By Micheal Hester
It’s been days since the world’s greatest boxer, and one of the world’s most famous athletes, been laid to rest. We’ve read a number of written pieces and watched film and documentaries that covered his life. There’s not much else that can be said about his legendary span of existence he had while walking the Earth.
At the age of 25 years old, I wasn’t fortunate to see Mr. Ali’s matches at the moment they occurred, unlike my grandparents. But I made it a must-do to watch everything I can possibly find, most recently his match versus Ken Norton, just a few weeks ago. As a boxing fan, I can rave on about his epic 56/5 record and every single fight, he fought in his gold-clad career. But I wouldn’t be doing anything different from what those before me, and those who know much more than me, have already done in the past.
What stood out the most about Mr. Ali’s life was his will and determination to not bow or bend to oppression, prejudice, bigotry and control. He didn’t do it in a loose-cannon manner. Ali used the same tactic he used in each of his fights: he knew when to stand his ground, even to evade and when to strike, all in a figurative sense.
While many didn’t agree with his words and actions, for instance, his decision to not be enlisted during the height of the Vietnam War, Ali always had a reason for his words and actions. Many will disagree, and that’s fine, but Ali’s ideology was often confused with black separatism. And a case can be made that his early ideologies was based on black separatism. But take a minute and close your eyes. Put yourself in the mind and shoes of a black man in his position in the segregation era of America. In that dark era of our nation’s past, you had to mentally strong to walk tall through the volatile racism that ran rampant across this country. Ali became an example, not just in black America, but to an entire country. He instilled hope and strength, and a reason to believe that bigotry can be overcome.
As Ali matured later in life, his separatism turned into a sense of unity. This is, by far, not just my favorite quote of his, but my favorite quote ever:
“Rivers, ponds, lakes, and streams-they all contain water. Just as religions do-they all contain truths”
Ali also did extensive charity work after this boxing career, with an emphasis on “extensive”. These are just a few of the charity programs Mr. Ali actively supported:
Ali Care Program
Andrea Bocelli Program
Athletes for Hope
Beat Bullying
HELP USA
Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation
Keep Memory Alive
Michael J. Fox Foundation
Project A.L.S.
UNICEF
To name a few. He once said “I’ve always wanted to be more than just a boxer, more than just the 3-time heavyweight champion. I wanted to use my fame and this face that everyone knows so well, to help uplift and inspire people around the world”. And he fulfilled those very words throughout his post-boxing life. He travelled with Disarm Education Fund and Direct Relief to deliver $1.2 million worth of medicine to Cuba in 1998. During that same year, he made mission trips to Afghanistan and North Korea the following year. The United Nations named Ali a Messenger of Peace for the U.N., in 1998 as well due to his work with developing nations around the world. Ali and his wife started Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville in 2005 with the sole goal of bringing his mission to his community. In the 11-year span, the center created programs that exemplify the principles of Mr. Ali.
While Mr. Ali made his career fortune playing one of the most violent sports, he had a sense of peace inside him that he gave back to the world throughout his life. This is the legacy of Muhammad Ali many tend to overlook, and which is why I chose to shine a light on it for you all to see.
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