Cassius Marcellus Clay
I loved that name because it was the first you, that I knew.
I truly now ovastand why you rightfully changed your name.
As a little youth growing up in Jamaica, a black man’s country, the home of Rastafari, whenever Cassius Clay fought, there was excitement in my heart, mind and soul leading up to that fight!
Because of you, I listened to some of the teachings of Elijah Mohammed and learned many things, like pride in self as a human is everyone’s right! Not a Muslim, Christian, black or white thing. It was / is a human thing!
I knew that you were a spirit of the Lord because your presence moved so many. Only man I know who is as revered in China as he is in Jamaica or Africa or India or England. Your shining star knows no boundaries! Hated and loved most in your own country of Amerikkka, it is irrelevant because we see the cowardly hooded masks that hide behind. You turned out to be right to not bear arms for an unjust, unholy act that is war, a country whose government has always murdered and degraded their black population. I applaud your historically brave act. At 21 years old you could see so clearly things that befuddle me now at 55 years old.
You were so brave! You instilled a swell of pride in my chest that is still overflowing today.
You spoke with honesty and a conviction of truth that is undeniable! Who could dare to call the heavyweight champion of the world a coward? Any man or woman that has been in a ring knows that you and the word coward don’t sit in the same sentence.
I still watch your fights and TV interviews (thank goodness for youtube) when one fight became the catalyst for me writing this piece. It was the Cleveland Williams bout where the white commentator made a point of calling you Clay after you had changed your name to Muhammed Ali.
Muhammad Ali ~ The Black Superman
The white race does claim Santa Claus, Batman, Zeus, James Bond, Hercules, tried to snatch up Jesus, Moses, Sampson, David and Solomon (black people), The X-Men, Thor, Odin and 99% of leading men in every movie yet all combined cannot compare to what you are in real life. A world wide super hero even though silenced by Parkinson’s disease your star shines as brightly today as when you were at your peak...in my eyes anyway.
I rate and respect you so much more because you acquired super hero status as a man! Flawed, some say ‘braggadocios’ yet I see great humility and love which I try to emulate. An inborn defiance to the white hooded liars that govern our lands, you speaking loudly and boldly, making this world a more human place!
Bless you champ for your incredibly brave contribution to mankind.
To me as a person...
Jah guide