muhammad ali speech

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The big fish blog, three powerful speeches by muhammad ali that moved the world.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”

“Don’t count the days; make the days count.”

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

– but we wanted to dig deeper into some of his most inspirational speaking moments. Beyond just shooting out quotable lines, these moments showcase why Ali was such a great speaker – his conviction when laying out his arguments made it very difficult to doubt him.

Here are our three favorite speeches from The Greatest:

1: When asked what he was going to do when retiring from boxing

Favorite quote: “What am I going to do for the next 16 years — what’s the best thing I’m going to do? Get ready to meet God.”

Takeaway: In this video, Muhammad explains his view on what really matters in life and receives an ovation from the audience. Instead of making the audience hear about his plans of retirement, he turned the moment into a teaching moment on the things that truly mattered to him. Remember when presenting things that matter, it’s important to show what’s in it for the world, not just you ( our first commandment of public speaking ).

2: “ I am the Greatest” from the Cassius Clay album I am the Greatest

Favorite quote: “ So don’t bet against me, I’m a man of my word. He is the greatest! Yes! I am the man this poem’s about, I’ll be champ of the world; there isn’t a doubt.”

Takeaway: Releasing an album to trash talk Sonny Liston, Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali’s former name) released an album that exclaimed his greatness. In this poem, Clay showcases his extraordinary poetic skills delivering lines that rhyme and are memorable. While you don’t necessarily have to be a poet, think of delivering key lines in the form of 140-character tweets. Also remember that when presenting information, rhythm and timed pauses are key to retaining an audience and delivering an impactful message.

3: Interview with David Frost in 1974

Favorite quote: “I’d like for them to say he took a few cups of love, he took one tablespoon of patience, one teaspoon of generosity, one pint of kindness. He took one quart of laughter, one pinch of concern, and then, he mixed willingness with happiness. He added lots of faith and he stirred it up well. Then, he spread it over a span of a lifetime and he served it to each and every deserving person he met.”

Takeaway: In this interview, Ali provides a great take on how he wants to be remembered in life after he’s gone. This is a strong indication for a presenter on the power of being humble and real. Selflessness and vulnerability will get people to listen.

While Ali’s pre-fight quotes will live through the test of time, don’t skip on his speeches outside the ring. Known to be one of the greatest speakers to walk this earth, he used confidence, passion, and rhyming verse to communicate his points. The key thing to remember about the world’s captivation with Ali is that he truly fought for the world and not himself. Great speakers today use the same tactic to find success – present what’s in it for the world, and you will be a champion in your own industry.

We owe Ali for teaching us these very important lessons. Rest in peace champ, and thanks for making the world a better place.

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Muhammad Ali's Speech at Howard University, 1967

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Muhammad Ali in 1967 (World Journal Tribune photo by Ira Rosenberg, Library of Congress)

The PBS documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali , covers the boxing champ's struggles outside the ring during the tumultuous mid-1960s, when his refusal to serve in the military during the Vietnam War led to him being stripped of his title, and nearly cost him his freedom. The program also explores Ali's involvement in the Black Power movement of the 1960s, and his emergence as a symbol of protest and dissent for young people of that time.

Ali's duality as a firebrand activist and a revolutionary icon is examplified, in some ways, by his controversial appearance at Howard University in April 22, 1967, where he gave a speech to African-American students just days before he refused induction in the armed forces, which led to his indictment and conviction for draft evasion.

Ali, thanks to his name-changing religious conversion and poetry-spouting braggadocio — an act which he actually developed by studying flamboyant wrestler Gorgeous George — already was a provocative figure in popular culture when the government's changing of his draft status in 1966 thrust him into the growing turmoil over the Vietnam War. In some ways, Ali's morphing into an antiwar figure was forced up on him. According to New York Times reporter Robert Lipsyste, who was with Ali the day that the boxer got the news, he was hounded by other journalists who called to badger him about his position on the war — was he a hawk or a dove? Would he be willing to kill a Vietnamese? — until he finally lost his cool. "Man, I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong," he finally blurted. The offhand remark became the headline, and Ali suddenly found himself being denounced by sportswriters such as Red Smith, who likened him to "those unwashed punks who picket and demonstrate," and Murray Robinson, who demanded that "boxing should throw Clay (Ali) out on his inflated head."

But on college campuses across America, the outspoken boxer just as quickly became a hero. That was especially true at the District's Howard University, then a century-old traditionally black school that had long prided itself on producing students who could compete against the obstacles thrown up by a still-segregated American society. But as detailed in a the classic PBS documentary on the Civil Rights movement, Eyes on the Prize , a new generation of students at Howard was discontented by the status quo, and unhappy about Howard's lack of courses on black history and culture. In October 1966, they made a statement by electing as homecoming queen Robin Gregory, an activist who wore her hair in the natural Afro style that had become a symbol of black self-expression. The following April, the student Black Power Committee invited Ali to come to the campus and speak to students on the subject of African-American identity.

Four days prior to the speech, according to a Washington Post article published on April 22, 1967, the Howard campus was torn by strife, as scores of students marched in a Black Power rally and burned effigies of Selective Service director Lewis B. Hershey, Howard president James M. Nabrit, Jr., and liberal arts dean Frank Snowden. According to Ali biographer David West , University officials denied the committee an indoor venue, so Ali gave his speech on the steps of Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall , a national landmark designed by early 20th Century African-American architect Albert Cassell. According to the Washington Post's contemporary account of the event, about 800 students attended, though other sources put the crowd at more than 1,000. Ali waved a copy of a Nation of Islam newspaper, Muhammad Speaks , whose headline was "JUSTICE ON TRIAL." Except for two Howard security guards, there were no police in attendance, though six officers from the Civil Disturbance Unit stayed on call at the nearby 13th Precinct station.

The great athlete, so celebrated for his verbal flamboyance and clever turns of phrases, didn't disappoint. Ali gave what became known as his "Black is Best" speech, in which he exhorted students to abandon society's concept of them and to fashion their own, based upon pride in themselves and their people:

All you need to do is know yourself to set yourself free. We don't know who we are. We call ourselves negroes, but have you ever heard of a place called Negroland?

Ali blamed African-Americans' sense of inferiority upon a white dominated society that ignored them and their achievements, as if if they didn't exist — a message reminiscient of Ralph Ellison's 1952 novel Invisible Man , but delivered through a strident onslaught of metaphors more characteristic of Malcolm X.

See, we have been brainwashed. Everything good and of authority was made white. We look at Jesus, we see a white with blond hair and blue eyes. We look at all the angels, we see white with blond hair and blue eyes. Now, I'm sure if there's a heaven in the sky and the colored folks die and go to heaven, where are the colored angels? They must be in the kitchen preparing the milk and honey. We look at Miss America, we see white. We look at Miss World, we see white. We look at Miss Universe, we see white. Even Tarzan, the king of the jungle in black Africa, he's white!

The white tries to show the white as all-good. All the good cowboys ride wide horses. Angel food cake is white and devil's food cake is chocolate.

That conspiracy, he railed, concealed the truth — again, delivered in hyperbolic, almost comic metaphor:

Black dirt is the best dirt. Brown sugar causes fewer cavities, and the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.

For the most part, the Howard students — some clad in traditional African garb that the Post called "togas and shawls," and brandishing copies of Algerian writer Frantz Fanon's call to arms The Wretched of the Earth — seemed to eat it up. As the Post noted, Ali's contingent of bodyguards had difficulty restraining the surging audience from enveloping Ali. Shouts of "Tell it like it is!" and "Hear the word" erupted from his listeners. The boxer exorted them to "seek out" the teachings of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad. Ali told them that he had 28 invitations from leaders of Muslim countries across the globe.

I am the brother of more than 600 million followers of Allah. You are living in the last days of hell in this country.

At the end of his speech, in what the Post called an "off-key voice," Ali launched into a rendition of a song called "A White Man's Heaven is a Black Man's Hell," originally recorded by Louis Farrakhan in 1955. The lyrics indicted whites for enslaving black Africans, stealing their natural resources and destroying their culture.

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5 Of The Best Inspirational Speeches From Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was a true champion in every sense of the word. He was an inspiration to millions of people around the world, and his powerful legacy will live on forever through his provocative words. Here 5 Of The Best Inspirational Speeches From Muhammad Ali.

The BEST Muhammad Ali Inspirational Speeches.

Use your success for good!

The champ used his fame to speak out about what mattered to him. He never allowed success to go to his head. Through his fame he gave a voice to those who did not have one.

Always stand up for what you believe in.

On your journey you will come across people who will mock you and ridicule you. They may hate you or even threaten to throw you in jail. Stay strong and and fight for what you believe in.

There is always joy to be found, even in the struggle.

When we struggle, we grow. And, if we do it with a smile, we will always come out on top. The Champ never let a little pain stop him, he used it to fuel him. Ali once famously said that he didn’t start counting his sit ups until they started hurting. Pain can be your enemy or your ally, and you have the power to choose!

Live with heart. Be selfless.

Whatever you do in your life and whatever you are working towards, live through your heart. Give yourself the mindset that you are to be of service to the world and you cannot go wrong.

Fight hard.

Muhammad Ali did not just fight hard in the boxing ring; he fought hard in life, for what he believed in. And that is what makes him a true hero in our eyes. Rest in peace champ.

What are your favourite Muhammad Ali Quotes or Speeches? Share them in the comments!

Muhammad Ali Inspirational Speeches & Quotes:

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Remembering Muhammad Ali Through His Poem, 'I Am The Greatest'

As thousands of people mourn Muhammad Ali at his funeral in Louisville, Ky., NPR remembers his 1963 poem, "I Am The Greatest."

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Watch - and read the full transcript - of Muhammad Ali's legendary interview with Michael Parkinson

In 1971 the boxing legend sat and chatted to Michael Parkinson about his career, his beliefs and his poetry

20:30, 5 Jun 2016
Updated 09:24, 6 Jun 2016

Muhammad Ali was a global superstar when he was interviewed by Michael Parkinson in 1971.

It was the first of four TV interviews he did with the chat show veteran – in 1974, 1975 and 1981 - but the studio chat on October 17, 45 years ago remains the most iconic, as entertaining as it was shocking.

Sir Michael who has described Ali as the “most extraordinary man I have met” questioned the boxer on his views on religion and race and he was as outspoken outside of ring as he was on it.

The boxing champ talked of his childhood questioning his mother why everything deemed ‘good’ was always ‘white’and how he related the story of how, his conversion to Islam and how, after he had won an Olympic gold medal for his country, he was still refused service in a restaurant because of his colour.

But he also insisted a Muslim woman should be covered from head to toe.

At the time, the television interview was deemed edgy.

MP: Tonight my guest is an extraordinary man.

Few would argue if I call him unique. In an age when the demarcation line between sport , showbiz and politics has become blurred, he’s a prime example of a man who is an athlete yet he represents so many other things for so many other people.

To me, as someone who’s interested in sport, he’s without doubt the most beautiful and complete athlete I’ve ever seen.

To others he’s a political leader, a figurehead in the battle between black and white.

And yet to more people who care little about sport and even less about politics, he’s one of the world’s great entertainer. A character, a comedian, and a sometimes poet.

Here he is in all his splendour. Ladies and gentlemen, Muhammad Ali.

