With the recent passing of Muhammad Ali, much is being remembered about his life and about his impact on society. His protesting of the Vietnam War, and his willingness to go to jail rather than to fight against an enemy in a foreign lane, when there was much fighting to do here at home, is what most people remember. Unfortunately, this is only a part of the story, and the rest of the tale is what sets Ali apart from most other celebrities.
Prior to his suspension from boxing, Muhammad Ali was the Heavyweight Champion of the World in professional boxing, had won the title and had successfully defended it nine times. After his last fight before the suspension, Ali boasted a record of 29 wins against no losses with 23 knockouts. At the time, Ali was dominating his sport like few others had or will have. However, according to some recollections of Ali’s life, the champ lost considerable amounts of money during the suspension, and by the time he was again allowed to fight, Ali was said to have very little to show for his dominance of his sport, and this brings up a very interesting question: how many current celebrities would be willing to sacrifice career, fame, and all that is attached to it in order to take a stand on an issue?
There are some actors who feel that they have been blackballed by Hollywood, or labeled hard to work with because they spoke out against something related to the work, but Ali’s stance had nothing to do with boxing. Ali’s protest was political in nature, and the government at the time felt that Ali’s career was the best weapon to use against Ali’s stance on a war that ultimately cost nearly 60,000 soldiers their lives, and has permanently affected the lives of many others who were involved. Again, though, one has to ask how many currently rich and famous individuals would be willing to lose everything for the sake of a political stance.
Many celebrities and famous athletes, particularly African-American ones, are condemned because they are unwilling to take a stance, though in truth, they have all probably learned from Ali’s example. These people are probably unwilling to lose their ability to work and earn a living while forfeiting much of their fortunes. This is a choice that some make, and no one can speak out against a choice that someone makes regarding the management of their own lives. However, the unwillingness of some to take a similar stance is what makes Muhammad Ali’s choice all the more astounding.
Muhammad Ali, whether or not he was being coached by the Nation of Islam to speak out against the war, ultimately was the one who spoke the words, and was the one who chose not to accept induction into the Armed Forces. Ali made the choice to stand against the government and it was this choice that changed his life forever. Other celebrities might not be willing to sacrifice everything for a cause that they feel strongly about, but Ali was, and it is this sacrifice that will place Ali’s memory into historical discussions long after his untimely passing.
