Muhammad Ali was an athlete formally known as a Cassius Clay before he changed his name to Cassius X and later to Ali after joining the Nation of Islam. He is well known due to his mark on the world as an athlete in boxing. Besides him being an iconic boxer he also remembered as a person who fought for social and political change through his outspoken political positions and this the point where his greatness excelled . Ali had a great political influence on many individuals in the United States. Different occasions portray Ali’s stand on political and social change. This study will show some roles that Ali played on separate occasions to enhance political and social change.
In 1960s Ali was at the peak of his career as he dominated the world
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He was later convicted for his stand against the war in Vietnam and for violating the United States Selective Service laws . His refusal to join the army showed that he stood for his religion and what he believed was right despite him being a black. This had an impact in America as it empowered individuals who did not support the Vietnam war and those who did not support the government laws or system (mainly black Americans) . Moreover, every major social equality Association and Pioneer at some point adulated Ali and shielded his choice to oppose the Vietnam War. Ali predecessors on sports were not actively involved in politics. This was a way to focus on their respective games by doing away with any political involvement. The impact of Ali’s stand against the discrimination and racism led to encouraged other athletes to support political and social change. Ali's readiness to openly take an oppositional political stand separates him from notable African-American athletes that went before him, such as Olympian Jesse Owens and baseball's Jackie Robinson. For Owens and Robinson, their greatness in sports joined with their minimal involvement in political activities. Some of these athletes were asked to swallow their pride keeping in mind the end goal to excel in their respective sports. Robinson …show more content…
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Jackie Robinson is remembered as the African american that broke the color barrier for the Major League Baseball. Many words can be used to describe him, such as hero, powerful, stupid, anything of that sort, not all good, but not all bad. Keeping a cool head was key to his success, dealing with many racist names that he was called as he stepped up to the plate. With pitchers aiming at his head, he still became a very accomplished athlete in as many fields imaginable. Jackie didn’t pay attention to what people thought or said about him, just knowing he was going to get on base the next pitch.
In 1964, Muhammad Ali, one of America’s most polarizing and famous athletes for his boxing career, was being drafted to the military. Ali fizzled the U.S. Military qualifying test in light of the fact that his written work and spelling aptitudes were below the national standard. Because of the Vietnam War spiraling down as a lost war effort, the test norms were brought down in November 1965. Ali was then ultimately eligible for the draft and was to be named into the military. He was also going to be called for an act of duty due to the lack of soldiers in Vietnam, an already unpopular war (Cassius Marsellus CLAY, Jr.).
As an exceptional athlete and an honorable man Jackie Robinson changed the way not only sports are seen in the world but how life is seen in the
Jackie succeeded in putting the prejudice and racial strife aside, and showed everyone what a talented and dedicated player he was. Robinson led the National League in stolen bases and was selected as Rookie of the Year, he led in stolen bases that year and earned the National League's Most Valuable Player Award. Jackie Robinson became a hero of Baseball, he set league records and became the highest paid in Dodgers history. His success and achievements opened the door for many other African American black baseball players, and inspires children and kids today to play Baseball despite other people’s opinions and thoughts on it. Jackie also became very vocal and voiced his opinion on discrimination, he called out the Yankees for still not having their color barrier broken years after he played with the Dodgers.
Jackie Robinson is known to be one of the most influential people in baseball and in society. He eternally changed the aspect of American history. It was unusual to have a colored person be treated equally as a white person during the time of the 1900s. He was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 and later moved to Pasadena, California to pursue a better life. He came from a poor family of sharecroppers in the South and was the youngest of five.
Not just in sports, but in the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. During Jackie’s prime, “people began to view him as a spokesman for other African-Americans. He was an outspoken activist for African-Americans’ rights. He participated in many protests for fair wages and workers’ rights.” (Santella)
Muhammad Ali was a very influential person in the civil rights movement. He paved the way for equal rights in sports because he endured the hatred professionally. If he did not accept the discrimination in the manner that he did, then the sports would have rejected all colored people because they were perceived as temperamental fighters who couldn’t hold their anger in. As a result of his actions, the U.S. has improved much of their segregation laws and now has equality all over. During the times of Civil Rights, he did not know that he was making such an impact; he just wanted to be equal as every other person and he wanted to make sure others were being treated right as well.
Jackie Robinson had an effect to the people and the sport during that time period. He played at his best and did not let anyone try to bring him down. Robinson helped a lot of people of changing the outlook on racism. Jackie Robinson was a big impact in the sport and to the people, if he did not pursue the sport, no one would know what would happen and if it would be
He is the reason our sports are open to all. He left a lasting legacy as a hero to all, someone who gave up his life to undiscriminate professional sports. The origin of Jackie Robinson 's call to change started when he realized the problems in society that really did affect Jackie and his family. Robinson’s family was the only
Jackie Robinson fought to end segregation, and the rights for all people through many different ways. The most recognized and probably the biggest thing he did was transform all sports through being the first African American to play professional baseball. This did not only stop discrimination in baseball but this helped stop discrimination in all sports together. After his impact on baseball he wasn't done there, he join the National Association for the advancement of colored people. He became the chairman for the freedom fund and later raised over a million dollars.
The third reason why Jackie Robinson was so impactful was because his influence on African Americans. In the text it says "Robinson also became a vocal champion for African-American athletes, civil rights, and other social and political causes. In July 1949, he testified about discrimination before the House Un-American Activities Committee. In 1952, he publicly called out the Yankees as a racist organization for not having broken the color barrier five years after he began playing with the Dodgers" (biography.com). This quote shows how he courageously spoke out for all African American rights.
Jackie Robinson is best known for the courageous role he played in the integration of Major League Baseball in 1947. In fact, Jackie Robinson exhibited courage and humanitarianism on many fronts overcoming unforeseen barriers and challenges both on and off the field. What obstacles have you overcome that speak to what others can learn from studying the life of Jackie Robinson? By studying the life of Jackie Robinson individuals can learn that he was the first colored man to join a professional baseball team.
Jackie Robinson not only made impacts on the field that were monumental, but he made impacts off the field that were equally as important. Jackie helped presidents get elected, get kids off the streets and into the most prestigious schools there is, and most importantly he broke the black color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson is one of the most influential people to ever live, he did things that people would dream about, he stood up for what he believed. To begin, Jackie’s biggest accomplishment was breaking the black color barrier on baseball, “ Jackie Robinson broke through the color barrier that kept blacks out of the Major League Baseball [MLB].
Jackie Robinson was a role model to people of all races and inspired other minorities to become professional sports athletes. He became a symbol of advanced civil rights progress for minority athletes and fans
The white supremacy that flooded America in the 19th and early 20th century is no longer seen in the sporting world. This paper looked at sports through the lens of an individual athlete named Muhammad Ali (who definitively changed history for African-American people in the United States), as well as looked at sports as a whole throughout history. Through statistics and reports, proof has demonstrated that the sporting world has developed to give more of an opportunity for African-American athletes to compete than ever before. Athletics creates a platform that gives athletes an opportunity to be more than just an athlete. An opportunity to stand up for what they believe in and bring attention to some of the problems of the world.