How Did Muhammad Ali Impact Society

Muhammad Ali can be quoted saying “I’ve always wanted to be more than just a boxer. More than just the three-time heavyweight champion. I wanted to use my fame, and this face that everyone knows so well, to help uplift and inspire people around the world.” (“Muhammad Ali Quote”). Ali arguably was “the Greatest” of his time, not just as a boxer, but as an American. Through the attention he gained from his boxing career, he was able to draw attention to key issues in America, such as religion and war. Also, through the wealth accumulated from his lucrative career, Ali was able to provide support to those struggling. Muhammad Ali could have possibly made the biggest impact on American society and culture through its existence, as he popularized

Often stating that he was the best, the public perceived his confidence as arrogance and had negative feelings about him. Still, crowds would roar as he continued to win matches with his unorthodox style. With his great production, Ali attracted big names in boxing, such as Liston, Frazier, and Foreman, and the sport continued to grow in its popularity in the United States (Pettinger). Frazier may have been Ali’s biggest rival; after splitting the first two fights, they met in Manila, Philippines, commonly referred to as “The Thrilla in Manila.” Ali would win the last bout against Frazier in 1975, immortalizing himself in the boxing industry (Kiellar). Some may wonder how this relates to American culture; the popular form of recreation in America, that was often used to describe the culture in the United States, thrived due to the appearance of Muhammad Ali in the ring, with his exceptional skills while donning boxing gloves and his eccentric personality, displayed through his famous statement “I am the Greatest,” that continued to draw attention to the sport (“Muhammad Ali

With his conversion to Islam he changed his name from the “slave name” Cassius Clay to the “free name” Muhammad Ali (Muhammad Ali - Cassius Clay). As Muhammad Ali, he grew less conceited and more devoted to benefitting society. He used his role as an active minister in the church of Islam to avoid the draft into the Vietnam War, claiming that it was against his religion (Muhammad Ali interview on not joining army). He has also acted as a primary beneficiary of the Nation of Islam, as he financed the building of Masjid al-Faati, a mosque in Chicago, and the educational resources for many students of Islam in America and on an international level (“Muhammad Ali - Cassius Clay”). The funds from Muhammad Ali were used to make America both a more peaceful and accepting society, while his fame in the nation was used to limit the prejudice faced by Muslims in