Muhammad Ali’s Toughest Opponent
How Muhammad Ali fought discrimination and won.
There is one moment in particular that defines the journey of Muhammad Ali fighting for social justice.
Ali was walking to a restaurant downtown with the gold medal he earned in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. No one understood the pride Ali took in his three victories. Here is his first poem describing his victories:
To make America the greatest is my goal, So I beat the Russian, and I beat the Pole, And for the USA won the Medal of Gold. Italians said, “You’re greater than the Cassius of Old.” We like your name, we like your game, So make Rome your home if you will. I said I appreciate your kind hospitality, But the USA is my country still, ’Cause they waiting to welcome me in Louisville.
However, Cassius would not receive the warm welcome he was expecting.
Just weeks after his return, Ali left his home on the West End to celebrate a night out on the town. Alone, he walked emphatically with his shiny Gold dangling from his neck. Showing the world how proud he was to represent his country in the Olympics and win.
Arriving at a restaurant downtown, he was rejected from entering the bar. Having seen Cassius’ medal, the bar owner still could care less about letting him in because he was black.
This made Cassius furious. How could he represent a country in the Olympics, but be denied food for the color of his skin? That same night, out of frustration, he walked towards the river contemplating the ideals of society.
But this kind of discrimination was not uncommon in Louisville, 1960.
There were business owners who refused to serve African Americans. People of color were often kicked out of establishments for no reason. In its simplest form, Louisville had major tension regarding racial status.
During the 1960s, African Americans in Louisville began protesting the unfair treatment. Ali grew up in the middle of these 4th street protests towards the West Side of Louisville.
He even participated in a protest after 4 African American men were denied service outside a theatre in Louisville. Blacks were often harassed when they attempted to buy food or merchandise at certain stores. Ali grew up in the backyard of racial warfare. But Ali did not want war, he wanted peace.
Ali did not want society to betray his rights as a human being.
Ali walked right up the 2nd street bridge in downtown Louisville. Having made it a quarter mile at the highest point of the bridge, he pulled out his medal from his pocket and launched the 24k Olympic Gold into the depths of the Ohio river.
When Ali threw his medal off the bridge, he threw an era of injustice into the past with it. He decided to take advantage of his status as an Olympian and make himself even something greater.
It wasn’t until 1964 that Cassius would change his name to Muhammad after defeating the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Sonny Liston. The transformation from Cassius to Muhammad Ali is a representation of Ali’s devotion to Islam, to his African heritage, and to his maturity.
Ali’s ability to relate to discrimination back home made him want to end segregation nationwide. Later in his career, he became an Activist for the Civil Rights movement and an influence to the Muslim religion.
By the end of his career and later in life, Ali was no longer built up with the anger that resided within himself for so long. He found satisfaction in his contribution to social justice and the national stance on racism.
At one point he never thought he could make a difference. That day he threw his medal defines the resilience and sacrifice it takes to make a difference. One day he was finally able pass his work onto society as a whole. This is represented by his lighting of the 1996 Olympic torch in Atlanta. His agreement to rejoin the Olympic games was only after he saw that justice has been won.
The effect of Ali’s journey to heroism has not yet been completed as social injustice still occurs today. Therefore it is our responsibility to not let discrimination go unnoticed. Ali left us, all of society, with a duty to fulfill.
No one will ever forget the legacy he created for himself as a boxer but never forget that the toughest battle Ali ever fought was the battle against discrimination.
