Muhammad Ali: Cultural Differences

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” (xiii), Muhammad Ali, the best boxer of all time. As a young child Muhammad Ali, originally known as Cassius Clay, grew up in a time of racism and hatred towards African Americans. Not only was Ali an African American, he would eventually become a muslim later in his life, which proved to be even more stressful. By later becoming a Muslim, he showed the U.S. that he was culturally different from most of the population, including me. As I read about Ali, I learned about his successes, and also his struggles. Muhammad Ali and I have many cultural differences, but we also share similarities in our cultural ways. Muhammad Ali and I have a bountiful amount of cultural differences. God is very present in both of our lives, but the way we follow God is very different. Muhammad and I once followed the same religion of Christianity; until, he met Malcolm X who greatly inspired his life, and ultimately led him to follow the ways and beliefs of a Muslim. “In 1962, Clay drove to Detroit and heard the Nation of Islam’s leader, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad for the first time. He also met a man who would greatly influence his life, a man called Malcolm X” (28). Muhammad was extremely active when following his religion by voicing the muslim word throughout the nation and world. This is a great

Religion is present in both of our lives, but the way we follow it and express ourselves through it is different. Another difference between us is the time period we grew up in, and how Muhammad had to fight threw racism and segregation, unlike me. In contrast we share similarities, one being our ardent and devoted attitude towards the sport we love. Second, we both have a very competitive nature and refuse to back down. Muhammad Ali’s legacy will never be forgotten, as he showed the world that one who is doubted or different, can still be the