Could I first start of by asking you, you’ve been the champion of the world three times, and you’re now the ex champion, do you feel that people are treating you differently now that you are the one-time champion?

MA : Right, it’s different to others who have lost - or so called lost - the titles and others would say have gone downhill slightly.

I have more fans and more followers and more supporters. Because the people who actually saw the Joe Frazier Muhammad Ali fight, they saw me win at least nine rounds - the people who know boxing.

I admit I lost three rounds - playing around four rounds. And I lost the eleventh round - he shook me pretty good.

He knocked me down in the fifteenth round. But those were the rounds I lost.

The average I hit him was four times to every one he hit me. Then the publicity after the fight said he had to spend four weeks in intensive treatment at the hospital he took such a terrible whooping.

But I still looked the same - I had a swollen jaw. No features or nothing distorted, like him.

Read more: Muhammad Ali had a 50 year love affair with Britain and he always felt like one of us

So people still recognise me. One judge was so outrageous he gave Frazier eleven rounds and I only won four rounds - and even the least boxing fan would know that was totally impossible for me just to have won four rounds.

MP : But without that, even without the dispute about the judging, the fact is that you’re a crowd-puller and Frazier is not. Why is that?

MA: Well, number one: he is ugly. He has no rhythm, no footwork, no class, he cannot talk.

And who told him he could sing? He got him a big band to travel the world with his new title thinking that he’s gonna sell ‘em all out.

Every time I read the paper they say, ‘Joe Frazier, he played an area that held ten thousand and 37 people showed up’.

So I think I could beat Joe Frazier singing. I was in a Broadway musical called Big Time Buck Wright.

The play didn’t make it but I was a success. It lasted six days but I sung four songs and there were critics, seriously, in New York who said that my part was perfect. So I can beat Joe Frazier singing.

MP: I think one of the things that are undeniably true about you Muhammad is that you’ve got this gift, this flair, for publicity. You attract it. Have you always had this gift, thinking right back?

MA: No. I was training for a fella called named of Duke Sabedong - he was Hawaiian fighter and a giant about 6 feet 8 inches tall.

Read more: Muhammad Ali funeral will have worldwide audience of billions

And I was due to fight him in Las Vegas and I was on television saying something like this.

Gorgeous George, a famous American wrestler who is deceased now, was there talking before myself.

I came on after him and he was talking about, ‘I am the prettiest wrestler. I am great! Look at my beautiful blond hair. And if that bum even messes my hair up I’ll annihilate him’.

They said, ‘George, what if you lose?’. And he said, ‘If I lose, I’m catching the next jet out to Russia.

I want everybody out there to know’. He was getting all mad and saying. ‘I’m sick and tired I’m getting off this show’. And he ran off the show.

And I was so nervous and thought, ‘boy, he sure talks a lot’. I had to go to see what he would do - would he win or lose?

I was nervous for him. Many people were there for various reasons. And when Gorgeous George came down the aisle he had these two blonde beautiful girls carrying his robe so it wouldn’t get dirty.

Real conceited and arrogant. I was 21 years old, I was the Olympic champion but I hadn’t started talking yet.

One fella stood up, looked at him and said, ‘boy, he needs a good whoopin’.’ And he reached over and took a keg of beer out of a man’s hand and threw it in the man’s face.

Later I found out that this man worked for the show. But the people didn’t know.

The fella had a little boy beside him and a lady. And then he got in his opponent’s corner and got some deodorant and sprayed it, holding his nose, and he was trowing out at people and making out all kinds of bad gestures.

He won the first, lost the second and won the third. But then I saw all those people coming through the door to see Gorgeous George get beat - and they all paid to get in - that’s the thing - and I said, ‘this is a good idea’.

And right away I start talking: “I am the greatest. I am beautiful. If you talk jive you’ll fall in five. I cannot lose.” In America they got a saying: “the n****r talks too much”.

People sold everything - their cars, their land for miles, to come in and see me beat. I went to the bank laughing every time.

I don’t talk no more. I don’t have to do that no more.

MP: What about the poetry - was that your idea?

MA: Well, yes. I write: When you come to the fight don’t block the aisles and don’t block the door.

For you all may go home after round four.” And from then on I’ve been writing a few more poems and I’ve just completed a few more poems.

MP: Can we go back to your childhood? When you were a kid in Louisville, did you get involved in fist fights and things like that?

MA: A couple. I can remember a couple of real fights when I ran. Because they were kinda dangerous.

One fella was going for a rock and another was picking up a stick and there wasn’t no referees or judges and I got out of there real quick. I’ve been in a couple of scuffles but not too many.

MP: Were you in a gang as a kid - were you running with a gang?

MA: No, I didn’t. I didn’t run with a gang - I didn’t have time. There were a few little street gangs sitting in the spotlights at night time - talking and playing marbles. But I was so wrapped up in boxing since I was 12.

I was always at the gymnasium every day at six o’clock after school. In the mornings I would run, looking forward to future golden gloves and Olympic tournaments.

I had something to do, which most kids really need. Something they can look forward to - a goal, a purpose to work towards. Something to achieve. Keeps them out of trouble.

I was lucky, from the age of 12 I had boxing talent and was good for my age.

We had a local TV show called Tomorrow’s Champions, which comes on in Louisville in Kentucky every Friday at six o’clock.

Three bouts. I’d had about 35 fights so I came up on this show. I was so busy I didn’t have time to run in street gangs.

MP: When you were 12 and in your early teens, did you imagine yourself to be World Champion?

MA: It happened one night when I heard Rocky Marciano - 1954 or 53 - he had beaten Walcott or somebody.

And I was in the rain on my bicycle and I was leaning over listening to a fellow’s radio in a car.

And I got there too late and I heard a man say, ‘And still, the heavyweight champion of the world, Rocky Marciano’.

And a little skinny kid from Kentucky, maybe about 85 pounds, small and in the rain on my bicycle, could hear the man say. ‘And still, the heavyweight champion of the whole world, Cassius Clay’.

And I thought about that as I rode off in the rain. And I said to myself, ‘the champion of the whole world can whoop every man in Russia, every man in America, every man in China, every man in Japan, every man in Europe - every man in the whole world’.

It sounds big, didn’t it? So I kept working until I did it.

And not only became the champion of the whole world, but better than all of those before me.

MP: I’m not going to argue with you.

MA: You’re not as dumb as you look.

MP: As I said in my introduction to you, you are as much now a political figure as you are an athlete.

MA: I don’t call myself a political figure but I’m taken to be.

MP: But you’re involved in a political struggle, a power struggle, between black and white and you’re a leading member of that.

Can I ask you when you were first aware, when you were a child, of the differences between black and white?

MA: I need to get everything straight. I’m not involved in a power struggle between black and white.

I’m not trying to get power over white. I’m involved in a freedom struggle. Not a power struggle.

We’re not trying to take power away or rule anybody - we’re just trying to get up from under the rulers.

MP: When is your first recollection, as a child, of being a second class citizen?

MA: Second class? Oh no. Sixteenth class. They used to always say I was a second class citizen. I would say to my mother, ‘Momma?

How come the Chinese can go where I can’t go in America? Englishmen can come and set up a business in white America and do things I can’t do.

The Puerto Rican, Hawaiians, just about everybody can do more than black people and are more respected.

So who is this second class citizen because they do alright? Because we were way down as far as I was concerned.

Oh man, if we were second class citizens we’d be driving old Cadillacs and living good. If we were first class we’d be driving a Rolls Royce.

Things are getting much better, but I always wondered when I went to church on Sundays. I’ve always been one to... I’m not just a boxer.

I do a lot of reading, a lot of studying. I ask questions, I’ll go out, travel these countries, I’ll watch how their people live, and I learn.

And I always asked my mother, I said, ‘Momma, how come is everything white?’ I said, ‘Why is Jesus white with blond hair and blue eyes? Why is the Lord’s supper all white men? Angels are white, the Pope, Mary, and even the angels.’ I said, ‘Mother, when we die, do we go to Heaven?’ She said, ‘Naturally we go to Heaven.’ I said, ‘Well, what happened to all the black angels?’

‘They took the pictures.’

I said, ‘Oh, I know. If the white folks is in Heaven too, then the black angels were in the kitchen, preparing the milk and honey.’

She said, ‘Listen, you quit saying that, boy.’ I was always curious. And I always wondered why I had to die to go to Heaven.

Why couldn’t I have pretty cars and good money and nice homes now? Why do I have to wait till I die to get milk and honey?

And I said, ‘Momma, I don’t want no milk and honey, I like steaks.’ I said, ‘Milk and honey’s a laxative anyway. Do they have a lot of bathrooms in Heaven?’

So anyway, I was always curious. I always wondered why Tarzan is the King of the Jungle in Africa, he was white.

I saw this white man swinging around Africa with a diaper on, hollering. Did you all see Tarzan over here?

And all of the Africans, he’s beating them up and breaking the lion’s jaw, and here’s Tarzan, talking to the animals.

And the Africans have been there for centuries and they can’t talk to the animals. Only Tarzan can talk to the animals. I always wondered why.

And Miss America was always white. All the beautiful brown women in America, beautiful sun tans, beautiful shapes, all types of complexions, but she always was white.

And Miss World was always white, and Miss Universe was always white.

And then they got some stuff called White House cigars, White Swan soap, King White soap, White Cloud tissue paper, White Rain hair rinse, White Tornado floor wax, everything was white.

And the angel fruit cake was the white cake and the devil food cake was the chocolate cake.

I said, ‘Momma, why is everything white?’ I always wondered. And the President lived in the White House.

And Mary had a little lamb with feet as white as snow, and Snow White, and everything was white.

Santa Claus was white and everything bad was black. The little ugly duckling was the black duck, and the black cat was the bad luck. And if I threaten you, I’m going to blackmail you.

I said, ‘Momma, why don’t they call it ‘whitemail’? They lie too.’

I was always curious. And then this is when I knew something was wrong.

I won the Olympic gold medal in Rome, Italy. Olympic champion. The Russian standing right here, and the Pole right here. Is Poland considered a Communist country?

MA: I’m defeating America’s so-called threats and enemies. And the flag is going dun-dun-dun-dun. I’m standing so proud.

And I’d have whooped the world for America. I took my gold medal, thought I’d invented something.

I said, “Man, I know I’m going to get my people freedom. I’m the champion of the whole world. Olympic champion. I know I can eat downtown now.”

And I went downtown that day, had my big gold medal on, and went in a restaurant.

And at that time, things weren’t integrated. Black folks couldn’t eat downtown. And I went downtown, I sat down, and I said, ‘A cup of coffee, a hotdog.’

The lady said, ‘We don’t serve Negroes.’ I was so mad, I said, ‘I don’t eat them either, just give me a cup of coffee and a hamburger.’

You know, I said, ‘I’m the Olympic gold medal-winner. I won three days, I fought for this country in Rome, I won the gold medal, and I’m going to eat.’

And I heard her tell the manager, and he said, ‘Well, he’s got to go out.’ They put me out.

And I had to leave that restaurant in my hometown, where I went to church to serve in their Christianity, my Daddy fought in all the wars.

I just won the gold medal and I couldn’t eat downtown. I said, ‘Something’s wrong.’ And from then on, I’ve been a Muslim.

MP: Yes, I was going to ask you about what attracted you to leave to the Muslim faith.

