Muhammad Ali
A Humanitarian Life
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- $31.99
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- $31.99
Publisher Description
An intimate portrait of Muhammad Ali that explores his ascent to greatness in the prizefighting ring and his extraordinary accomplishments as a celebrated humanitarian.
Muhammad Ali is arguably the greatest boxer of all-time. Yet, outside his record-breaking achievements in the ring, he was admired by millions of people worldwide for his compassionate heart and altruistic endeavors. Throughout his life, Ali demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing justice and freedom that should never be forgotten.
In Muhammad Ali: A Humanitarian Life, Margueritte Shelton shows how the “People’s Champion” transformed his success in the boxing ring into a powerful platform to further his fight against inequality, injustice, and oppressive politics. Ali ascended to greatness during a violent decade of protests and revolutionary movements, and Shelton vividly portrays the personal journey of this bold young dreamer as he pursued athletic glory to become a champion in the ring and a champion for human rights.
Featuring a rare collection of letters as well as exclusive interviews, this book offers unique personal perspectives on the man who became world-renowned as the “Greatest of All Time.” With an emphasis on Ali’s humanitarian endeavors, Muhammad Ali reveals that the champion’s greatest achievement was his lifelong fight to transform the world as a messenger of peace.
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Shelton, a humanitarian volunteer and member of the Muhammad Ali Center, debuts with a conscientious study of the heavyweight boxing champion, who used his platform to advocate for social justice. Ali (1942–2016), who grew up in Louisville, Ky., and began training at age 12, won a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics and four years later dethroned heavyweight champ Charles "Sonny" Liston, only to have that title stripped by the World Boxing Association in 1967 after he refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War. Ali's opposition to the war led to his public support of the civil rights movement, and he joined Martin Luther King Jr. in desegregation protests in Louisville. His stance led to a conviction for draft evasion that was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971. Ali's commitment to his convictions remained throughout his life; in 1980, President Jimmy Carter recruited Ali to persuade African countries to boycott the Moscow Olympics to protest human rights violations involving the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Shelton also explores such lesser-known chapters in Ali's life as his charitable fundraising and efforts to foster interfaith dialogue across world religions. Illuminating and expertly researched, this is a solid tribute to Ali's legacy.
