The Final Call

Muhammad Ali - Property of the world but a product of Black struggle

By Richard B. Muhammad - Editor | Last updated: Jun 14, 2016 - 8:44:44 AM

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Muhammad Ali’s wife Lonnie Ali speaks during his memorial service, June 10, 2016, in Louisville, Ky.. Photo: AP Wide World Photos

LOUISVILLE—Muhammad Ali’s hometown closed commemorations of his death with thousands inside the KFC Yum Center downtown as part of a tribute to one the most wellknown men of the 20th century and one of the most well-known Muslims in American history.

Crowds gathered early outside the arena. Many drove hours or flew thousands of miles to be a part of memorials honoring a social, political and sports icon— often without a ticket to attend any event. None of that mattered. What mattered was showing up for Mr. Ali and paying homage to him.

Muhammad Ali’s casket is escorted by pallbearers for his janazah, a traditional Islamic prayer service in Freedom Hall June 9 in Louisville, Ky. Photo: AP Wide World Photos

Some 150,000 people lined the streets in high temperatures, standing in the hot sun, or hunting for shade while watching his funeral procession wind through the city. When it reached Cave Hill Cemetery, “The Greatest” was interred. Last good byes were said at a final memorial blocks from the Muhammad Ali Center.

Inside the air-conditioned arena, the man who gave up fame, fortune and risked his freedom because of his religion and a man who was vilified for accepting a new name and becoming a registered follower of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1964, was lauded as an activist, leader, humanitarian and father. He was described as a potent mix of public pride and courage and private humility and great generosity.

Muhammad Ali’s wife Lonnie and his daughter Laila attend prayer service, in Freedom Hall June 9 in Louisville, Ky. Laila is holding her daughter Sydney Jurldine Conway Photo: Robert A. Muhammad

“I believe the memorial represented Muhammad very well, with all the different world leaders coming, the different backgrounds and religious beliefs, that definitely represented him. The event being free to the public, that also represented Muhammad Ali. I thought it was touching, very spiritual, very humble,” said Ayana Israel, wiping a few tears from her eyes outside the arena. “He embraced everyone whether they were learned or unlearned, or rich or poor, regardless of their religious beliefs or ethnicity. He was just a great spiritual being, he was a great human being,” said the 41-year-old Louisville resident. “He will be greatly missed.”

“All I knew really was the boxing Muhammad Ali and not the Muhammad Ali that participated in the civil rights movement and what not,” said Meltonius Shorter, following the June 10 memorial service. The 39-year-old Louisville barber was struck by the three-time world heavyweight boxing champion’s leadership in the struggle for equal rights, his charisma and humor. He called the memorial an epic moment in his life and something to inspire him to be the greatest Black man he could be.

Muhammad Ali’s funeral procession passes as onlookers line the street June 10 in Louisville, Ky. Photo: AP Wide World Photos

“If you look at today’s society we really have no Black leaders like him, or Martin Luther King or anybody like that. But we need Black leaders out here in the streets to give guidance and leadership,” he said. “I put a post on Facebook, it’s too many Indians not enough chiefs. There are no leaders.”

Eddie Smith, his wife and children drove up from Gulfport, Ms., for the Ali memorial and didn’t have tickets. It didn’t matter. Photo: Richard B. Muhammad

The three-hour service included tributes from Muhammad Ali’s children, religious leaders, political leaders and young people as well Native American leaders and Buddhists, who offered sacred chants. The service was planned with the approval of Mr. Ali, said organizers. Among speakers were Valerie Jarrett, who represented the President and Mrs. Obama by reading a presidential tribute; Attallah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcom X; comedian Billy Crystal; sportscaster Bryant Gumbel; Republican Senator Orrin Hatch and a eulogy was delivered by former Democratic President Bill Clinton. Imam Zaid Shakir presided over the service that included Islamic prayers and Muslim speakers.

“As the first part of his life was dominated by triumph of fights, the second part was more important because he refused to be imprisoned by disease. In the second half of his life, he perfected gifts we all have: we all have gifts of mind and heart. It’s just that he found a way to release them; large and small,” said President Clinton. “Ali never wasted a day feeling sorry for himself just because he had Parkinson’s.”

L to R - (bottom row) Khalilah Ali (former wife of Muhammad Ali) Abdul Rahman Muhammad (top row) Saliha Shakir, Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, Imam Zaid Shakir, Akbar Muhammad, Earl 3X.

Mr. Ali died June 3 in Phoenix. He was 74 years old and had suffered from Parkinson’s disease for over 30 years. A family spokesperson said he died from “septic shock due to unspecified natural causes.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to an infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.”

The brief Clinton speech included an undertone of selfresponsibility and determination but it was absent any references to obstacles posed by structural racism, poverty and discrimination that still haunt Black youth.

