was ready to be discriminated basing on his colour and religion (Zirin, Para.29). Muhammad Ali’s Significance to the Civil Rights Movement Muhammad Ali’s success on the ring served as a source of inspiration in fighting against racial discrimination as suppressed African Americans felt they were equally successful as whites. They also felt that he gave them the zeal to push on with the struggle towards racial equality and equal privileges as U.S citizens. His success came at a time when a large share of financial resources was in the hands of whites. Since he was from a very humble family he knew he was destined to do low-class jobs but his prowess made him able to have an impact in the empowerment of black people. (Zirin, Paras. 17-30). By changing his promotional code from the white-dominated promoter Louisville sponsoring group (LSG) to a majority African American Main Bout Muhammad Ali, believed that the economic empowerment was essential for black freedom. Being a historic first black company to air the closed circuit television, Ali knew that only through economic progression and self-aggression could they ever be equal and free. His promoter main bout (Ezra, pp.97-98). Between the period of November 1965 when he won against Floyd Patterson and June 1967 when he was convicted for draft evasion, Muhammad Ali saw himself as an activist for the black race. He stood by his religious doctrine him of Islam; that barred from being inducted to the armed forces. His boxing titles and the ring licence were nullified till 1970 when he got it again. Through this taste, he served as an example to the civil rights movement on enduring tests and winning at the end (Healy, p. 23). This was because of his willingness to lose his championship as a penalty for defending his principles that were to establish respect and moral authority among the African Americans. This made him the most important sign of black man’s power in the civil rights movement, a hero who represented the black struggle for equality in a racially divided society (Gorn, p.89). Muhammad Ali’s association with Malcolm X served as a turning point in Muhammad Ali’s fight for equality rights for the black man. Malcolm X’s assertive personality and persuasive oratory skills inspired many to follow him in his fight for freedom as well as conversion to Islam. While preparing for his biggest fight of his career against Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali invited Malcolm X. Inclusive of his family to stay with him while he prepared since he had been inspired by Malcolm X’s illustration of his faith. Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay went on to win the match and be crowned world heavyweight champion. After the win, he publicly announced his conversion to Islam and became a member of Malcolm X’s Nation of Islam. As required by Islam, he converted his name to Muhammad Ali. Muhammad was from his Islamic teacher’s name Elijah Muhammad while he chose Ali. His conversion to Islam plus his name made most Islamists to look up to him in their quest for equality. Just the same way Muhammad was looked up to as the founding father of Islam (Ezra, pp. 28-35). Ali’s ability to unite contrasting elements within the African American community was exhibited by the concrete fear amongst politicians and civil rights leaders since Martin Luther King Jr’s opinion in opposition to the Vietnam War. It was believed that Malcolm X who shared mutual thoughts with Martin Luther was an influence in Muhammad Ali’s refusal to join the military. Upon his refusal to join the military, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment and stripped of his pugilist titles and his boxing licence revoked. As young budding talented boxer whose career was on the rise, it was the worst news. His will he had strong convictions for his actions he was ready to and practice boxing outside America. Through his Lawsuit against his state of Louisville, Ali exposed biased laws in connection with his draft since the local that oversaw his draft was an all white’s board. Although he was not successful on that lawsuit, the result was a nationwide reform on the integration of the state boards (Ezra, p.130). Ali was also a favourite of college students of all races and during the exile from his sport several colleges and universities invited him to give a talk. At the Howard University where approximately one thousand students had gathered to hear his lecture, he persuaded them to advocate black identity. While at the University of Chicago he condemned the war and differentiated the difference between boxing as a sport and the war where the rule was to kill. This college lectures served as an inspiration to the students as well as marshalling support for the civil rights movement. His talks were purely to speak out his strong political and religious belief as well as strengthen and inspire the Student non-violent coordinating committee (Ezra, p. 132). The civil rights movement had an enormous following as a result of Muhammad Ali’s popularity. Most people saw him as someone who was ready to risk his personal life and safety for a worthy cause. Every few people had the needed nerve and honesty to live by their belief. When he converted to Islam, even his father felt that NOI (Nation of Islam) had robbed him of his son. This was in relation to Elijah Muhammad’s teachings that saw white people as devils and further advocated blacks to live in separate places from whites. His refusal to be drafted to the military while citing religious causes was also a reason for criticism since most people including blacks felt that Elijah Muhammad’s laws were rather inhuman. Failure of Ali to accept to be included in the military made his boxing title to be stripped and sentenced to three and a half years from the ring. This resulted in him filing a lawsuit