MA: The truth. The teachings of Elijah Muhammad on how black people have been brainwashed.

How they’ve been taught to love white and hate black, how we’ve been robbed of our names in slavery.

We were robbed of our culture, we were robbed of our true history. So it left us a walking dead man.

So you got black people in an all-white country and they don’t know nothing about themselves.

They don’t speak their language, they’re just mentally dead. And this is happening all over the world.

But the first place that we’ll rise will be the black people of America, and then the rest of them will.

I was the one who heard the truth. And when I heard the truth about my name was not Cassius Clay, like I knew a black man in America named John Hawkins. Now, you know who John Hawkins was.

He was a slave trader from England. But the white people of that time, if one had five slaves and his name was Jones, they would be called Jones’ property.

If you was auctioned off to Mr Smith, your name was Smith. Identifying you as property of certain masters.

So now that I’m free, now that I’m no longer a slave, then I want a name of my ancestors.

Muhammad Ali. Like how would a Chinese look named Robert Smith? How would a German look named Edward Goldberg? A Jewish name.

So when I heard that we don’t have our names, we don’t speak our true Arabic language, we were robbed of Islam, our true religion, and we’ve been made deaf, dumb, and blind in slavery.

And Elijah Muhammad was taught by Allah, who we refer to as God, to teach us the truth that will free us.

And when I heard it, I’ve been free ever since. I have no racial problems, I don’t go where I’m not wanted.

I mean, I’m proud, and Islam did it. And after these things that I heard in church, a preacher and watching this and that, I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t pinpoint it.

But as soon as I heard the truth that Elijah Muhammad teaches us in America, it made me accept it.

MP: Can I put this to you though? Elijah Muhammad teaches separatism, the two races shall live separately and the blacks should have their own.

Could I put this to you? Wouldn’t it make more sense, and cause less pain all round in this battle, if it was integration rather than separatism. Why do you reject integration?

MA: Well, I tell you. Number one: We don’t want to stir up the people. We don’t hate nobody.

But Elijah Muhammad teaches us the truth of God beautified the planet by separating everybody in different countries for themselves: Chinese in China, English in England, Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico, Ethiopians in Ethiopia, Arabians in Arabia, Egyptians in Egypt, and Americans took that country and stole it away so there’s always going to be trouble and chaos.

It’s the saddest country. I noticed here the police do not have guns and do not hit people with sticks.

In America they got two policemen, five policemen and one car watching each other, each has got a pistol, one has got a machine gun, one’ got a shotgun and two dogs growling at each other.

They prowl the streets day and night - they shooting, hitting, it’s crazy.

And I understand that the worst people in England at a time were ran to America, for some reason.

Then slavery came and calls of aggression. But we’ve been there 600 years and there ain’t no peace between black and whites because the cultures are different - like the Chinese and Mexicans cannot integrate: the music is different, the eating is different.

MP: But do you think if to ever get this separate state, do you think it can be achieved bloodlessly? Or do you think there will be a fight?

MA: There won’t be on our part. We’re taught it’s impossible for us to be violent.

The most powerful military country in the world, America - which makes all the guns, all the machinery, all the bullets - taught us how to shoot the guns.

It’s impossible for 30 million black people to be violent against 170 million - we need a mental revolution, unity in coming together, and not physical.

When you say separation, what you’re saying is that black people must do something for themselves and not always beg white people to move in to their neighbourhoods.

And when you say integration, that comes with a marriage too, right?

And I’m sure no intelligent white person watching this show, in his or her right white mind, want black men and women marrying their white sons and daughters and in return introducing their grandchildren to half brown, kinky haired black people.

MP: I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t object to it.

MA: Well, you wouldn’t. But I’m sure a lot of them would. What I’m trying to say is - well, you say that but you’re on a show you gotta say that.

MP: No that’s not true.

MA: Why would you want to do that?

MP: Because I don’t think I’m any different to you, you see.

MA: Oh we’re much different. You know we’re different.

MP: Society’s made us different.

MA: No, not society. God made us different.

MP: No no. we’re just human beings. He made all of us.

MA: Listen, bluebirds fly with bluebirds. Red birds fly wanna be with red birds. Tell me when I’m wrong. Pigeons fly with pigeons.

MP: But we have intelligence.

MA: They don’t have intelligence, and yet they stay together. We should have more intelligence than them, right?

They all got different cultures. The eagles like to hang out in the mountains. The buzzard like to fly in the desert.

MP: But there’d certainly be problems a buzzard mating with a sparrow, wouldn’t there?

MA: Right. But we have problems too. I don’t see no black and white couples in England or America walking around proud holding their children and going out.

MP: That’s because society’s fault. We’ve got to educate people.

MA: But life is too short for me to be doing that. I’d rather be reading to my own: I have a beautiful daughter, beautiful wife.

They look like me, we all happy and I don’t have no trouble. And I ain’t that much in love with no woman to go through that hell - ain’t no one woman that good.

You understand?

MP: I do understand. But I think it’s sad that…

MA: It’s ain’t sad that I want my child to look like me? Every intelligent person wants their child to look like him.

I’m sad because I want to bow out of my race and leave my beautiful identity?

Chinese love Chinese. They love their little slant eyed, pale brown skinned babies. Pakistanis love their culture.

Jewish people love their culture. A lot of Catholics want to marry Catholics because the want their religion to stay the same.

Who would thought only of themselves and kill their race? You would hate other people if you don’t want to stay who you are.

You saying God made you. God didn’t make a mistake making us all like we are.

MP: I think that’s a philosophy of despair. I really do.

MA: Despair? It ain’t no despair. I wanna tell you something. Listen. No woman on this whole earth can please me and cook for me and socialise and talk to me like my American black woman.

No woman can really identify with me and the way I act and the way I talk.

And you can’t take no Chinese man and give him no Puerto Rican woman and talking like they’re in love and emotionally in love and physically.

When really they’re not happy because she got some Puerto Rican music, he’s got him some Chinese music and they’re going to be clashing all the time.

You can do what you want. But it’s nature to be with your own. I want to be with my own.

I love my people and I don’t hate nobody and it keeps me out of trouble.

MP: I believe you when you say you don’t hate anybody.

But Elijah Muhammad has been on record as saying he believes white men are devils. You don’t believe that, do you?

MA: Yeah, I believe everything he preach. Mainly he talks about the American white man.

You think I’m going to appear on American television and tell you I don’t believe in what Elijah Muhammad teach and I’m one of his number one main followers?

And if the white man ain’t the devil, he’s been aiming at the history of the Americans.

He didn’t mention anything about Europe or Sweden or Canada. America.

If he can prove he’s not the devil, then he should get on television and call the man a liar. No white man says he’s not the devil. He don’t say nothing.

MP: Are you saying that every white man in America is a devil? Was John F Kennedy a devil?

MA: Who am I to say he was the devil? I am not Elijah Muhammad.

I’ve heard Elijah Muhammad say that many white people mean right and in their heart want to do right.

But if 10,000 rattle snakes were coming down the aisle right there and I had a door I could shut, and one thousand of those snakes meant right.

Those rattle snakes didn’t want to bite me and I knew they were good. Should I let those rattle snakes come down, hoping that those one thousand get together and form a shield?

Or should I just close the door and stay safe. You understand?

The Viet Cong are not all bad. But America still dropping bombs. In Hiroshima weren’t bad but they still dropped the bomb.

In Korea they weren’t bad but they still dropped the bomb.

So now I’m going to forget the 400 years of lynching and killing raping and depriving my people feeding of justice and equality and the lowest of low last respect and I’m going to look at two or three white people who are trying to do right and don’t see the other million who are trying to kill me? I’m not that big of a fool.

And I’m not going to deny I believe everything he teach and for white people in the country who are not devils, then they should prove they are not devils.

They kill all our leaders. Those who ever come in to prominence. And it’s been happening and they never get the ones.

They went into an African prison and shot 35 brothers of mine - I knew most of them - they killed them outright they had no weapons.

Said they were going to slice the guard’s face but there was no guard’s face sliced - they just wanted to kill back people.

And who went to jail? Nobody. It happens every day. And they rape our women daily. Policemen pull black people over, hit them across the head and try them unjustly in court.

And none of those good white folks can be found to help us. And what am I going to tell you?

Get up and say Elijah Muhammad is wrong when he says they are the devil? They have to prove they are not the devil.

The history is the history of the devil. You cannot lynch and rape and kill and urn and castrate a man and rape his women for 400 years and slave ‘em and burn ‘em and still mistreat ‘em causing trouble everywhere they go and then you’re going to say he’s not the devil?

MP: I’d like to talk to you now about what happened when you refused to join the forces. As you said, the black Muslim movement

MA: It’s Just Muslim. Not black Muslim. That’s what the press call us because the history of Americans is to divide and conquer.

We got white Muslims, brown Muslims, yellow Muslims, tan Muslims, red Muslims and black muslims - we’re the same all over.

There ain’t no such thing as black Muslims. That’s how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world and divide us in America and make other Muslims think that we are not with them.

We are all the same. I recognise them and they recognise me. I’m invited to all of their homes all over the world and I’m invited to Muslim countries.

And the first thing they ask me is, ‘why do you call yourselves black Muslims?’.

I think we’re all brothers - that’s the truth. But the press gave us the name black Muslims to cut us off from the others.

MP: Alright, well you call yourselves a pacifist movement.

MA: What do you mean pacifist. I did not use the word pacifist.

MP: Well it’s in every article I’ve ever read about it. It’s been declared a pacifist movement.

MA: What does it mean?

MP: Well, that it doesn’t fight.

MA: It fights if we’re attacked.

MP: So you’re not a pacifist movement.

MA: If I’m attacked, fight like hell. If you attack me, I’m not in no foolish movement. We’r not going to be the aggressor.

We say at these meetings, we are not to be the aggressor but we will defend ourselves if attacked. Now we will fight, but we will not go looking to start one.

MP: But you refused to go and fight in Vietnam, was it because you disagreed with the war in Vietnam or because you disagree with fighting generally?

MA: I believe in the holy Koran. It says we declare ourselves to be righteous Muslims and do not take part in wars, or in no way fashion or form take the lives of humans unless it’s a holy war declared by God himself.

If you knew it was God calling you would fight for God.

MP: If it ever came, and God hope it never does, into a war between black and white you would fight then?

MA: Black and whites, how? A lot of wars are fought between black and whites daily in America.

But if it’s something I want to be with, the people who started it were black, I wouldn’t not get in it.

It would have to be a holy war declared by God himself. If some black man go out and start something, a riot or something or, I’m not going to jump in it and get killed because he’s gone out and started something I don’t believe in what he’s fighting for or his approach.

MP: You mentioned that you wrote poetry other than boxing - do you ever write about this other side of you?

MA: Well I wrote about this Africa prison killing the other day.

MP: Can I ask you, you see your place very clearly as an athlete and this particular dispute we’ve been talking about.

What about other black athletes - in particular Floyd Paterson.

MA: Floyd Paterson? Boy, he’s the complete opposite to me. He no way like me.

They go down in history for just being athletes. I’m getting more praise and credit for doing what I’m doing now on this show than coming here and beating five of your English champions.

Because right now black people are at home shouting at home jumping because they don’t have the nerve to say what I’m saying and nobody’s never said it.

