From Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali | City of Ali

Follow Muhammad Ali’s life after his conversion to Islam and his then-controversial stands against racism and the Vietnam War, his ascendancy as a sports and pop culture icon, and most of all his humanitarian work, where he put into action his spiritual philosophy: “Service is the rent you pay here for your room in heaven.”

Explore the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and how Ali dealt with criticism over both what he said and what he believed during the 1960s. Students will consider the price paid by individuals who voice unpopular opinions and how a society’s views can change over time, thanks in part to the civic engagement of people like Ali.