Laying the Foundation for Change: Muhammad Ali & the Civil Rights Movement
Newspaper clipping from May 10, 1968, signed by Muhammad Ali.
Donated by Linda Day in 2016.
Using his Voice as a Tool
Due to his religious beliefs and bold stances surrounding white supremacy, Ali became a conscientious objector of the Vietnam War. On April 28th, 1967, Muhammad Ali refused induction into the United States military on the grounds that he was a Minister in the Nation of Islam. His public refusal to be drafted would move him further into national and international attention and his decision would not be without consequences. On the same day, Ali’s license to box professionally was stripped away by the New York Boxing Commission, prompting other states to follow suit.
To earn money during his banishment and to further lend his voice to the cause, Muhammad Ali toured the United States and spoke at universities all over the country. He spoke out against the treatment of people of color both in the U.S. and globally. Facing a $10,000 fine, a 5-year prison sentence, and unable to earn an income in his chosen profession, Muhammad Ali bravely chose to speak out publicly about the side of America to which most would hope to turn a blind eye. During his nearly 4-year ban from boxing (April 1967 – October 1970), Ali traveled across college campuses, speaking out on his convictions, and supporting the efforts of college students fighting for change.
On August 14th, 1967, Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali served as the second-ever appointed Grand Marshall for the annual Watts Neighborhood Summer Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. Having experienced the Watts Riots of 1965, which surged from community demand for racial justice, the festival served as three days of peace, resource sharing, and celebration for the community. It was coordinated by anti-poverty organizations to celebrate Black culture, heritage, and political consciousness.
