How Did Muhammad Ali Impact Society

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” This was a common way people described Muhammad Ali while he was boxing in the rink. Muhammad Ali was a famous boxing champion, but he should be known for more than just his boxing. He also was known for taking pride in his religion and race. He showed people that not only is it okay to be different, but to embrace it. Muhammad Ali has had a positive impact on society because of his religious and racial outlook.
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., later to be known as Muhammad Ali, was born January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky (“Muhammad Ali”). He grew up with one younger brother named Rudolph Valentino Clay and lived in a Christian household (Burke). His mother was a maid and his father worked …show more content…
This made him a prime candidate for the military service (“Muhammad Ali”). When the selective service board told him he had to report for the draft, Muhammad Ali asked for a “exemption” claming he was “a conscientious objecter on religous grounds” (“Muhammad Ali”). Muhammad Ali also said “I aint got no quarrel with those Vietcong” also following by saying “they never called me nigger”(“Muhammad Ali”). The selective service denied his request and told Muhammad Ali that he had to report to the United States Army in 1967 (“Muhammad Ali”). Muhammad Ali responded to this by refusing to go to war (“Muhammad Ali”).The World Boxing Association quickly stripped Muhammad Ali of his title and his license to fight (“Muhammad Ali”). The United States government also took Muhammad Ali’s passport, preventing him from fighting abroad (“Muhammad Ali”). In 1967 a federal court found Muhammad Ali guilty of violating the Selective Service Act (“Muhammad Ali”). Muhammad Ali was fined 10,000 dollars and was sentenced to five years in jail (“Muhammad Ali”). Muhammad Ali never served the jail sentence due to a “series of appeals” (“Muhammad Ali”). He also said that “unless you have a very good reason to kill, war is wrong (“The Importance of Muhammad Ali”).Muhammad Ali became a favorite student activist who opposed the hostility in Vietnam(“Muhammad Ali”). He then got into speaking at schools,peace rallies, and muslim gatherings during the time when he wasn't boxing(“Muhammad Ali”). Muhammad Ali stayed strong. He said, “I would like to say to those of you who think I’ve lost so much, I have gained everything. I have peace of heart; I have a clear free conscience. And I’m proud. I wake up happy. I go to bed happy. And if I go to jail, I’ll go to jail happy. Boys go to war and die for what they believe, so I don’t see why the world is so shook up over me suffering