Ali: A Champion of Black Pride

Muhammad Ali wasn't a great boxer. His friendship with Malcolm X taught him to embrace his

African heritage and reject the slave name given to his ancestors. Ali's bold declaration

that he was pretty, powerful, and proud gave Black Americans permission to love themselves

in a society that told them otherwise. Rosa Parks called him her hero, saying his confidence

inspired her to keep fighting. His influence reached Nelson Mandela in prison,

who saw Ali as proof that Black excellence couldn't be contained. When Ali refused to bow down or stay

quiet, he showed other civil rights leaders that athletes could be revolutionaries

too. His impact went beyond boxing gloves and championship belts,