Personal Politics Of Muhammad Ali In The 60's

The personal politics of Muhammad Ali had become prominent in the 60's, when his refusal to fight in Vietnam made him a popular though controversial figure. Not afraid to speak to the media in regards to his viewpoints, Muhammad Ali had made his personal politics as famous as his boxing skills, if not far more interesting. It showed that beneath his physical exterior and imposing stature in the ring, there was a man of high intellect who utilized critical thought and reasoning on a constant basis. This was a contributing factor in Ali's legacy revolving around much more than his accomplishments in the ring.

One of Ali's most controversial statements was “They never called me n----r,, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, rape or kill my mother and father.” It is clear here that Ali is directly referencing the past and then-present institutionalized hardships African-Americans had faced in the 1960's and the preceding years, especially in the American South where Ali was born. His viewpoint

Athletes Floyd Paterson and Jackie Robinson, both of which are tremendously successful and groundbreaking black athletes, both had quarrel with Ali over his anti-war and religious stances. Robinson in particular had felt Ali was disgracing black war veterans due to his anti-war stance, a viewpoint that black soldiers actually agreed on with Robinson. “He's hurting, I think, the morale of a lot of young Negro soldiers over in Vietnam” Robinson stated in regards to Ali's outspokenness and public exposure surrounding his statements. “Cassius has made millions of dollars off the American public, and now he's not willing to show his appreciation.” Ali was found to be too radical even by those one would expect to be his peers. Robinson, already exposed to his fair share of controversy simply by wanting to play baseball, saw no reason to embroil himself in any