And they’re just so happy to see a black man who will stand up and jeopardise every quart he’s got to tell the truth.

So, like Floyd Paterson and other fighters, they just don’t take part.

They make a million dollars, they get a Rolls Royce and a nice home and a white wife and think, ‘well, I made it’.

But when one man of popularity can let the world know the problem, he might lose a few dollars himself. He might lose his life. But he’s helping millions.

But if I kept my mouth shut, because I can make millions, that isn’t doing nothing.

So I can love freedom and the flesh and blood of my people moreso than I do the money.

You can tape this show and play it right in Washington and let Nixon hear it. I’m not ducking and running from nothing.

This boldness in telling the truth overshadows sport greatly. You couldn’t get Joe Frazier or no boxer on this show and get interest in a subject like this. He couldn’t talk about it.

‘How do you feel champ?’ (Does impression on Frazier’s smashed face)

MP: You mentioned Nixon there, and I was reading a piece Norman Mailer wrote about you and he described you as the second most prominent American.

The second, after Nixon. You might dispute that. Would you like to be president?

MA: No. No sir. Too dangerous. Life is like a ship. There’s people dancing on a ship.

There’s a lot of money on the ship, but I cannot integrate on the ship or get equality on the ship.

And I never could. I’m just in the galley working and I never could get up to see the captain of the ship.

Now, all of a sudden, the man tells me, ‘come on - I want you to leave the galley because I want you up here to have something to drink and giving me number one spot.

I’d think, ‘this ship must be sinking, right? Why’s he so nice to me now? What moves him to call me up here?’

Black men - one might be the president. Well, America’s in too much trouble - I don’t want that job now. Something to think about, ain’t it?

MP: To lighten it a little but away from the political thing for a while, I saw a picture of you in the paper two days ago cornered by a group of fans, mainly women, in the supermarket.

Can I ask what the problem is, if it is indeed a problem to you, about being regarded as one of the most attractive men and the fan adulation from women?

MA: I don’t pay much attention to it. I don’t consider myself no attractive man. People like Tom Jones and Elvis Presley - I’m not nothing like that.

MP: Whether you want it or not, you are. People have been saying, for years, you’re on of the most attractive men in the world.

MA: I know. I was just…

No I don’t pay it attention. I never heard that before I got to England - seriously, I never heard this before.

But I just try to stay half way decent looking. Boxing’s a rough sport and you get hit a lot.

Right after a fight I run right to the dressing room and right to the mirror and make sure I’m still, you know, presentable.

It’s a rough sport being punched on all the time. A lot of people’s features change. Mainly when I fight them.

MP: What about also being a champion, a thing that I’ve often wondered about, do you get people coming up to you and wanting to take a swing at you?

MA: A swing at ME? Repeat that question. What did you say? Do I do what?

MP: You hear it from some champions, saying that every guy thinks they can fight you or take you on.

And they’re going to prove it at a bar. Never happened to you?

MA: If a man dreamed to be, they better wake up and apologise. Walk up and just hit ME?

He would stand an easier chance in Vietnam with a BB gun. No, I’ve never noticed that.

You see movies of gangsters or fighters and somebody come up and hit him. I don’t have no trouble like that. Never.

MP: What about this other thing people have about champions. They must look at him and think he’s fearless of everything.

Are you fearless? Do you have fears of anything at all?

MA: Yeah. I tell you what I really fear. I fear aeroplanes. When the flight’s all right and smooth I’m still thinking, ‘what if the engine blow up?’ ‘What if a fool’s got a bomb on it?’

I go up to the cockpit and see all these things and think, ‘what if this thing switches off, and we’re between England and America over the ocean - where would we land?

And when we land, would I be able to get my life raft out? And when I get it out, will a shark come and bust the thing? All this is going through my mind.

I’ve been on planes flying through thunder storms when the pilot says, ‘ladies and gentlemen, we tried to fly around it but we can’t so it’s going to be rough’.

And when a pilot says it’s going to be bad, it’s going to be rough. And you say to youself, boy, I could have got the train.

MP: How do you travel when you’re in the States then?

MA: Mostly by Rolls Royce. (I’ve not been paid for that commercial).

MP: Talking about fear, do you ever get scared - or nervous - before a fight?

MA: I’m nervous but not scared. Because I have a great insight. I don’t see the audience.

I see the cameras and I see millions of people. The Frazier fight was seen by ten hundred million people.

Which is five times the population of the United States. Just picturing one million people and you couldn’t see them all.

Just thing about ten hundred people - that makes me nervous.

Just the idea of me, a humble fella from Kentucky, lucky in sports and now here’s the house and the fight was piped in to places like Thailand in the government house, and Arabian officials took time off just to watch two men boxing.

So many people of all races and nationalities. In Hawaii they closed all the factories and had televisions on every street corner and people came out to watch the fight on the streets.

It was on in every bar in America, even traffic stilled. And in Madison Square Gardens 1000 people couldn’t get in, just to watch one man. And that makes me nervous until I get started.

MP: And then no nerves at all?

MP: I read a book about you and he said one theory put forward by way of explanation towards your opponents before fights was in fact that this was nerves.

This was a way of working off your nerves, like you did with Liston and indeed all the people you fight. Where you psyche them out.

MA: I make predictions about what I’m going to do before a fight, that makes me nervous because I’ve gotten so good at it until people really look for me to do it.

If I say the man’s going to fall in round five, like your man Henry Cooper here, he was stopped in round five but it was on a cut - it wasn’t because he was out.

But usually ‘m on the spot with my predictions and some people really gamble and bet money on the rounds I say.

And they say, ‘if you don’t get him in round seven I lose my house, I lose my car’. So I say, did you really believe when I said that? That worries me.

MP: What about this prediction thing - is that a showbiz thing?

MA: It’s a little bit of showbiz and helps the crowd. I mean it but I put emphasis on it.

And a lot of time I’ve been lucky enough to predict 17 times what round. I missed four but I predicted, which is almost a miracle.

MP: Can you predict other things?

MA: A lot of things that I feel are going to happen, like we might go half a year without a plane crashing. I’m flying every day and think, ‘it’s time for a plane crash’. I don’t wish for nothing like that but I feel that things are too quiet.

At two or three days later, a plane crash landed here. And it’s always two or three in a row.

Sometimes I feel a lot of things but I keep it in. I’m sure we all have this built-in radar of what we predict and when it happens, we feel ‘I knew it’.

MP: You mentioned earlier the fear that you have, and every fighter must have it, of getting his face messed in.

MA: I don’t fear for that. Because I can control it. But I don’t control the aeroplane or the pilot.

Like when you’re in a car, when someone’s turning corners and you’re kinda on the edge and watching.

But when you’re behind the wheel it’s not like that. When I’m in the ring I don’t worry about nobody being that good to really hurt me.

Somebody say, ‘ssshh!’. If you don’t believe it, then come down here and try it.

MP: What about the other thing that can happen in a fight: brain damage. Because you said to me Frazier was under intensive treatment.

MA: Yeah, he’s OK now. They thought he might have some trouble.

James Ellis was in a critical state after the fight and I pulled offa him. Most fighters are scared to say they lightened up because they call the fight a fix or say, ‘you carried him’.

But people talk about fighters dying and how brutal it is. And they always say precautions should be taken and talk about how gloves should be bigger and fighters should wear face protection.

I think the best caution is, if a fella’s winning on points and has the guy just about out and he’s against the rope and just about gone, he should not try to hurt him just to satisfy the crowd or to make money.

Ellis has got a family, he’s an ex friend of mine and he wants to live too. It’s really silly, when you think about fighting.

Because I look at two other men fighting and I think, ‘I must be a fool’.

Here are two men like two roosters - you know, cock fighters - and they put knives on them and they are mad and fighting and don’t even know each other, just to please somebody.

And here are two men, fighting each other and they bleed and hurting each other.

What they mad about? They’re not mad about nothing.

There’s a bunch of agitating blood-thirsty people saying, ‘my man can whoop your man’ and y’all get in there and fight.

And he’s sitting there all dressed up with his beer and “ha ha ha ha ha” and they’re just fighting. And this is serious.

The nose is bleeding, the eyes cut, the teeth is out, and the brain might have a concussion just to please you human beings. It’s real savage.

And I said, I’m not going to be that kind of a fighter. I’m going to dance and be pretty. I’m just going to win on points.

And if I hurt my man I’m going to let him go and I’m not going to kill him just because somebody’s watching.

I did it to Floyd Paterson, I did and I did it to George Chuvalo, I did it to Carl Miltenberger, I did it to Henry Cooper when he started bleeding.

I pulled off him deliberately, blood pumping and gushing. He’s got family, he’s got children.

And I just can’t see myself with a man on the ropes and just to prove how bad I am - and I see in his eyes, his head, he’s hopeless - and I’m just deliberately hitting. I don’t do that.

MP: But I remember one fight I saw, I think you gave him a real going over, I think it was Zora Folley?

MA: No. One punch. He was a nice fella. I got him real quick. It was one right hand. I didn’t cut Folley at all.

That was my last fight before they took my title in Madison Square Gardens. It was in round seven, everything was going good.

Nobody was hurt. And he threw a jab, and that’s what did it. And I flew through him. The first one missed but the second one did it.

MP: Have you never lost your temper in the ring and really wanted to kill the guy?

MA: No. No!

MP: Come on, you must have Muhammad.

MA: Let me tell you, when I was a kid I got mad enough to want to kill somebody but as you travel the world and I’m struggling with a freedom fight against nations, you can’t get enough hate in you to be mad at one man just because it’s a boxing match.

Never. Even Floyd Paterson, who condemned my Islamic religion and didn’t want to call me Muhammad Ali and said I should’ve gone to the army and I should be in jail.

As bad as he was, I wasn’t really mad at him. Because he was brainwashed by the establishment.

I gave him a whooping and a spanking because I was looking towards those who backed him.

Frank Sinatra told Floyd Paterson how he should whoop me. Frank Sinatra.

And he had Floyd Paterson in his room, he came to Las Vegas and he was singing in a nightclub and saying Floyd was his boy to whoop that old black Muslim. His good Roman Catholic boy Floyd Paterson.

And you know after that fight, Frank wouldn’t talk to him. It was in a magazine.

He went back to tell Frank he was sorry he didn’t bring the title back to America - all that silly stuff.

And Frank Sinatra turned his back and walked out on him. He put in a book how bad he felt that he had let down Frank Sinatra.

MP: You’ve talked about being pretty and fighting clever. Do you think you’ve changed heavyweight boxing for the better?

MA: During my time, my era, things have changed. More interest. Like when my title was taken, boxing died.

Joe Frazier fought his last fight with Bobby Foster in Detroit, Michigan. They drew about 4500 people - the place held about 11,000.

I do more than that in training. We had 11,000 at the supermarket the other day in Birmingham.

And Manchester I had 12,000 - 15000, just talking and signing autographs.

Now that I’m back it’s alive again.

What did I do? When they gave me my title back I could have waited for Joe Frazier but I didn’t.

I fought Jerry Quarry, gave him a chance. Then I fought the rough Oscar Bonavena - the man who almost whooped Joe Frazier. Then I was on Joe Frazier.

I livened the game right up. Right after Joe Frazier, while he was still resting, I fought James Ellis.

