Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, rose to global prominence as a heavyweight boxing champion, known for his unmatched skills in the ring and his charismatic personality. However, Ali's impact extended far beyond sports; he became a potent symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Liberation. His journey into activism began in earnest in the 1960s, when he converted to Islam and joined the Nation of Islam, adopting the name Muhammad Ali. His religious and political transformation was marked by his outspoken views on racial injustice and his critique of the systemic oppression faced by African Americans. Ali's stance on civil rights and Black liberation was most dramatically illustrated in 1967, when he refused to be drafted into the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the war, he famously declared, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong... No Viet Cong ever called me nigge