Muhammad Ali Film Analysis

Improved Essays
Ali, a biography of the sports legend Muhammad Ali, was produced and directed by Michael Mann, as he depicts Ali’s life from 1964 through 1974. Throughout the film, Mann illustrates the involvement of Ali and the Nation of Islam alongside the founder Elijah Muhammad, in their attempt to “improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African Americans in the United States and all of humanity” (American Studies pg. 320). Elijah Muhammad, while he plays a key role within the Nation of Islam, surprisingly played a more behind the scenes role within the film, as the spiritual and vocal influence of Ali and Malcolm X overshadowed him in their teachings of Elijah’s philosophies. Furthermore, Malcolm X, formally known as Malcolm …show more content…
Eventually, Ali is faced with legal issues of his own in his refusal to serve the United States in the Vietnam War. Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces, saying “I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong” (history.com). He believed it was not right to harm others, especially with the racial issues that surrounded America during this period. This ultimately caused him to be stripped of his heavy-weight belt, something he worked very hard to achieve. Eventually, once the issue was resolved nearly 4 years later, the “Rumble in the Jungle” fight took place in Kinshasa, Zaire where Ali fought Foreman in an attempt to regain his belt. This fight was a significant event in the lives of African Americans due to the fact that Ali beat the legal issues faced against him, while he also embraced the African culture connecting with many and influencing them to be vocal in their beliefs. Many looked up to Ali, and he utilized his boxing style and success to create an impact on society, since “style became a tool to circumvent racism and bias against black players” (Rhodes pg. 160). In all, to see him experience ample success with much adversity was a great moment for their culture and African Americans

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Malcolm X Villain

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Malcolm X 's actions as a leader are both opposed and celebrated, due to his villainous portrayal as a drug-dealing criminal versus a courageous and principled freedom fighter. Malcolm X was an African American civil rights activist and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam. A hero of the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, he was known over the course of his life as Detroit Red, Malcolm X most famously, and finally as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Assessing the legacy of his leadership is complex as throughout Malcolm X’s life his attitude to civil rights and the best methods of achieving them changed and much of his testament is viewed through the lense of his Islamic beliefs. Perspective is important in deciding whether Malcolm…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ali’s refusal of his military draft notice during the Vietnam War sparked controversy and he was quickly labeled a “draft dodger”. Ali stated that he did not dodge the draft, but rather opposed the war. During this time, racism towards African Americans was still prevalent, and he knew he would be treated unfairly. He was also a believer in non-aggression and did not want to participate in killing. Muhammad wisely demonstrated civil disobedience by refusing to comply with something he did not believe in, even going so far as to say, “Just take me to jail”.…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Tactics Of Malcolm X

    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages

    He connected with other oppressed blacks outside the USA and allowed for greater unity between other persecuted people. His thinking inspired one of the most influential people, Muhammed Ali. Originally named Cassius Clay, he looked up to X for spiritual and political guidance. He soon became one of the first successful black athletes to embrace his racial pride and willingly criticize white establishments. Through the help of Ali, black pride was able to be shown to the public by a figure most looked up to; gaining greater acceptance and sympathy for the cause.…

    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Malcolm met the honorable Elijah Muhammad. That was the day that Malcolm changed his name to Malcolm X. Elijah Muhammad believed that Malcolm was destined for greatness (X, 1991). Malcolm vowed to the Islamic religion. He was invited by editors of the American Newspaper to start writing a column about Islamic matters.…

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    But the will must be stronger than the skill.” Through Ali’s physical and moral courage he persuades people to support the civil right…

    • 1115 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Muhammad Ali Dbq

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Though Muhammad Ali was not one to skirt with the concept of breaking the law and resorting to aggressive means to ensure his survival outside of the ring, but he was known to stir controversy when his opinions, often strong, were to clash with the established norms and issues of the time. One of the most notable examples was his eventual arrest and conviction upon refusing to serve in the armed forces during the Vietnam War. An institution that was one of the primary elements of the counter-culture of the 60s was the act of drafting soldiers to fight in the Vietnam War, a conflict that was waged with the objective of stopping the then-threat of communism throughout South East Asia. With the Johnson administration focusing on ending the war…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Parallelism In Boxing