Then I signed to fight Buster Mathis. So, in 1971, I’ve had just about five fights and I’ve go three more planned after Buster Mathis.

I keep it alive.

You have good man in this city called Joe Bugner. I want to give him a shot at it.

I mean, if he’s crazy enough I’ll give him a chance. I was just joking - I heard he’s a pretty good upcomer.

MP: Are you able to say how you might have managed against some of the great ones of the past?

MA: I can’t really say. Like Joe Lewis was one of the greatest fist fighters but didn’t have the foot work.

But he would take his time and had sharp, hard punches. And Dempsey was more of a wild, rough fighter - a little like Marciano.

Mariano was the best slugger - I would say street fighter. And Jack Johnson had this great boxer style. Gene Tunney was a great.

Tony Galento was a little heavy-set fella who hit real hard to the body.

I had my style of moving and dancing and whatever I do. What you have to do, is take all the fighters you want and me and rank me where you want. I can’t tell you.

MP: What plans do you have for the future now - apart from fighting?

MA: Let me tell you something - I’ve never said this before. I really care nothing about boxing.

Boxing is a stepping stone just to introduce me to the audience. If I was still in Louisville, Kentucky and never was a boxer I still might get killed next week in some kind of freedom struggle and you’d ever hear the news.

But now, if I even say the wrong thing I make the news.

Boxing is just to introduce me to the struggle. Like, when I speak I draw people in the States to teach them various things or to give them dignity, pride and self-help. I have to help the dope and prostitution problem.

And I use my image to try to help young people fighting and killing each other. Boxing is just going to be another year.

But my main fight is for freedom and equality. This is what I plan to do.

Boxing is good for the livelihood but mainly, money don’t really mean nothing - cos I proved that by gave up the title, not knowing that I wouldn’t be back for four years.

And they let me back on my terms - I didn’t deny nothing I believe. I’m still the same everything.

Even today, if my title hadn’t been given back to me and I was in such poverty where I had to go and find a job, I would have done that.

But I made a good living speaking in colleges. Cos the war got unpopular and so many black militants were trying to do all they could.

And I naturally I was right in the middle of it and represented all of it and that kept me alive. But if I couldn’t fight I would still not be fighting.

So number one comes freedom first for my people and equality. And this is what I plan to do after I’m through fighting - working with nothing but the people, the little people in the alleys: the downtrodden people, going out and helping them with my image.

MP: Do you find that people’s attitude in America changed towards you.

Those that criticised you at first when you refused to go in the army - afterwards, three-and-a-half years later when Vietnam became an unpopular war - did you then become a hero?

MA: Only for reasons of war, not for religion or my people’s freedom. They later agreed with me on just that subject.

But the same people that are with me for not going to Vietnam because I saved them and their children.

The same people will give me hell if I turn to them and say, ‘let’s free my people now’.

They’re with me on one part of my beliefs about the war, that’s all. Not for my freedom.

MP: There’s talk of a rematch with Frazier and anyone who saw the first fight I’m sure they’ll want to see because it was a great fights - one of the best I’ve ever seen.

Are you going to make a prediction about your return?

MA: Well, I have a poem. The fight goes like this:

Ding! Ali comes out to meet Frazier but Frazier starts to retreat

If Frazier goes back an inch farther he’ll wind up in a ringside seat

Ali swings to the left, Ali swings to the right. Look at the kid carry the fight.

Frazier keeps backing but there’s not enough room.

It’s a matter of time Ali lowers the boom.

Now Ali lands to the right. What a beautiful swing. And the punch lifts Frazier clean out of the ring.

Frazier’s still rising but the referee wears a frown

For he can’t start counting til Frazier comes down.

Now Frazier disappears from view

The crowd is getting frantic.

But our radar station picks him up

He’s somewhere over the Atlantic.

Who would have thought when they come to the fight

That we’d see the launching of a coloured satellite.

MA: I have one more poem about your show. I asked how much money was I getting, you know, for taking up my time.

I was told your budget was kinda low and you don’t pay too much.

So I wrote a poem and I’m going to close with this:

I love your show

And I like your style

But your pay is so cheap

I won’t be back for a while.

Muhammad Ali's Moving Speech on the Meaning of Life: 'Get Ready to Meet God'

The boxing legend gave the inspiring speech in 1977, four years before his permanent retirement

Not only did Muhammad Ali have a big presence inside the ring as a professional boxer, the sports legend also had an even bigger presence outside of it. Ali died on Friday at the Phoenix-area hospital he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications. He was 74.

Back in July 1977 during a four-day visit to England, four years before his permanent retirement, the star was interviewed by Reg Gutteridge for a TV show from Eldon Square Recreation Center in Newcastle. There Ali was asked by a young fan about what he would do if/when he walks away from the boxing world. Little did anyone expect to hear Ali deliver such an awe-inspiring speech on the meaning of life.

“Life is not really long,” the reigning heavyweight boxing champion said. “Let’s say the average person is 30-years-old. If you’re 30 years old, you’re not but about 7 years old. How can I prove it? Add up all the 7, 8, 9 hours you slept each night for 30 years. Last night when you went to bed and woke up this morning, you don’t remember a thing. You’ve been unconscious for about 8 years if you’re 30 years old.”

Ali explained the various monotonies in life that pass by before one realizes their true purpose in life.

“Add up all your traveling, all your sleeping, your school, your entertainment, you probably spent half your life doing nothing,” he said. “So now I’m 35 years old. 30 more years I’ll be 65. We don’t have no more influence, we can’t do nothin’ much at 65, your wife will tell you that.

“When you’re 65, ain’t too much more to do so. Did you know I will be 65 in 30 more years? In those 30 years, I have to sleep 9 years. I don’t have 30 years of daylight. And out of my next 30 years, I might have 16 years to be productive. What am I going to do in the next 16 years, what is the best thing I can do? Get ready to meet God.”

Ali further stated that “going into real estate, going in business, teaching boxers, that won’t get me to heaven.” Rather, selfless actions for the sake of humanity.

“So what I’m gonna do when I get out of boxing? Is to get myself ready to meet God. Don’t people die everyday? It’s a scary thing to think that I’m going to hell to burn eternally forever so what am I gonna do? When I get out of boxing or when I’m through I’m gonna do all I can to help people,” said Ali.

“He wants to know how do we treat each other, how do we help each other. So I’m going to dedicate my life to using my name and popularity to helping charities, helping people, uniting people,” he continued, adding, “We need somebody in the world to help us all make peace. So when I die, if there’s a heaven, I want to see it.”

“The most important thing is what’s gonna happen when you die, are you going to go to heaven or hell, and that’s eternity. How long is eternity? So what am I gonna do when I’m through fighting? I only have 16 years to be productive, get myself ready to meet God and go to the best place, does that make sense?”

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Muhammad Ali

By: History.com Editors

Updated: February 27, 2024 | Original: December 16, 2009

Super Fight II was a non-title boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The second of the three Ali-Frazier bouts, it took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 28, 1974.

Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) was an American former heavyweight champion boxer and one of the greatest sporting figures of the 20th century. An Olympic gold medalist and the first fighter to capture the heavyweight title three times, Ali won 56 times in his 21-year professional career. Ali’s outspokenness on issues of race, religion and politics made him a controversial figure during his career, and the heavyweight’s quips and taunts were as quick as his fists.

Born Cassius Clay Jr., Ali changed his name in 1964 after joining the Nation of Islam. Citing his religious beliefs, he refused military induction and was stripped of his heavyweight championship and banned from boxing for three years during the prime of his career. Parkinson’s syndrome severely impaired Ali’s motor skills and speech, but he remained active as a humanitarian and goodwill ambassador.

Muhammad Ali’s Early Years and Amateur Career

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., the elder son of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. (1912-1990) and Odessa Grady Clay (1917-1994), was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky . It was a red-and-white Schwinn that steered the future heavyweight champion to the sport of boxing. When his beloved bicycle was stolen, a tearful 12-year-old Clay reported the theft to Louisville police officer Joe Martin (1916-1996) and vowed to pummel the culprit. Martin, who was also a boxing trainer, suggested that the upset youngster first learn how to fight, and he took Clay under his wing. Six weeks later, Clay won his first bout in a split decision.

Did you know? Muhammad Ali has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated 38 times, second only to basketball great Michael Jordan.

By age 18 Clay had captured two national Golden Gloves titles, two Amateur Athletic Union national titles and 100 victories against eight losses. After graduating high school, he traveled to Rome and won the light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Clay won his professional boxing debut on October 29, 1960, in a six-round decision. From the start of his pro career, the 6-foot-3-inch heavyweight overwhelmed his opponents with a combination of quick, powerful jabs and foot speed, and his constant braggadocio and self-promotion earned him the nickname “Louisville Lip.”

Muhammad Ali: Heavyweight Champion of the World

After winning his first 19 fights, including 15 knockouts, Clay received his first title shot on February 25, 1964, against reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (1932-1970). Although he arrived in Miami Beach, Florida, a 7-1 underdog, the 22-year-old Clay relentlessly taunted Liston before the fight, promising to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” and predicting a knockout. When Liston failed to answer the bell at the start of the seventh round, Clay was indeed crowned heavyweight champion of the world. In the ring after the fight, the new champ roared, “I am the greatest!”

At a press conference the next morning, Clay, who had been seen around Miami with controversial Nation of Islam member Malcolm X (1925-1965), confirmed the rumors of his conversion to Islam. On March 6, 1964, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) bestowed on Clay the name of Muhammad Ali.

Ali solidified his hold on the heavyweight championship by knocking out Liston in the first round of their rematch on May 25, 1965, and he defended his title eight more times. Then, with the Vietnam War raging, Ali showed up for his scheduled induction into the U.S. Armed Forces on April 28, 1967. Citing his religious beliefs, he refused to serve. Ali was arrested, and the New York State Athletic Commission immediately suspended his boxing license and revoked his heavyweight belt.

Convicted of draft evasion, Ali was sentenced to the maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, but he remained free while the conviction was appealed. Many saw Ali as a draft dodger, and his popularity plummeted. Banned from boxing for three years, Ali spoke out against the Vietnam War on college campuses. As public attitudes turned against the war, support for Ali grew. In 1970 the New York State Supreme Court ordered his boxing license reinstated, and the following year the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction in a unanimous decision.

Muhammad Ali’s Return to the Ring

After 43 months in exile, Ali returned to the ring on October 26, 1970, and knocked out Jerry Quarry (1945-1999) in the third round. On March 8, 1971, Ali got his chance to regain his heavyweight crown against reigning champ Joe Frazier (1944-2011) in what was billed as the “Fight of the Century.” The undefeated Frazier floored Ali with a hard left hook in the final round. Ali got up but lost in a unanimous decision, experiencing his first defeat as a pro.

Ali won his next 10 bouts before being defeated by Ken Norton (1943-). He won the rematch six months later in a split decision and gained further revenge in a unanimous decision over Frazier in a non-title rematch. The victory gave the 32-year-old Ali a title shot against 25-year-old champion George Foreman (1949-). The October 30, 1974, fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, was dubbed the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali, the decided underdog, employed his “rope-a-dope” strategy, leaning on the ring ropes and absorbing a barrage of blows from Foreman while waiting for his opponent to tire. The strategy worked, and Ali won in an eighth-round knockout to regain the title stripped from him seven years prior.

