Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee

It is clear that Muhammad Ali was never merely a boxer. Indeed, he prided himself over his talent and abilities in the ring, but the charisma that Ali demonstrated in his daily life was symbolic of a cause which, to him, surpassed any sport or profession. For the black man or the black woman, mediums such as sport and music do not exist as only activities which are enjoyed and inspire creativity and commitment. These mediums take on a meaning that is larger. They are opportunities where the oppressed can express themselves in a unique manner and showcase that they, too, harbor abilities, talents, and aptitudes that are equal to, if not exceed those of people of any other colour.

Sports then becomes about much more than just the game. In the context of the oppressed black man, it has then never been merely about the game itself. When We Were Kings, to me, illustrated this very point. It is a documentary that is centered around an iconic boxing match between two legendary players, but it is truly about so much more. Muhammad Ali takes every opportunity that he can to talk about what it is that the black community needs to do in order to improve the situation that existed at the time. He constantly talks about how black people need to gain more knowledge about themselves, so that they become aware of what and who they truly are.

It seems to me that throughout Ali’s life, he never saw his success as only his own. He was an activist; he was a leader. That is why he was able to be so unapologetically proud about who he was. Through his sport, he asserted that he was exceptional, that he was pretty, that he was smart. It seems as if Ali was unapologetically himself because he knew that such bravery, courage and resilience was what the black community needed to finally recognize the potential that resided within it.  

Ali had an unwavering conviction in his abilities as a boxer and as a fighter. He had one aim when he was in the ring and that was to be a champion. Throughout the documentary Ali not only masks his fear regarding his upcoming fight with George Foreman, but he persistently lifts the spirits of those around him; he is seen constantly chanting slogans for his victory against Foreman with his team and with his supporters in Zaire. This, to me, was most reflective of the power that a sport can have as a medium of expression and liberation among an oppressed people who are struggling to break free from the shackles that have defined them in the past. Ali knew that his chances at victory against Foreman were slim, but he also believed that the collective spirit of a crowd had a power which could channel unity and an unmistakable energy.

For Ali, it seemed as though sports was a medium through which he could show the world what he was really capable of, not only as a black man, but because he was a black man. The charisma with which he spoke about wanting to fight for the dignity and culture of the black community was infectious and he amassed loyal followers wherever he meant (as can be seen during his time in Zaire). Ali spoke like he was the saviour of the black community, and when he entered the ring and fought, it seemed like he wasn’t only fighting to win for himself, but he was fighting to win back the dignity and pride that his people had lost. He was fighting for what he believed in, and he was fighting for all his people who he knew could not fight for themselves.