Black History Month with the GOAT -- Muhammad Ali

 "Float like a butterfly Sting like a bee."

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

“It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am." 

    All of these quotes came from one remarkable athlete.  A man who took the world by surprise in many ways but in the end was always true to himself and to what he believed.  Even if you are not a boxing fan, or any type of sports fan,  most know who proudly said these lines.  Yes, the great Muhammid Ali spoke these words.  In and out of the boxing ring,  Ali had a unique way of expressing himself and his ideas.  Was Ali the greatest boxer of all time?   Yes, not just because he said so but because others have seen him in the ring and know a true champion when they saw one. He is the topic of this blog today because of  Mike Marqusee book,   Redemption Song: Muhammad Ali and the Spirit of the Sixties Paperback.   This is not a new book but an important one to add on to the list of "need to read" books for Black History Month. 

    Marqusee takes an interesting perspective on how Ali shaped politics in the 1960's.  Many knew Ali as the boxer with an ego as big as his punch.  However,  many have forgotten that his stand with civil Rights Leaders such as Malcom X gave a boost to the Black Liberation Movement and antiwar sentiments.  He surprised the world when he embraced the religion of Islam, dropping his name of Cassius Clay for Muhammad Ali and refusing to go along with the status quo.  Ali was his own man in the ring and in the political arena as well.  His refusal to be draft during the Vietnam War earned harsh critics as well as jail time.  This did not deter Ali from speaking his mind and doing what he thought was right.  

    This book is more than an engaging read that takes the reader along on a nostalgic three plus page trek through the tumultuous events of the 1960's.  It is a tribute to the part of Ali's life that most either have forgotten or did not know it existed.  When Ali, finally left the ring, he didn't go off into the sunset, never to be heard from again.  Instead,  his work in political activism proved that he was a beacon of hope and was embraced by many diverse groups who shared his vision.   

    Before reading this book,  watch Billy Crystal's 15 Rounds on Youtube, which details Ali's life from age 18 to 38.  It is mesmerizing and it helps set the mood for reading this book.   This book is eye-opening and entertaining to read.  Don't miss the opportunity to gain a stronger understating of civil rights movement.