• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
AFRIPOL

AFRIPOL

en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Mission Statement
  • Articles
  • Book Review
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

Yes, I know – Muhammad Ali, The People’s Champion

June 6, 2016 by Admin Leave a Comment

Muhammad Ali JOHN ROONEY / AP

Muhammad Ali was a modern day hero of our time. Inasmuch the word hero has been bastardized; its true meaning resided with those that achieved uncommon things and Ali was of an exceptional personality. He was courageous, charismatic and compassionate. His life history has become an assignment to those that want to emulate and examine a life worth living.

Ali was the greatest boxer ever lived but he was also a man that made his greatest impact on humanity. If left for me, I will say that boxing is not Ali’s greatest passion, his love for his fellow human being and enduring cherish for friendship were his most powerful symbols of his greatness.

Ali emerged on the scene during the era of African American civil right movement and Vietnam War’s quagmire. At this point in time there was turbulent in American polity as Black Americans were agitating to assert their full citizenship as enumerated in the US constitution and Bill of Rights.

Muhammad Ali became The peoples champion, a symbol of love and heroic endeavor:

Ali loved being Black and he strongly identified with blackism and everything black. There was James Brown (godfather of soul) hit song – ‘Say it loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud’ that touched and anchored at the center of black liberation movement. It does make sense for one to love and respect oneself before expecting others to do so. Mohammed Ali imbibed the meaning of the song and he never apologized for being black.

Ali understood quite well and put into practice that loving yourself as a black person does not implies hating people of other creeds and races in order to actualize self dignity. He refused to hate other people instead he extended and made friends beyond the circle of his black acquaintances.

Who can forget his bond and friendship with Howard Cosell, the great sport television broadcaster? Both of these gentlemen respect and adored each other especially when they played around. With the amity, respect and gregariousness between them he showed the whole world that black and white can live in peace and harmony.

Ali’s Islamic faith was not used as tool to divide and hate, rather it became a means to build bridges and make new friends. He had friends from around the world irrespective of their background or religion. Ali loved everyone thereby upholding his views on the equality and brotherhood of man. But he hated injustice and inequality in anywhere he found it.

In the 1970s when image of Africa was in the mud, when Africa was heaped with images of dark, primitive and wild descriptions, Ali did not turn his back from the land of his fathers. He brought one of his greatest acts to Congo Zaire in the festive boxing match with George Foreman in the so-called ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.

Despite the name given to boxing bout, when the world came to Kinshasa the capital of Zaire, they saw modern infrastructures, roads and cars in the happy Africa. He aided in changing the perception of Africa despite western media persistent propaganda.

He did not only display his love for his heritage in Congo-Zaire but he was also in Nigeria. When many Black Americans were afraid to go to Africa, Muhammad Ali and James Brown were visiting Nigeria and they loved it. Ali brought lots of smiles and laughter to Africans especially to downtrodden that were lacking hope with his magical sense of humor.

One of the greatest qualities of Ali was his boldness. He never shrinks from limelight and never afraid or intimidated to call situation the way he saw it. He hated injustice and always gave his best to restore the dignity of man. Without doubt, our world was better-off with Ali’s presence and participation.

Filed Under: Strategic Research & Analysis

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

More to See

 “I have no issues with Tinubu” – Peter Obi (video)

March 13, 2023 By AFRIPOL

Tunisian leader to ECOWAS chairman: “I am a proud African” (see videos)

March 11, 2023 By AFRIPOL

RSS AllAfrica News: Latest

  • Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Limps Toward Elections
    [CFR] An impenetrable electoral process in Zimbabwe breeds cynicism in the next generation of voters, to the peril of democracy efforts.
  • Sudan: Perthes Urges UN - 'Greater Support Needed to Help Sudan With Its Domestic Challenges'
    [Dabanga] New York -- Despite the improved political situation in Sudan, greater support is needed to help Sudan navigate domestic challenges following the signing of an agreement designed to facilitate the nation's political transition, Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) told […]
  • Africa: A Microbiologist Reveals the Shocking Truth About Dirt and Germs in Hotel Rooms
    [The Conversation Africa] For most of us, staying in a hotel room is either something of a necessity - think business travel - or something to look forward to as part of a holiday or wider excursion.
  • Africa: UN - School Meal Programs More Than Just a Plate of Food
    [VOA] New York -- Nearly 420 million children benefited from free school meals last year, a new World Food Program report said Tuesday, providing an important safety net as hunger reaches unprecedented crisis levels worldwide.
  • Niger: Niger Credited With Negotiating Release of U.S. Aid Worker, French Journalist
    [VOA] Dakar -- The government of Niger says it negotiated the release of a U.S. aid worker and a French journalist who were held captive by Islamist militants in the Sahel region. Aid worker and missionary Jeffery Woodke was held for more than six years, while reporter Olivier Dubois spent nearly two years in captivity.
  • Nigeria: At Least 28 Journalists Harassed, Beaten, Denied Access While Covering Elections
    [CPJ] Abuja -- Nigerian authorities should thoroughly investigate incidents involving at least 28 journalists and media workers being harassed and attacked while covering state elections and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.

Tags

Achebe Africa Anambra Boko Haram Buhari CBN Corona Virus Egypt Igbo IMF Inflation Jonathan Kenya Nigeria Okonjo Iweala Peter Obi Sanusi Senate Soludo South Africa Soyinka United States
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Archives

Footer

Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center, AFRIPOL is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

Recent

  • Peter Obi replies Senator Nnamani who claims that he divided Nigeria
  • U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE IN NIGERIA ISSUES PRESS STATEMENT ON GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2023
  • It’s my turn to be Senate President, Kalu declares – Punch News
  • Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have Declared war on the Global chocolate industry over cocoa prices (video)
  • (video) I Will Never Call And Congratulate Sanwo-Olu For This Sham Of An Election – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Search

Tags

Achebe Africa Anambra Boko Haram Buhari CBN Corona Virus Egypt Igbo IMF Inflation Jonathan Kenya Nigeria Okonjo Iweala Peter Obi Sanusi Senate Soludo South Africa Soyinka United States

Copyright © 2023 · AFRIPOL