Dave Zirin On Muhammad Ali & How Athletes Raise Political Consciousness

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For most Americans, the world of professional sports has been a place to escape the tumultuous work week, their personal problems, and most importantly, politics. However, as The Nation’s sport journalist and author Dave Zirin explained to me in a recent conversation, there are many athletes past and present who have used “the game” to raise the political consciousness of Americans. Zirin explained to me the significance of athletes such as Muhammad Ali, and why there are more political athletes today than in years past.

Kevin Patrick Kelly: What is the significance of the legacy of Muhammad Ali?

Dave Zirin: His legacy, I really think that in the 1960s, he made people feel brave at a time when it was really needed. I think in many respects his legacy is understated because the 60s, and indeed the entire post-war era were really defined by two movements: the antiwar struggle regarding Vietnam and the Black Freedom Struggle. These movements seemed destined to exist on parallel tracks, not necessarily crossing. They were segregated by race, segregated by class, and then you had the Heavy Weight Champion of the World with one foot in each of those camps. Really bringing them together culturally and providing a common icon for both of those movements.

Terror In Orlando And Muhammad Ali’s Legacy

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I was prepared to continue mourning the loss of Muhammad Ali in private, with my family and local community, and then this morning I awoke to the the horror in Orlando, and I just wanted to scream.

I am a Muslim. I am a Muslim in large part due to Muhammad Ali, who was a childhood hero of mine, long before I knew anything about the faith. He remained a hero into young adulthood and into this present day, because he represented many of the things I also rep for, such as Islam, blackness, social justice, humanity and love. He took two holy names and made them a part of global lexicon, so much so that people throughout the world scream Muhammad and Ali in unison, just as they had once had in Ghadeer Khum in the middle of the desert for only the faithful and historians to hear.

Muhammad Ali represented many things. Those who condemn the participation of many at his funeral, who they feel are incongruent with the politics of Muhammad Ali, have themselves “flattened” Muhammad Ali to a sliver of his robust and intricate persona.

Muhammad Ali: How Racism Wastes Human Potential

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If I had to find one example to illustrate how deep racism and social injustice is in America’s culture, it would have to be that someone as highly intelligent, brave, resourceful, serious and charismatic, with such a massive power of communication as Muhammad Ali, had to end up semi-illiterate with his brains beaten out in the prize ring … while a second rate, B-picture actor like Ronald Reagan or an immature blockhead like George W. Bush could end up as presidents of the United States, or that, today, someone as weird, mean-spirited and grotesque as Donald Trump could be seriously considered for that job.

“But things are much better today for young African-American men than they were when Ali was a boy growing up in Jim Crow Louisville Kentucky in the 1940s and 50s,” you say.

Are they?

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