Ali successfully defended his title in 10 fights, including the memorable “Thrilla in Manila” on October 1, 1975, in which his bitter rival Frazier, his eyes swollen shut, was unable to answer the bell for the final round. Ali also defeated Norton in their third meeting in a unanimous 15-round decision.

On February 15, 1978, an aging Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks (1953-) in a 15-round split decision. Seven months later, Ali defeated Spinks in a unanimous 15-round decision to reclaim the heavyweight crown and become the first fighter to win the world heavyweight boxing title three times.

After announcing his retirement in 1979, Ali launched a brief, unsuccessful comeback. However, he was overwhelmed in a technical knockout loss to Larry Holmes (1949-) in 1980, and he dropped a unanimous 10-round decision to Trevor Berbick (1954-2006) on December 11, 1981. After the fight, the 39-year-old Ali retired for good with a career record of 56 wins, five losses and 37 knockouts.

Muhammad Ali’s Later Years and Legacy

In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome, possibly connected to the severe head trauma suffered during his boxing career. The former champion’s motor skills slowly declined, and his movement and speech were limited. In spite of the Parkinson’s, Ali remained in the public spotlight, traveling the world to make humanitarian, goodwill and charitable appearances. He met with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) in 1990 to negotiate the release of American hostages, and in 2002 he traveled to Afghanistan as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Ali had the honor of lighting the cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 1999 Ali was voted the BBC’s “Sporting Personality of the Century,” and Sports Illustrated named him “Sportsman of the Century.” Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a 2005 White House ceremony, and in the same year the $60 million Muhammad Ali Center, a nonprofit museum and cultural center focusing on peace and social responsibility, opened in Louisville.

Ring Magazine named Ali “Fighter of the Year” five times, more than any other boxer, and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Ali has been married four times and has seven daughters and two sons. He married his fourth wife, Yolanda, in 1986. Ali died at the age of 74 on June 3, 2016.

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Muhammad Ali's Moving Speech on the Meaning of Life: 'Get Ready to Meet God'

Ali explained the various monotonies in life that pass by before one realizes their true purpose in life.

Ali further stated that “going into real estate, going in business, teaching boxers, that won’t get me to heaven.” Rather, selfless actions for the sake of humanity.

This article originally appeared on PEOPLE.com.

Muhammad Ali's Moving Speech on the Meaning of Life: 'Get Ready to Meet God'

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John Legend Reads Muhammad Ali’s 1966 Antiwar Speech: “The Real Enemy of My People is Right Here”

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Muhammad Ali
Ishmael Reed educator, writer and activist. He is author of the book, The Complete Muhammad Ali , which was published last year. Reed is a 1998 recipient of the MacArthur “genius” award and is currently a visiting scholar at the California College of the Arts.
Voice of a People's History

Music legend John Legend reads Muhammad Ali’s speech against the Vietnam War in 1966. “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam, while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?” Ali said. John Legend’s reading appears in the film “The People Speak,” which is based on Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove’s “Voices of a People’s History of the United States.”

AMY GOODMAN : Well, I want to turn to the famed singer-songwriter John Legend reading the words of Muhammad Ali’s 1966 speech on Vietnam.

JOHN LEGEND : [reading Muhammad Ali] “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam, while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No, I am not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would put my prestige in jeopardy and could cause me to lose millions of dollars which should accrue to me as the champion.

But I have said it once, and I will say it again: The real enemy of my people is right here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people, they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. But I either have to obey the laws of the land or the laws of Allah. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail. We’ve been in jail for 400 years.”

AMY GOODMAN : That was John Legend, yes, the singer-songwriter, in a clip from The People Speak , which was inspired by the late great historian Howard Zinn’s groundbreaking books, A People’s History of the United States and Voices of a People’s History of the United States . That speech was Muhammad Ali’s speech. Ishmael Reed, talk about what happened to him, being—announcing that he would not go to war, being sentenced to five years in prison, being stripped of his heavyweight title, the case going right to the U.S. Supreme Court, before it was overturned, before it was reversed.

ISHMAEL REED : Well, Ron Lyle, who fought Muhammad Ali, said that the three years that were taken out of his career missed a—did not provide an opportunity for us to see him at his prime. And after that three-year absence from the ring, he lost his speed, slowed down. Before, you couldn’t hit the guy. I mean, he said he was pretty because people couldn’t touch him. But after he lost his speed, people could hit him, and you could touch him, and that continued to the end of his career. Now, I interviewed the great trainer, Emanuel Steward, who said that—who incidentally said that he thought that Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. But he said that Ali should have quit after he fought George Foreman. And even in that fight, he took a lot of punishment to the body. So, I think the three years deprived him of, you know, our seeing him at his prime.

AMY GOODMAN : George Foreman was the Rumble in the Jungle?

ISHMAEL REED : Mm-hmm.

AMY GOODMAN : In what was then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mobutu Sese Seko set up this whole battle, one that the dictator didn’t even go actually to see, perhaps afraid he would be assassinated if he came out in public?

ISHMAEL REED : Well, he thought—they thought that the people would elect Muhammad Ali leader, you know, the president of the Congo. That’s why Mobutu was afraid. But, you know, Muhammad Ali did sort of play footsies with dictators like Mobutu, Marcos. I interviewed the great journalist Emil Guillermo, who used to work for NPR . I met him, a Harvard graduate. He said that the fight in Manila brought the Philippines into the 20th century. They were no longer dismissed as “our little brown cousins,” but became a first-class nation because of that fight and the publicity that came as a result of that fight. Now, the Aquino family was in San Francisco and other places. They objected to that fight, because they thought it would bring prestige to Marcos. But at the same time where he’s palling around with Marcos, he went out and met with the rebels during Ramadan. So, that shows you how complex Ali was.

AMY GOODMAN : We’re going to break, and when we come back, we’ll also be joined by Elizabeth Alexander. Ishmael Reed is an educator, writer, activist. His latest book, The Complete Muhammad Ali . Reed the recipient of the MacArthur “genius” award, currently visiting scholar at the California College of Arts. We’re going to hear Elizabeth Alexander recite her poem, “Narrative: Ali.” Stay with us.

Next story from this daily show

“narrative: ali”: elizabeth alexander recites her poem written from muhammad ali’s perspective.

“Are You Muslim?”: Muhammad Ali’s Son & Former Wife on their Detention & Interrogation at FL Airport

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In 1975, Harvard got a glimpse of Muhammad Ali’s true greatness

The Champ spoke truth to power in a way no one did then or has done since

Up Next From Sports

The footage is simultaneously exhilarating and haunting.

In the rare recording we see a handsome, self-assured Muhammad Ali speaking to the Harvard University graduating class of 1975 , where he had been invited to give the commencement address.

“I’m very flattered in coming here ‘cause you never could have made me believe years ago when I got out of high school with a D-minus average,” Ali said. “And they gave me the minus because I won the Olympics.”

Ali won the light heavyweight division gold medal in the 1960 Rome Games when he was still known as Cassius Clay.

When he addressed the Harvard graduates in ‘75, Ali was at the height of his popularity and was arguably one of most highly recognized faces in the world.

The Champ was 33 years old. Just eight months earlier, in October 1974, Ali had pulled off one of the greatest upsets in boxing history when he defeated the seemingly invincible 25-year-old champion George Foreman, in Zaire — the famous “ Rumble in the Jungle. ”

With the victory, Ali regained the world heavyweight boxing title that had been stripped from him in 1967. His title had been taken not by a boxer, but by boxing’s sanctioning commission in April 1967 after he refused to be inducted into the U.S. military.

In his 1975 talk at Harvard, Ali spoke about Uncle Toms and a condition of black brainwashing that he said kept blacks shackled.

“I don’t do no Uncle Tom-ing. I don’t do no shuffling,” he sad. “The Ali shuffle, but I don’t do the Tom shuffle.” The audience roared its approval as he then demonstrated the Ali shuffle.

Ali told the graduates he was baffled by the extent to which African-Americans in the civil rights movement went through such pains to desegregate, to push to go where they were unwanted. “Even before I was who I was,” he was baffled and angered as black demonstrators suffered physical abuse “marching, people pouring water on you, putting dogs on you. What in the hell is worth that? You got to be crazy, watching your sisters all beat up.”

He implored the black community to come back to itself, to embrace self-sufficiency. “We got the best food, the best music, everything else,” Ali said. There certainly were black Harvard graduates who appreciated the courage of those who risked life and limb to break down barriers to equal opportunity. But Ali’s underlying message of black brainwashing was on point.

He talked about the depiction of Jesus with blue eyes, of Tarzan as the white king of the jungle, beating up black Africans. He described white angels, white Miss America. “Everything good was white, the angel food cake was white, devil food cake was chocolate.”

As I watched the audience react to Ali, I wondered if the graduates, many of whom would become politicians, business magnates and leaders, heard what Ali was saying. I wonder how many today recognize how thoroughly that truth still resonates.

Ali won the world heavyweight title in 1964 when he knocked out the heavily favored Sonny Liston in the seventh round. Three years later, he was stripped of the crown after he refused on religious grounds to serve in the military, famously saying, “ I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong.”

This month marks the 51st anniversary of Ali’s conviction. He was sentenced to five years in prison (which he never served because his case was appealed). Ali received a fine of $10,000 and was also banned from boxing for three years.

Interestingly, two months before Ali’s address at Harvard, South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam. A month before the address, President Gerald Ford essentially declared an official end to the war.

Four months after the Harvard speech, Ali survived 14 punishing rounds of boxing to defeat Joe Frazier in Manila. Called the “Thrilla In Manila,” that fight arguably is one of the greatest in Ali’s career. There were more chapters to follow. Ali lost to Leon Spinks in 1978, and regained the title the same year by defeating Spinks.

Looking at the footage of Ali’s 1975 speech at Harvard now, we know his story would end with physical deterioration after years of absorbing punishment. Even in 1975, there were concerns about Ali’s health.

I interviewed Foreman at his Livermore, California, ranch a year after his 1974 fight with Ali and he expressed an awareness of, if not concern for, Ali’s long-term health. What struck me then and even now as I reflect on Foreman’s comments is how thoroughly Ali had gotten inside of Foreman’s head.

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That defeat compelled Foreman to change his entire approach to boxing. Foreman realized that Ali had it right all along. The fight game, at its core, was entertainment. It was a game of charades. Years later, Foreman would reinvent himself as the lovable, cuddly, health-conscious Big George, inventor of the George Foreman grill.

When I look around my home and my office and see images of Ali, I realize I am as heavily invested in Ali as my father was in Joe Louis, the indomitable Brown Bomber.

And just like my father, I am just as unwilling to let emerging facts of Ali’s life diminish the impact he has had on my life, or on his heroism.

I have read multiple Ali biographies. My conclusion: Muhammad Ali was a human being, with all the flaws, frailties, contradictions and complexities that go along with being human.

He stood up to the U.S. government’s war machine and spoke for thousands in 1967 when he said, “Hell, no, I won’t go.” Many of those thousands were in the audience at Harvard. That’s why Ali was given a hero’s welcome, why he was celebrated in life and why he will be celebrated in death. He did not run and he did not hide.

Muhammad Ali was and is a true American hero.

