Ali's Return
Contributing writer Mark Kram follows Cassius Clay’s return to the ring as Muhammad Ali with his article “He Moves Like Silk, Hits Like a Ton.” After joining the Nation of Islam, rejecting his “slave name” Cassius Clay and an attempt to defer the draft on the basis of his faith, Ali was punished by the government for refusing to be inducted and consequently had his passport revoked. Likely due to being in a time where many Americans were in-favor of the Vietnam war due to a fear of communist threat to the US, the boxing association revoked his titles and banned him from the ring for three and a half years. [1]
Despite the anger and disapproval expressed by his fans, Ali continued to garner social support. When commenting on those that did not want to see a successful comeback, Ali was reported to have said, “They can’t say I mess with white women, or drink whiskey or go to them night clubs. See, there’s nothing dirty they can lay on me. I’m the clean All-American image.” With these words, Ali reestablished himself as the boxer that the public knew, one that could unite people from all backgrounds because they admired the passion and aggression with which he fought. This ability to unite people invokes the American aspiration for "One Nation Under God, Indivisible," further supporting Ali's All-American image.
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1. "Muhammad Ali". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 02 Nov. 2016
<https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad-Ali-boxer>.
2. Bellamy, Francis. The Pledge of Allegiance. Art Evans Productions, 1971.
This full-page photo of Muhammad Ali highlights many of the physical aspects that reinforce his masculinity and validate his athleticism. Although this photo was most likely taken after practice and sparring in the ring to prepare for his return, Ali appears casual and at ease. His smile is radiant and his muscles sculpted as he leans against the ropes. It is as if, with his stance, he is showcasing how easy it was for him to return to fighting shape and speed.
These action shots of Muhammad Ali are among the most iconic of his career prior to his ban from the ring. The pictures tell the story of the Ali of before, and serve as a way to compare and contrast the two chapters of his career. Although in the four featured pictures he is younger, more muscular and probably stronger, the full-page photo on the page does not show an Ali that looks dramatically weaker or smaller. If you take into account his years away from the ring, his mentality and body were able to bounce back pretty dramatically and to his advantage.