Civil Rights Leadership
"I know I got it made while other black folks are out there catchin hell, but as long as they ain't free, I ain't free" -Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali had a big impact with the Civil Rights movement. Muhammad Ali's success in the ring became a beacon of hope that motivated black Americans to continue their struggle for racial equality. It is often believed that Ali joined the Nation of Islam because of his friendship with another Civil Rights activist of the time, Malcolm X. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam urged blacks not to cooperate with the Mass Civil Rights movement and not to fight with their white suppressers . The radical views of Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, the leaders of the group, warranted the Nation of Islam a racist and militant reputation. The Nation believed that segregation should be maintained because of the violence and turbulence caused by integration. Malcolm X left the nation of Islam but in 1965 he was assassinated by two members of the Nation of Islam because of his conlficting ideas with Elijah Muhammad. After ten more years Ali left the Nation of Islam and converted to Sunni, a more traditional form of Islam. In 1965 Ali sparked a debate with contender Floyd Patterson over conflicting beliefs about the Civil Rights. Ali’s bold attitude landed him in hot water once again. He refused to serve in the Vietnam war claiming he was opposed to fighting for a country that still denied racial equality to blacks. Him refusing to fight in the Vietnam war earned him five years in jail in addition to having his title stripped by the World Boxing Association. While his bold statement carried some harsh consequences, it was a symbol of the great personal sacrifice so many blacks made that galvanized followers of the Civil Rights movement.
Muhammad Ali had a big impact with the Civil Rights movement. Muhammad Ali's success in the ring became a beacon of hope that motivated black Americans to continue their struggle for racial equality. It is often believed that Ali joined the Nation of Islam because of his friendship with another Civil Rights activist of the time, Malcolm X. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam urged blacks not to cooperate with the Mass Civil Rights movement and not to fight with their white suppressers . The radical views of Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, the leaders of the group, warranted the Nation of Islam a racist and militant reputation. The Nation believed that segregation should be maintained because of the violence and turbulence caused by integration. Malcolm X left the nation of Islam but in 1965 he was assassinated by two members of the Nation of Islam because of his conlficting ideas with Elijah Muhammad. After ten more years Ali left the Nation of Islam and converted to Sunni, a more traditional form of Islam. In 1965 Ali sparked a debate with contender Floyd Patterson over conflicting beliefs about the Civil Rights. Ali’s bold attitude landed him in hot water once again. He refused to serve in the Vietnam war claiming he was opposed to fighting for a country that still denied racial equality to blacks. Him refusing to fight in the Vietnam war earned him five years in jail in addition to having his title stripped by the World Boxing Association. While his bold statement carried some harsh consequences, it was a symbol of the great personal sacrifice so many blacks made that galvanized followers of the Civil Rights movement.