William C. Rhoden, the former award-winning sports columnist for The New York Times and author of Forty Million Dollar Slaves, is a writer-at-large for Andscape.

Speech Crafting →

Muhammad Ali Speech Analysis: A Closer Look at His Messages

Featured-image-MUHAMMAD-ALI-SPEECH-ANALYSIS

Muhammad Ali is widely considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, and he was also an inspirational speaker.

As we look back at a few of his incredible speeches, it's worth examining the words Ali used to convey his message - and the methods he employed to ensure it had the largest impact possible.

What techniques did Ali use to evoke emotion and spur his audience to action? What effect did his words have on the listening crowd - and, decades later, on us?

In this blog post, we'll be taking a closer look at Muhammad Ali's most inspiring speech and uncovering the key elements that made it extraordinary.

Quick Answer

The most prominent themes in Muhammad Ali's most famous speech include self-confidence, individualism, and determination. He also highlights the importance of working together to create an inclusive and just society.

Muhammad Ali's Boxing Career

Muhammad Ali is one of the most iconic figures in sports history. His prowess as a boxer was unparalleled, highlighted by his Olympic gold medal from the 1960 Summer Games and three heavyweight boxing titles.

He came out of the slums of Louisville with an unwavering self-confidence and swagger that earned him admiration and criticism in equal measure. His bouts with the likes of Joe Frazier and George Foreman remain legendary to this day. Many have argued that Ali was a polarizing figure who used his unquestioned talent to create controversy and flaunt cultural norms. Ali himself took pride in his boldness to stand up against oppression and racism, especially when it came to military conscription during the Vietnam War.

This inspired countless fans around the world but resulted in a 3 year ban from the sport he loved so much. Others saw his actions as selfish and wrong-headed, bringing negative attention to the sport at a time when people simply wanted to enjoy their favorite fighters in action. Regardless of how one chooses to view Muhammad Ali's behavior, there is no denying his incredible accomplishments in the ring and seismic impact on culture.

As we examine his speech at Harvard University, it's important to recognize all that he accomplished throughout his boxing career both inside and outside of the ring.

Analysis of Muhammad Ali's Speech

Muhammad Ali's most inspiring speech was undoubtedly a powerful call to action communicated with profound effectiveness. His words captured the attention of millions and resonated strongly with many.

The words and structure of his speech spanned from justifying the unification of emboldened citizens, to turning heads with a poetic twist in his delivery, which varied from both a religious and nationalistic perspective. Analysis of Ali’s speech would first start by looking at the unity he calls for. He emphasizes how the strength in numbers can create lasting change and willingness to stand up against oppression—even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. This unifies people across colors, boundaries, languages and backgrounds alike and builds a compelling argument for why individuals should band together. However, another angle could be seen as potentially undermining the power of diversity and people's individual preferences by encouraging those same individuals to set aside those differences in order to unite for one cause.

In this way, it could be argued that creating collective power to fight injustice comes at the cost of stifling individual expression in their own unique ways—while still inspiring others through unified action. When viewed through this lens, it seems that Muhammad Ali's speech were more successful at inciting certain groups of people than others if they shared similar struggles or backgrounds. Nevertheless, regardless of whether or not one agrees with his message, there is no denying the formidable impact Muhammad Ali’s most inspiring speech had on audiences worldwide - delivering a powerful message of hope and unity that still resonates with us today.

With this in mind, we are now ready to delve further into his message of nationalism within our analysis of Muhammad Ali's most inspiring speech .

Most Important Points to Remember

Muhammad Ali was renowned for his inspirational ability to draw crowds together and unite them in a common cause. His most powerful speech combined religious perspectives , nationalistic views, and a poetic delivery to encourage people to rally together and take a stand against injustice.

While some may see this call for unified action as an infringing of individual expression, it is undeniable that the words of Ali captivated millions with a message of hope and solidarity that remains relevant today.

His Message of Nationalism

Muhammad Ali’s most inspiring speech was not only rooted in his sheer conviction and strength, but also inspired many with a strong message of nationalism.

He spoke with pride and assurance that he, as an African American, was a powerful representative of his nation regardless of society’s views on the matter. His sense of pride in his country and its people resonated with those present in his speech, no matter their origin. On one hand, some argued that this nationalism-focused rhetoric was dangerous and further divided people based on their racial backgrounds rather than uniting them for a common cause. They argued that this type of speech could pit individuals together and divide classes.

On the other hand, however, some view Ali’s message of nationalism as both avant-garde and timely. As an African American and public figure, he was able to speak out against oppressive power structures while simultaneously having immense national pride regardless of racism at the time. It is important to recognize that Ali's lecture showed that it is possible to be proud of your nation without subscribing to any oppressive ideas or values projected onto him. Regardless of disputatious opinions surrounding nationalism, Muhammad Ali’s most inspiring speech used his strong message of nationality to resonate with people from all walks of life.

He was an inspiration then and continues to be an example today on how everyone can represent their nation proudly regardless of differences among them. Next, we will take a closer look at how Ali integrates religious faith into his influential messages.

His Message of Religious Faith

Muhammad Ali was an iconic figure not just for his impressive athleticism, but also for the messages he conveyed through his words.

One of the most powerful messages Ali would often refer to in his speeches were his religious beliefs, often tying it into why he was so successful and what inspired him along his journey. He was an open Muslim and vocal about it to a country that, at the time, was largely divided on the issue both on the religious level and political level. Though he gained a large audience consisting of many who admired him, there were also those who strongly disagreed with his outspoken religious beliefs. Some believed that religion should be kept separate from public figures, while others shared Ali’s views and supported him in continuing to be vocal despite possible backlash. Regardless of the opinion, Ali was intent on using his platform to promote his faith and encourage others to do the same without fear or shame. As he famously said during one of his famous speeches. “The man who has no imagination has no wings”- meaning if you believe in something regardless of what others think or say you can achieve greatness.

Faith was central to who Ali was and will always remain a symbolic reminder of the impact he had on American culture, pushing conversations towards empowerment and spiritual growth. The core message found within Ali’s speech is inspiring; despite any push back that might come from expressing your faith publicly, it is important to remain true to yourself and stand up for what you believe in. Moving forward this section will discuss how Muhammad Ali pushed this idea crucial concept further by inspiring courage amongst those listening.

His Message of Courage

Muhammad Ali's message of courage is one of his most powerful messages in the speech. He talks about how true courage isn't a trait someone is born with, but instead something that develops over time by facing adversity and overcoming it—courage may be found in the heart of anyone who chooses to pursue it.

"I know fear is an obstacle for some people," he said, "but it's an illusion to me . . . Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." Ali's message encourages us to embrace failure and bravely stand against all odds to push ourselves forward despite our fears. The idea of courage being within everyone has been debated among many philosophers throughout history. Some argue we are all born with some form of innate courage as it is essential for survival, while others maintain that courage must be learned, nurtured, and cultivated in order for us to have access to this quality. Ali's timeless message of courage speaks deeply to everyone who hears it and serves as an inspiring reminder that anything is possible if we are willing to tackle our fears with courage and resilience. His powerful words resonate more than ever in today's day and age where we need more hope than ever. With this powerful call to action, Muhammad Ali shows us what can happen when we refuse to give up no matter how daunting the challenge ahead. With these profound thoughts on courage in mind, let us now take a closer look into Muhammad Ali's message of youthful greatness.

His Message of Youthful Greatness

Muhammad Ali’s most inspiring speech is an example of how he continually transcended the normal boundaries of greatness. In this speech, delivered to a crowd of admiring young fans, Ali offers an inspirational message about the power and importance of youthful energy and ambition.

He encourages young people in the audience to use their youth as a source of strength and drive instead of becoming discouraged. Self-confidence, he emphasizes, is essential for setting and achieving goals in life. Moreover, Ali touches on the importance of striving for success even in the face of adversity. Although his words carry a powerful, positive connotation, some critics have argued that it could be interpreted by those in attendance to mean that anything less than having global recognition equal to Ali’s was deemed a failure. This potential framing could lead some young men and women to think they must achieve material or celebrity success to reach true greatness.

On the other hand, many have praised this sentiment as a reminder that pursuing any lofty ambition takes effort and determination, no matter what path one takes in life. Ultimately, Ali’s uplifting message centers around encouraging young people everywhere to believe in themselves and strive for greatness through honest hard work. These words still resonate with audiences today, and serve as a timeless reminder of the power each person holds inside them no matter their age or circumstances.

Moving forward, in order to understand how Muhammad Ali’s words remain relevant today, it is important to consider his legacy and its lasting impact. To do so, we turn now to explore “The Legacy of Muhammad Ali”.

The Legacy of Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is one of the most iconic and celebrated sports figures in history, particularly lauded for his verbal acuity and uncompromising principles. His commitment to civil rights, international peace, and social justice propelled him to become a global icon transcending time and place.

Through the spoken and written word, he expressed powerful truths regarding the urgent need for human dignity and societal change. Moreover, Ali’s influence on popular culture extended far beyond the boxing arena during his lifetime; his words remain relevant today. By striving to uplift others and create positive change, Ali inspired generations of individuals to stand up for what they believe in. This characteristic courage was best expressed by him saying “impossible is nothing," which has been adopted by many companies for their advertising needs.

His legacy serves as a reminder that no challenge should be too large to overcome when patience and perseverance are applied. Throughout his life, Ali made sure his focus was on the wrongs within society instead of just celebrating his wins in life. Ali used this platform to spread awareness on poverty and racism, urging society to make changes that positively impacted millions of people around the world.

His willingness to take risks by bucking the status quo showed immense strength of character; he openly fought against individuals whose ideologies threatened basic human decency. Considering the legacy left behind by Muhammad Ali, it is safe to say that the impact of his words have been indelible both at home and abroad. The power of speech can never be underestimated; it has served as a catalyst for self-expression and personal growth throughout history.

As demonstrated by Muhammad Ali, through passionate words one individual can spark immense change that inspires future generations. His inspiring speech played an integral role in advancing social causes, giving hope to those who felt powerless in society's stratified hierarchy. By resonating with audiences from all walks of life, he demonstrated how concise phraseology can arouse meaningful dialogue among people from diverse backgrounds.

In light of this profound influence, the next section will explore the impact of Muhammad Ali's speech on social justice movements across America today.

The Impact of Muhammad Ali's Speech

The impact of Muhammad Ali’s speech has been heavily debated and discussed. Often hailed as a pivotal moment in both Black history and the civil rights movement, many find inspiration in how Ali used his platform to challenge the injustices experienced by African Americans.

In fact, experts have noted that his speech was “direct and challenging”, which had a call-to-action effect on the African American community. On the other hand, some critics have argued that Ali's speech had limited long-term impact due to its lack of specific solutions or strategies for addressing racial injustice. Additionally, some point out that Ali's speech was led by optimism at a time of deep racial divides and unrest - a luxury many African Americans did not have at the time. Regardless of your opinion about the immediate impact of Ali's speech, it is undeniable that it still resonates strongly with people today and serves as an important reminder that we must continue to strive for a more just society.

As we will discuss further in the next section, this notion can be seen through comparisons to past civil rights movements.

Comparisons to the Civil Rights Movement

Muhammad Ali's most inspiring speech is undeniably linked to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. His passionate and powerful words echo the efforts of African Americans in their fight for equality, something that he and many others strived for during this tumultuous period in American history.

