Muhammad Ali is seventy! Not only is he the Greatest boxer and sportsman of all time; not only is he one of the most recognizable personalities on Earth, Muhammad Ali has been one of the most active African-American campaigners ever. Mainly, two things drove Ali's life and activism: his being a Muslim and his being Black. A woman once said to him, "
Why are you always throwing your blackness at us?" Muhammad Ali replied, "
Why are you always throwing your whiteness at me? Take that white Jesus off the wall. I know a lot of black women who are prettier than these white Miss Americas. And how come devil's food cake is black and angel food cake is white?"
And he once stated: "
I've done wrestled with an alligator. That's right! I've wrestled an alligator. I've tussled with a whale. I handcuffed lightning. Thrown thunder in jail. That's bad! Only last week, I murdered a rock. Injured a stone. Hospitalized a brick. I'm so mean I make medicine sick!". That is Ali. For some, he is outrageous. For millions - he is Outspoken. And for millions, he is: a People's Champion, a Legend, an Icon, a Symbol, a Role Model and one of the Greatest African-American Revolutionaries and Inspirations ever. Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
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Photo: AskMen