“We are so honored that you have packed this room with your love, thank you all,” said his daughter Rasheda Ali-Walsh. “You were the greatest father to us and it was God’s will to take you home. Your family will try our best to make you proud and carry on your legacy of giving and love. You have inspired us and the world to be the best version of ourselves.” The other eight children of Mr. Ali, who married four times, and the extended Ali clan were seated together at the memorial.

Anthony Bowman, Sr., Anthony Bowman, Jr., and mother Charlene Bowman after memorial. Photo: Richard B. Muhammad

“When (Muhammad Ali) challenged the U.S. government on the draft his chances were slim to none,” said widow Lonnie Ali. “But the timing of his decision converged with a rising tide of discontent on the war.” Throughout his life my husband rewrote rules he didn’t like and was compelled by faith to use his fame and fortune to serve victims of poverty and strife, even serving as a UN Messenger of Peace, she added. Mr. Ali stunned the world when he secured the release of 15 hostages from Iraq and came full circle with the people of this country when he lit the Olympic torch at the 1996 games in Atlanta, Loni Ali said.

The boxing champion was stripped of his title April 28, 1967 and banned from boxing for three years for refusing to fight in the Viet Nam War. He was convicted of draft evasion, sentenced to five years in prison and fined $10,000. His conviction was eventually overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. He regained his title three times first in 1974. In October 1974, he knocked out George Forman and reclaimed the heavyweight champion belt in the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire. In October 1975, it was the “Thrilla In Manilla,” where he fought and beat Joe Frazier for a third time in the Philippines.

Rabbi Michael Lerner, a representative of American Jewry and editor of Tikkun magazine, condemned blanket repudiations of Muslims and Islam. He called for standing against injustices as Mr. Ali had boldly stood— whether it is Blacks indicted for crimes Whites get away with, Israeli government abuse of Palestinians or mass incarceration. He seemed to miss the irony that an architect of mass incarceration for Black men in the 1990s was former President Clinton. Rabbi Lerner offered a political shout out to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, calling the next American president by the pronoun “she” and advocating for public funding of elections.

Staci Foster grew up in the Nation of Islam in Louisville. She brought daughter Jordan to Muhammad Ali memorial. Photo: Richard B. Muhammad

Several TV networks domestically and internationally covered the Muhammad Ali memorial all day, some broke in with coverage during the day, while others anchored broadcasts from the Muhammad Ali Center or other places in Louisville.

“It is important that the narrative of Muhammad Ali’s life be driven by the people that produced Muhammad Ali, historically there has always been a tendency to steal our legacy and while he is property of the world, he is product of the African American community. And it is important that kids in our community know that this is the type of excellence that Black people produce,” Dr. Kevin Cosby of head of Simmons College and senior pastor of St. Stephen Church, told The Final Call in an exclusive interview following the memorial. The pastor struck a chord as the lead off memorial speaker by highlighting how Mr. Ali “dared to love Black people at a time when Black people had a hard time loving themselves. He dared to affirm the beauty of Blackness. He dared to love America’s most unloved race. I am not saying Muhammad Ali is the property of Black people. He is the property of all people but while he is the property of all people let us never forget that he is the product of Black people in their struggle to be free.”

Larry McKelvey, father of radio host Charlamagne Da God, and his other son Julian in Louisville to celebrate life of Muhammad Ali. Photo: Richard B. Muhammad

“We cannot afford if our kids are going to be psychologically whole to let them steal the legacy that we have produced. You cannot participate as an equal without others until you first feel confident in the skin that you are in. We have to give credit to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam for helping Muhammad Ali feel comfortable in the skin that he is in so that he could participate in a pluralistic society as an equal,” he added.

“I, my wife and family and the members of the Nation of Islam past and present mourn the loss of our brother Muhammad Ali. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to his family and to all those whose lives his life touched. There is a verse from the Bible and a verse from the Holy Qur’an that run through my mind at this time that I would like to express. One is found in the Bible in the Parable of the Talents, Matthew, 25:23, ‘His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

Enter into the joy of your master!’ ” Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan said in a statement issued June 6. The Minister and Muhammad came up together in the Nation of Islam, helping to build the movement as students of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. “The flesh of Muhammad Ali must return to the earth but what he has done for the Cause of Islam, for the Cause of Freedom, Justice and Equality will never die,” the Minister said in the statement.

Min. Farrakhan attended two services honoring Mr. Ali in Louisville, a Muslim prayer service and the memorial service. He joined thousands of people and international dignitaries and guests, such as King Abdullah II of Jordan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard, Bernard Hopkins, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, celebrities Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Spike Lee and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other political leaders.