Ali himself was famously vocal about being a black man living in a nation that oppressed those who looked and lived like him, going as far as refusing to join the U.S. military in 1967– which ultimately led to his conviction. Yet, there are mixed opinions regarding how much Ali's speech actually impacted the Civil Rights Movement or if its own legacy has been largely inflated by activists and critics alike who view it as having had a direct influence on the era.

Critics argue that while Ali’s message of peace and justice in this speech could have stirred some general feelings of solidarity among African Americans, it overall failed to spark a real tangible move towards true equality.

They reason that too many people from both sides of the issue had already firmly entrenched themselves into their respective viewpoints, so his attempts at bridging the gap between white America and black America were unsuccessful. Proponents of Ali’s message however insist that his unyielding passion inspires hope even today, when racism and inequality still riddle our society. They further argue that due to his influential persona—one that refused to back down—he empowered others at a time when doing so was dangerous; this concept of free speech directly supported various civil rights leaders as they stood against white oppression.

Thus, while supporters and opponents alike remain divided on just how influential this speech was or wasn’t regarding civil rights activism, one thing remains clear: Muhammad Ali used his platform —and his voice—to stand up not only for himself but also for others who were voiceless or lacked recognition during this movement. Concluding Thoughts on Muhammad Ali's Speech: As we reflect upon this historic moment in time, let us consider the role Muhammad Ali's most inspiring speech played within its context.

How does it hold up today? Has its place within civil rights history become exaggerated over time? These questions will be explored further in the following section as we examine what makes Muhammad Ali's iconic words remain relevant in our current era.

Concluding Thoughts on Muhammad Ali's Speech

Muhammad Ali's rousing speech given at the 1996 Olympic Games stands as a testament to his power not only as an athlete, but also as an inspiring orator. His words highlighted the possibilities that come with unity and helped re-energize a global audience in search of inspiration.

While Ali's message and delivery certainly resonated with a large portion of the viewing audience, some of the content in the speech has been subject to debate amongst both casual observers and scholars. At the core of Ali's inspiring words were two main ideas - unification and equality. For many, these two concepts are indistinguishable from each other, however upon closer inspection it becomes clear that there are distinct differences between the two.

Unification is about coming together for a common purpose, such as for political or economic reasons, while equality is about ensuring everyone receives just and fair treatment regardless of gender, race, religion, etc. While Ali's speech looked more to the former concept than the latter, his underlying point was still valid - people need to work together if society is going to make progress. It may be argued that Ali's words also lent themselves to a more interpretive meaning which centered around personal growth and development. In his speech, he referred to overcoming obstacles and becoming "stronger than ever before" - an idea which could easily be interpreted as meaning something different than unification or equality.

Thus, it can be argued that while Ali’s main message was one of collective success, the importance of individual growth cannot be discounted either. Overall, Muhammad Ali’s powerful speech had a significant impact on viewers around the world. It acted not only as a source of motivation but also as a reminder of what can happen when people come together for a shared goal. It has inspired countless individuals since its original airing in 1996 and continues to do so today.

Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What elements of rhetoric does muhammad ali incorporate in his speech.

Muhammad Ali uses several elements of rhetoric in his speech. He employs ethos , when he appeals to the audience's emotions and trust. He also makes use of pathos , by evoking strong feelings in his listeners such as determination and courage, in order to move them toward action.

Additionally, Ali relies on logos, by providing examples from his own life which back up his statements. He further employs repetition of key phrases throughout the speech, which serves to emphasize important points.

Finally, Ali incorporates kairos with his timing, choosing specific moments to make certain statements so that to achieve maximum impact. Ultimately, Muhammad Ali manages to effectively combine all these rhetorical elements into a powerful and inspiring speech.

How does Muhammad Ali's speech contrast with the commonly accepted norms of his time?

Muhammad Ali's speech was revolutionary and thought-provoking, particularly in the context of the commonly accepted norms of his time. During this era, civil rights were being contested and racial injustice was rampant.

By speaking out so boldly and honestly, Muhammad Ali went against the grain and asserted that every man should be judged by his character and not his race or nationality. He emphasized personal responsibility as a means of achieving success, a refreshing departure from the way many communities viewed achievement at the time.

Moreover, with his iconic quote "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," he captured the power of positivity and optimism, which interestingly countered the socio-cultural sentiment of despair prevalent during this period.

In sum, Muhammad Ali's speech stood defiantly against the common norms of his time and inspired people to rise up against oppressors no matter their race or religion.

How has Muhammad Ali's speech inspired future public figures to use their platforms for change?

Muhammad Ali’s speech has had a lasting impact on future public figures using their platforms for change. In his speech, Ali speaks of the power and importance of standing up for injustice and fighting against it through activism.

His words are inspiring, dynamic and passionate; he implores his audience to take action rather than staying silent in the face of wrongdoings. Ali’s speech encourages those in positions of influence to use their platforms to speak out against injustice and work towards creating meaningful social change . He is not advocating violence or aggression, but instead emphasizing compassion and understanding towards people around the world who are suffering from oppression and inequality. Since then, many public figures have followed in Ali’s footsteps and used their own platforms to advocate for justice and equality, often relying heavily on his famous speeches as inspiration.

For example, former president Barack Obama has been vocal about his appreciation of Ali as a role model for standing up for what he believed in despite facing immense opposition. Similarly, countless other public figures – from actors like George Clooney to professional athletes like Colin Kaepernick – have all spoken out about social issues with the same passion that Ali embodied in his speech.

Thus, it is clear that Muhammad Ali’s inspiring words have been an invaluable source of motivation for future public figures hoping to use their platform for positive change.

On this day in history, April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refuses to serve military at height of Vietnam War

M uhammad Ali, the reigning world heavyweight boxing champion, entered the combative ring of politics and culture by refusing to serve in the United States military at the height of the Vietnam War on this day in history, April 28, 1967.

"I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong," Ali famously said the year before, the exact quote the source of some dispute, in a battle that made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court .

He later wrote, "I refuse to be inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States because I claim to be exempt as a minister of the religion of Islam."

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 27, 1805, US MARINES ATTACK SHORES OF TRIPOLI, KEY VICTORY IN BARBARY WARS

Ali was lauded around the world as a hero for standing up for the courage of his convictions.

Critics say he used the power of his podium and celebrity to dodge the draft at a time when the nation’s working-class young men were fighting and dying at the sharp end of existential struggle for survival against communism .

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Others allege it was an order from Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad that fueled his refusal to serve in the military.

Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942, the pugilist punched his way into the national spotlight winning a gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome at age 18.

He captured the world heavyweight title with his famous upset of Sonny Liston in February 1964. Clay then publicly announced his conversion to the Nation of Islam immediately after the bout and said his new name was Cassius X.

He was given his world-famous new identity by the Nation of Islam's Muhammad in a radio address on March 6.

"This Clay name has no meaning," said Muhammad. "Muhammad Ali is what I will give him as long as he believes in Allah and follows me."

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, FEBRUARY 25, 1964, A YOUNG MUHAMMAD ALI KNOCKS OUT SONNY LISTON TO WIN FIRST WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Clay met Muhammad in 1962. The young boxer soon become good friends with one of the Nation of Islam's most famous followers, Malcolm X .

Ali's incredible skill in the ring, coupled with his beaming personality, made him one the world’s biggest sports celebrities and "the world’s most well-known Muslim," states the University of Louisville Libraries.

His celebrity also made him a lightning rod in 1965, when he applied as a conscientious objector in his home state of Kentucky. The draft board denied his application.

He stoically stood up for his beliefs in 1967.

"During his scheduled U.S. Armed Forces induction in Houston, Texas, on April 28, Ali refused to step forward three times as his name was called," Sports Illustrated reported in recent years of the famous incident.

"After receiving a warning and being informed of the consequences, Ali did not acknowledge his name-call one final time. Later that day, Ali was stripped of his title and had his boxing license suspended, and he was found guilty of violating the Selective Services law on June 20, 1967."

Ali was fined $10,000. He was banned from boxing for three years and sentenced to five years in prison.

He never served a day behind bars.

He fought the sentence all the way to the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction for dodging the draft on June 28, 1971.

The high court ruled 8-0 in his favor, with Justice Thurgood Marshall recusing himself, citing earlier involvement as U.S. Solicitor General at the time of Ali’s conviction.

The court originally planned to vote 5-3 against Ali, authors Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong wrote in their 1979 book, "The Brethren: Inside The Supreme Court."

Justice John Marshall Harlan changed his decision after reading "The Autobiography of Malcolm X."

But that left the court split at 4-4, which meant Ali would lose his appeal and the lower-court conviction would stand.

"The justices reconvened, since Ali was the best-known sports figure in the world," reports the National Constitution Center. "They wanted to provide an explanation. They worked toward a compromise that could at least detail the thoughts behind their decision."

Eventually, the entire court flipped in Ali's favor.

Added the National Constitution Center, "Woodward and Armstrong said it was Justice Potter Stewart who looked at the case and convinced the other justices that the lower courts never explained why they turned down Ali’s appeals."

Ali had returned to the ring in October 1970, earning a third-round technical knockout of Jerry Quarry. He eventually regained his heavyweight crown in 1974.

"While away from boxing, Ali became a popular speaker at colleges across the United States," Sports Illustrated reported.

"One of Ali's most popular speeches, entitled ‘Black is Best,’ was spoken in front of 4,000 students and staff members at Howard University in 1968. He also became known for his free-style rhymes and poetry during his time in boxing."

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Reports in recent years claim that Ali refused to serve in the military not out of religious conviction, but because of the wrath of Nation of Islam leader Muhammad.

"The truth, though hard to make out under the thick moss of mythology, is that Ali refused induction not out of principle but from fear of disobeying Elijah Muhammad, who had stipulated that the champ not serve in a ‘white man’s war,’" Paul Beston wrote in an editorial for The Wall Street Journal in 2017.

Ali, according to the story, tearfully admitted his fears to friend, mentor and fellow boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, who urged the young man to join the army.

Added Beston, "Malcolm X, who had been close to Ali, was assassinated in February 1965. After Ali’s former press secretary told the FBI that he had information about Malcolm’s killers, he, too, was found dead. Other dissidents simply disappeared. Ali got the message."

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle .

Original article source: On this day in history, April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refuses to serve military at height of Vietnam War

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over Sonny Liston during their second bout in 1965 and taunts him to get up during their title fight. Ali knocked Liston out in one minute in the first round of their bout at the Central Maine Youth Center in Lewiston, Maine. Getty Images

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Muhammad Ali Speech Analysis: A Closer Look at His Messages

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Muhammad Ali's Boxing Career

Analysis of Muhammad Ali's Speech

Most Important Points to Remember

His Message of Nationalism

His Message of Religious Faith

His Message of Courage

His Message of Youthful Greatness

The Legacy of Muhammad Ali

The Impact of Muhammad Ali's Speech

Comparisons to the Civil Rights Movement

Concluding Thoughts on Muhammad Ali's Speech

Frequently Asked Questions Answered

How does Muhammad Ali's speech contrast with the commonly accepted norms of his time?

How has Muhammad Ali's speech inspired future public figures to use their platforms for change?

On this day in history, April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refuses to serve military at height of Vietnam War

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