Abstract
In fighting for justice and equality in the face of American institutional racism, Muhammed Ali became an internationally known and respected figure. His 1976 auto-biography, The Greatest, with Richard Dunham and edited by Toni Morrison is a fast paced and well written book. It showcases the intellect, humanity, and determination behind the globally recognized icon. The auto-biography is interesting in the sense that it places boxing on the periphery and instead focuses on Ali’s struggles and disappointments, to be recognized as a man in the American South, which would later morph into the greater struggle for civil rights for American minorities. In fighting against what this research terms ‘structural racism, what emerged was a battle against the very fabric of core norms and culture, which establishes white American hegemony. In taking on established structures, Ali faced the wrath of ‘the Establishment.’ The idea of this term becomes vivid via comparative analysis of other case studies, which reveal that those who question American structural racism are met with similar reactions and consequences for their criticism. This study is thus relevant because it exposes how Ali’s own fight for justice and racial equality 60 years ago is essentially no different than it is today.
Highlights
Muhammed Ali (1943–2016) is regarded as one of the greatest sportsman of the 20th century. His persona in and out of the boxing ring left an indelible mark on modern American history and his fight against racism and oppression remains recognized globally
The decision to write an autobiography as his boxing career winded down instead of in his later years proved to be an excellent choice as the narration produces intense memories, which could have possibly been lost if written at a later stage
What this research has uncovered is that those who criticize the Establishments structural racism are met with a similar response
Summary
Muhammed Ali (1943–2016) is regarded as one of the greatest sportsman of the 20th century His persona in and out of the boxing ring left an indelible mark on modern American history and his fight against racism and oppression remains recognized globally. In their obituary to Ali, The New York Times described him as a titan of boxing and the 20th Century. This research explores Ali’s so-called Anti-American activities with the purpose of assessing American structural racism. This is important because as this research will show, the structural racism Ali fought against 60 years ago remains an omnipresent menace to equality, justice, and reconciliation. The aim of the paper is that in highlighting the similarities, it becomes clear how the US establishment responds to critiques of its structural racism
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