    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages

    It was blood, bold and resolute, and it was an American sport. The sport of boxing had been played in Europe since the eighteenth century. It was not until the twentieth century when boxing became an American sport. At this time all Americans, regardless of race and financial status, could box. Any American athlete with a talent for boxing could make a sufficient amount of money that was enough to be successful.…

    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Jack Johnson Racism

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “Fighting Racism” Jack Johnson is considered as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Jack, who was actually born by the name of John Johnson, grew up in a time when African Americans did not have many rights. Johnson had to fight for any opportunity or almost anything he ever wanted because of racial discrimination. He was never one to be controlled by the social norms of the time; this made him a perfect fit to become a boxer.…

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Since Muslims are passive people who don’t utilize, Ali fought against them being drafted into the military. “Once you’re signed to the army, you’re their slave forever” . Ali went as far to defend this religion enough to change his name from a white man’s name, Cassius Clay. He felt Christianity meant slavery due to his ancestors becoming slaves from white Christians gave his family the name Clay, so he changed to gain pride globally for Muslims and African Americans. White men believed Ali didn’t deserve to fight against white boxers and that he was too outspoken.…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ali talked about how the Vietcong didn’t do anything wrong to him, so why would he fight them. Not only did Ali test people’s ideas he shaped knowledge as well as build a community. He did this when he declined to go to the Army because of the Muslim religion. As a result of this he shaped peoples knowledge showing them that Muslims do not believe in going to the Army. It was a surprise to America that a top world athlete would do this, but it would build a Muslim community, make them…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout When We Were Kings there is a constant duality between Muhammad Ali’s well favored embracement of African culture and George Foreman’s disgraceful contentment with staying an outsider. The film highlights the importance of African-Americans accepting and learning their African roots by showing us the good and bad of the famous “Rumble in the Jungle”. The film proves that an underdog such as Ali can win against a man larger and stronger by enforcing a home court advantage. We cheer for Ali because he is a “real person” and seeks a connection with the natives of Zaire unlike Foreman. Ali illustrates that embracing your “people” and heritage is winning and can overcome bad odds (Gast,…

    • 116 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This story is about the world champion Muhammad ali. He was an African american boxer that has won a lot of championships. He has also won Olympic gold medals. He is considered one of the greatest boxers in history. I agree with that.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After watching the movie Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, many of the events/situation that occurred between the Supreme Court Justices and law clerks surprised me. First, I was fascinated by Justice Harlan’s law clerk, Kevin Connolly’s tenacity and idealistic attitude during the process of rejecting and accepting the case, Clay v. the United States. For instance, Connolly’s bravery was demonstrated when he tried to dismiss his responsibility to write the brief directed by Justice Harlan due to his political ideology.…

    • 1297 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Muhammad Ali Influence

    • 1316 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Muhammad Ali was one of the most influential people to ever walk on Earth. He will always be known as one of, if not, the greatest boxer to ever step into the ring. During his life and after his death, Ali impacted the world greatly. Despite making a few controversial decisions, Muhammad Ali will always be an influence to everyone, because he defeated all odds set against him, he conquered the boxing world, and he became known as the self-proclaimed “greatest of all time”.…

    • 1316 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Martin Luther King Ali Case Analysis

    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 11 Works Cited

    With his defiance, he was refusing to participate in America’s plan for a nation far away from home, especially when that plan called for murdering the enemy and violated his faith. Ali couldn’t accept betraying his faith for America while in a foreign land, only to return home to a culture of racial bias and discrimination by the country he just served. 6 Civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s came to Ali’s defense. " He is giving up millions of dollars to do what his conscience tells him is right," King said. 7 The possibility of being killed or maimed in a war zone for a country that was hostile to black Americans was not worth the price of betraying his faith.…

    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 11 Works Cited
    Great Essays