from his drafting to the military service and his sentence (Ezra, p. 127). During his period of boxing, exile Ali used different means to ensure that black unity was maintained despite religious differences. Ali was widely praised and respected by all blacks from diverse backgrounds. He used this to champion for his possible replacement in the boxing ring by organizing a tournament in the south and sponsoring. The tournament winner would replace him as a black southern on the heavyweight championship ring as well as proceeds used to feed people throughout the south. Although this move was never successful, but ensured blacks remained united. It was at this period that he married and had a daughter and son. As a champion, he strongly disregarded association with white ladies as he felt would be an act of betrayal to the black race. Through this act, he reinforced the loyalty of civil rights movement members in their struggle for freedom (Ezra, 134). During the 1960s when the political situation in the country was stormy, Ali’s boxing career blossomed magnificently; he gradually grew to be a pillar of light for dissent by the white race in America. His message pride in his race and unwillingness to submit to white domination served as a message to the black race to demand better treatment and privileges as U.S citizens. During his career path, he met with his role model George “Gorgeous” Wagner who advised him to be proud of his career. He loudly boasts about his achievements in a quest to attract more wagers hence more money. By proving his critics and the pundits, wrong Ali was able to make his way up the boxing hierarchy and be crowned heavyweight champion. Using his learnt oratory skills during his period of “boxing” exile Ali was able to manipulate the masses into joining and following his ideologies. This lead to the embracement of Black Nationalism later on in his life (Institute of American History, paras. 4-7). Ali established himself as an advocate of African Americans struggle for equality by teaching about freedom and equality for all which was very rare. He went further by attacking the status quo without the use of a political perspective. His appeal went beyond coloured Americans, and he faced armies with his strong religious belief that it was wrong to kill unless for a very worthy cause. His impact was felt both at home and away as it was the reason for inspiration in a colonized Africa. His identification with Africans as his true people and the talks he gave served as encouragement. Since Africans all over the world were facing discrimination in one way or the other (Institute of American History, paras. 12-16). As a successful boxing model Muhammad Ali used to drive his prestigious vehicle, Rolls Royce in the Ghetto in a bid to inspire black children. He motivated them not to invest much time in sports but rather take up education that was an easier option. His success meant that blacks too could be successful with books and live a decent lifestyle as opposed to life on the ghettos. When other blacks saw him drive around with pride, he felt that he was posing challenges to the black people to work hard in whatever field and live a posh and admired lifestyle. Ali knew that the freedom would only be achieved through non-violent means like civil arbitration and in a court room rather than through guerrilla warfare since African were no match to whites in terms of war. The non-violent methods of asking for freedom and equality needed education so as to be pursued (Socialism today, para.25-31). Conclusion In conclusion, we can openly say that Muhammad Ali’s contribution in the civil rights movement was tremendous. Not only did he serve as a source of inspiration to the many African Americans but he used other ways too in his process of empowering the black man. By pulling out of Louisville sponsoring group and transferring the ancillary rights to air his matches to Main bout promotions, he believed economic empowerment was essential for African freedom. He did this at a period when majority of African Americans were poor, and the profits were used to support black businesses and enterprises. Through his advocating for non-violent ways of fighting for freedom, his steady belief in African empowerment through education, and giving speeches on colleges about his beliefs and fight against racial segregation. This served as a way of inspiring the students’ fraternity and their movement, Student non-violent coordinating committee. By ensuring black unity against the whites divide and rule policy, Ali knew that they were weaker as united. He felt to unify them using his boxing career and proceeded to select his replacement from his Native American south. It’s, therefore, correct to say that Muhammad Ali played a bigger and significant role in the civil rights movement. Work Cited Ezra, Michael. Muhammad Ali: The Making of an Icon. Philadelphia: Temple University Foner, Eric, and John A. Garraty."Civil Rights Movement."History.com. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 1 Jan. 1991. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. . Gorn, Elliott J. Muhammad Ali, the Peoples Champ. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1995. Print.ress, 2009. Print. Hauser, Thomas. "The Importance of Muhammad Ali."History by Era. The Gilder Lehrman Healy, Nick. Muhammad Ali. Mankato, MN: Creative Education, 2006. Print. Institute of American History.Web. 25 Nov. 2014. . Pierre, Hugo. "Socialism Today - Ali & the Black Struggles of the 1960s."Socialism Today - Ali & the Black Struggles of the 1960s. Socialism Today, 1 Feb. 2003. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. Zirin, David. "International Socialist Review."International Socialist Review. International Socialist Review, 1 Jan. 2004. 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