Stand Up For Something, or Fall For Anything.

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Narrated by Marcus and Lucas A.

Muhammad Ali was well known for his boxing career and undoubtedly recognized as being ”The Greatest”; he defeated fierce fighters like Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman. He was one of the most controversial boxers, not just inside the ring but outside as well. He was also known for his loud mouth and poetic fighting predictions. He fought 61 fights while only losing 5 of them. Ali joined the Nation of Islam as a public figure; this brought a lot of heat to him. The Nation of Islam openly fought against white supremacy. Malcolm X, the spokesman of the Nation of Islam, made sure of that. Like Malcolm, Ali was also vocal about what he felt, but he wasn’t always like this. The Nation of Islam guided him. Before Muhammad Ali was who is today, he was Cassius Clay.

In Louisville Kentucky, in 1954, 12-year-old Cassius Clay discovered his passion and began boxing. He trained for a couple of years in a local gym, but he felt he wasn’t reaching his potential. He decided to go to a rival gym and started training with Fred Stoner. Training with Stoner was exactly what Ali needed and found his strongest points. Cassius learned how to manipulate fighters into doing punches he wanted them to do, then countering them. Cassius daydreamed of being the world’s champ often. He worked his way into receiving an invitation to the Summer Olympics of 1960. He wanted to turn professional and this would be his big opportunity; winning the gold medal would attract sponsors and give him bragging rights. Cassius attended the Olympics and won the light heavyweight gold medal. Pretty impressive for the 18-year-old.

This was his moment, and he was overjoyed. With his victory, reporters were eager to talk to Cassius. A Russian reporter asks Cassius how things were for negroes in America. He responds with “Look here, commie. America is the best country in the world, including yours. I’d rather live in Louisville than in Africa because at least I’m not fighting off snakes, and alligators while living in huts”. Cassius didn’t quite know just how ignorant that statement came off. For months after the Olympics, the media kept quoting what he said. With all the backlash, Cassius was ashamed and regretted even talking. He felt he gave the answers that the white reporters that were listening wanted to hear. His hometown mayor would even brag about what he said. He explained he knew nothing about Russia or Africa except what he had seen in the Tarzan movie. He said most of the African people he had met were smarter than him. He didn’t just let himself down, he felt he let his people down. He realized that he can’t change what he said to the public, but he can change his integrity and his actions going forward. A year later, Cassius Clay became a Muslim. He met Malcolm X who became his spiritual and political mentor. Soon after, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali, meaning some who are worthy of praise (Muhammad) and most high (Ali).

“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger.”

– Muhammad Ali

Up until this time, Muhammad Ali had plenty of fights, physically and verbally. There’s one fight that doesn’t get talked about much and I feel it needs to be heard and have a lesson we all can learn. Ali was asked how he felt about the Vietnam War. He felt it was weird that this country would want a black man to help protect the same country that treats them like second-class citizens. Talking to reporters, Ali said a lot, but the media hung on to him, saying, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger.” Ali was denounced by nearly every media outlet in America. Jim Murray, a sportswriter, portrayed him like a black “Benedict Arnold”, an American hero turned traitor. Ben Bentley, Chicago’s sports announcer, and promoter, called Ali and told him the officials are going to cancel the fight he has with Ernie Terrell. He stresses that this is a huge fight and they have a lot to lose by not fighting and he would be finished. Bentley stated, “I have gotten the Mayor, the Governor, and the Chicago Tribune to agree to back off and support us, but only if you satisfy the Chicago Commissioners. Ali understood him and asked him what did he want them to do. Bentley explained that he need Ali to call the commissioner and apologize and take back the words he said. Once he does this, the fight will go through. Ali told Bentley he’d think about it. He understood that this was a big match for him. He didn’t want to disappoint the family and fans, that wanted to see this match-up or the investors, sponsors, and gamblers that had money on him. Ali believed in the show must go on model, and he never walked away from a fight that he agreed to up until this point.

With time ticking, Ali’s lawyer calls repeatedly stressing to “work things out” and “fix things up” for the greater good. Ali asked what did they want him to say? The Lawyer said, Just say you spoke a little recklessly and you apologize. Ali reluctantly called one of the commissioners and apologized for whatever embarrassment he had cost, and maybe he was a bit reckless with his words. The Commissioner was pleased and thanked Ali for the call, but said he couldn’t choose to accept his apology alone as he was only one of the three commissioners, he insisted that he come to the commissioners’ meeting, answer some of their questions and apologize. Word traveled fast that Ali agreed to talk to the Commissioners. The press even started printing newspapers, stating that Ali was set to apologize. It wasn’t too long until his lawyer, Bentley, and his sponsors called and thanked him for clearing up his “misunderstanding”. He also received calls from his supporters asking if the news was true.

The day of the commissioner’s meeting approached, and Ali was accompanied by his lawyer and Bentley. They explained to him that things would be quick and easy. All he would have to do was say what he said over the phone. His lawyer wrote him a statement he could read. Ali approached the building and noticed three crowds, one with a group of non-supporters; some even had WWII army uniforms with signs demanding he apologize. The second crowd was his supporters. The remaining crowd was the press. He noticed that the supporting crowd was being treated much rougher than the other two. The pressure was on for Ali. This was being publicized. Ali and his team entered the room and sat down, and the meeting began.

“I understand you have a statement to read.” -Commissioner

“I have no prepared statement”. I said what I said, I apologize to the press. -Ali

“Do you apologize for your unpatriotic remark?” -Commissioner

*Silence* -Ali

“Mr. Clay! Do you apologize for your unpatriotic remark?” -Commissioner

“No, I do not apologize for what I said! I do not apologize!” -Ali

“Mr. Clay..” -Commissioner

“It’s Muhammed Ali!” -Ali

(Going back and forward for a bit, Ali got up and left knowing that there wouldn’t be a fight.)

This wouldn’t be the last time Ali’s fight would get canceled because of his beliefs. Ali has fought many fights, but the fights that mattered most to him were the ones that he fought outside the ring; the fights weren’t just about him benefiting. He learned to keep tight regardless of what he had to lose or gain. As his boxing career matured, so did his activism.