Dear Editor,
Recently I got a framed photograph — left behind by a deceased person "Cutty"— of former boxing champions Leon Spinks, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Mohammed Ali — the greatest.
I took the photograph to Boys' Town, where there is a successful boxing programme, causing much stir as the elders tried to name the boxers. Many were not able to identify all; except the one and only "Ali". Of course, the present crop of youth was not able to identify any of the champions.
Immediately I recognised something that is often said about people of colour; that we do not go about preserving our heritage and history for the future generations. I am, however, certain that my siblings and friends would be able to identify Ali as they grew up hearing us speak glowingly of the man who was more than a boxer, but a champion to his people. They would know that Ali lost his title outside the ring, in the prime of his life, because he stood up to powerful "Uncle Sam" and opposed the Vietnam War because of his religious beliefs and principles. They would know that, unlike many of our present sporting heroes, who distanced themselves of affecting the masses of the people for fear of losing lucrative endorsement deals, seeing Ali excluded by the system. Eldridge Clever wrote that until the arrival of Ali, all other black champions were like "a lion in the ring and a pussycat outside".
The love for Ali is deep and long lasting, with men openly in conversations expressing admiration which was usually only done for their women folk. During the period when he was fighting, a number of women (including my mother) followed up his fights, because of his sheer attractiveness and to see if he would make good on the regular predictions:
"Archie has been living off the fat of the land. I am here to give him his pension plan....
When you come to the fight, don't block the aisle, don't block the door, because you may all go home after round four." Needless to say the fight ended in round four. Ali inspired many, his legend should be passed down to generations.
Karl Goodison
karlgoodison@gmail.com
Our great history is not recorded
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Recently I got a framed photograph — left behind by a deceased person "Cutty"— of former boxing champions Leon Spinks, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Mohammed Ali — the greatest.
I took the photograph to Boys' Town, where there is a successful boxing programme, causing much stir as the elders tried to name the boxers. Many were not able to identify all; except the one and only "Ali". Of course, the present crop of youth was not able to identify any of the champions.
Immediately I recognised something that is often said about people of colour; that we do not go about preserving our heritage and history for the future generations. I am, however, certain that my siblings and friends would be able to identify Ali as they grew up hearing us speak glowingly of the man who was more than a boxer, but a champion to his people. They would know that Ali lost his title outside the ring, in the prime of his life, because he stood up to powerful "Uncle Sam" and opposed the Vietnam War because of his religious beliefs and principles. They would know that, unlike many of our present sporting heroes, who distanced themselves of affecting the masses of the people for fear of losing lucrative endorsement deals, seeing Ali excluded by the system. Eldridge Clever wrote that until the arrival of Ali, all other black champions were like "a lion in the ring and a pussycat outside".
The love for Ali is deep and long lasting, with men openly in conversations expressing admiration which was usually only done for their women folk. During the period when he was fighting, a number of women (including my mother) followed up his fights, because of his sheer attractiveness and to see if he would make good on the regular predictions:
"Archie has been living off the fat of the land. I am here to give him his pension plan....
When you come to the fight, don't block the aisle, don't block the door, because you may all go home after round four." Needless to say the fight ended in round four. Ali inspired many, his legend should be passed down to generations.
Karl Goodison
karlgoodison@gmail.com
Our great history is not recorded
-->