Muhammad Ali

The thing is, he hated black people for not hating white people. Black people who had grown up in the same society as him, black people who had grown up knowing the history of races, black people just like him. I think the best thing can do is acknowledge his Nation of Islam days, and then acknowledge that as he developed as a person he simultaneously transcended their beliefs.

 

It'd be interesting to know when Ali found out this his granddad was a white Irish man as well, as that literally refutes or contradicts a large portion of his NOI beliefs.

 

Better than Rocky Marciano??:smiley-laughing002:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il9jJObx7FE[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il9jJObx7FE[/YOUTUBE]

 

You can be a right * to deal with sometimes. :smiley-laughing002:

It's been discussed plenty in this thread, namely Ali's treatment of Joe Frazier - "he's an uncle Tom, he works for the enemy."

 

I wonder how much Ali believed that. His own trainer was white.

However, surely we can all understand why a black man in mid 20th century America would view the white man as the enemy?

 

Of course, which is why I don't hate him for it, but to deny that the hatred was never there or that his views never existed is where people are going wrong. I don't see why people are so hesitant to note someones flaws, and then further note how he addressed them flaws. As far as I'm concerned, it made Ali a better person, and I respect him more in hindsight.

 

His treatment of Frazier is evidence enough, his membership of the Nation of Islam is evidence enough, his views on miscegenation is evidence enough, his views on white people is evidence enough. I don't understand people's need to be parochial over this subject when in his later life he disavowed and amended his earlier views.

 

I don't think disavowing race mixing or his membership of the Nation of Islam was to sell fights. Anyhow, I think this conversation has run its course. His funeral is coming up soon and the world has been invited to Louisville for it.

RIP to the greatest heavyweight ever.

 

You're such a baby, Paul.

 

Is saying whites and black shouldn't race mix a racist statement?

 

Don't. He's in a wee bit of a mood today and is looking for attention wherever he can find it. I'd save your energy for someone else.

 

Aye. I'll give you credit, you are a mighty good * troll when you want to be, got 5-6 replies out of me at least.

 

Was this before or after you insinuated that he was a racist?

 

I think his argument was that because of a former Celtic players political ideologies, I cannot comment on the political views of a boxer.

That argument would blow anyone out of the water to be fair. Paul strikes again, the absolute mad man.