By the time he won the gold medal
for boxing at the 1960 Olympics,Cassius Clay was already a larger-than-life figure. Clay was not only a gifted
fighter, but also handsome, unapologetic, and provocative. Clay climbedthe boxing world’s ladder in a series of spectacular fights, an ascent that climaxed with his victory over heavy-weight champion Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964. The next morn-ing, Clay held a press conference inwhich a reporter asked, “Are you a card-carrying member of the BlackMuslims?” to which Clay responded,
“Card-carrying; what does that mean?
I believe in Allah and in peace.”Reflecting back on his conversion, he explained how he became
interested in the Nation of Islam:
The first time I heard about Elijah Muhammad was at a Golden Gloves Tournament in Chicago [in 1959]. Then, before I went to the Olympics, I looked at a copy of the Nation of Islam newspaper, Muhammad Speaks. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but lots of things were working on my mind. When I was growing up, a colored boy named Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi for whistling at a white woman. Emmett Till was the same age as me, and even though they caught the men who did it, nothing happened to them. Things like that went on all the time. And in my own life, there were places I couldn’t go, places I couldn’t eat. I won a gold medal representing the United States at the Olympic Games, and when I came home to Louisville [Kentucky], I still got treated like a nigger. There were restaurants I couldn’t get served in. Some people kept calling me “boy.” Then in Miami [in 1961], I was training for a fight, and met a follower of Elijah Muhammad named Captain Sam. He invited me to a meeting, and after that my life changed.
Clay later announced that Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam, had given him a
new name. From then on, Clay refused to be called anything but Muhammad Ali. Later Ali
explained, “changing my name was one of the most important things that happened to me in my
life.”
What did his name change symbolize for Ali (who was originally named after Cassius Marcellus Clay, a nineteenth-century abolitionist)? Why do you think some of Clay’s supporters lashed out against him after he converted to the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali? Why did many people refuse to call Ali by his new name?
* From Facing History and Ourselves/Eyes on the Prize Study Guide
A lot like Ruth's name change in The Color of Water, the change to being named Muhammad Ali represented a spiritual conversion, which in his case was to the religion of Islam. After having watched the video, it seems that the conversion made Ali a much more reserved and quiet guy, having once been very egotistical and boastful. Furthermore, I think that changing his name was important to him because Clay had no religious significance, whereas Muhammad is an Arabic name, and by using that instead of his birthname, he is throwing away the American culture that imposed his birthname onto him. Going back to his African roots made a huge change for Ali.
ReplyDeleteI think many of Muhammad Ali's supporters lashed out against him after he converted to the Nation of Islam and changed his name because he was a good friend of Elijah Muhammad, who many were intimidated by. Furthermore, the Nation of Islam seemed to be more of a "white-hate" group than just a religious group, which obviously scared a lot of whites at the time. Muhammad Ali's affiliation with the group scared many of his fans away for this reason.
Myhammad Ali's name change, like Zora said, a spiritual conversion. I also think Cassius Clay had a negative affect on him because it could be linked back to his ancestors who were enslaved. Cassius Clay was not a name that represented his family or culture it represented his family's negative past. Changing his name allowed him to connect to his ancestor's in a postive way, through their religion, and gave him a chance to stand up for what he believes in, without speaking out so bluntly like he has before. His new name allowed him to be more respected by his cause.
ReplyDeleteI think people lashed out agianst him because the Nation of Islam were more of a "white hate" group. Most of the people who lashed were his white supporters who probably were not knee on the Nation of Islam.
I believe people refused to call him Ali because they were upset. They didn't understand why someone had to become a part of the Nation of Islam and change what he was born with. Many people also, like Charlotte said, were upset with the attitude of the Nation. It's "anti-white" feelings cause upset with some of Ali's fans. Why would they want to call him by his new, less accepted name which they feel slightly put-off by?
ReplyDeleteFor himself, the name change meant a lot. Even if others could not understand it, it still meant something very rich to him. It displayed his passion and pride, unlike "Clay" which was a name that meant little to him. If "Ali" actually represented who Clay really felt he was, then the name change meant recognition and happiness within himself. And, I agree with the others, something spiritual.
Ali's name change represented the beliefs that he was faithful to. The Nation of Islam required members to cast off their names related to slave traders, and gain new names, free of that past. That is exactly what Ali was doing when he got his new name. As someone who has changed their name, myself, I know that to some people, their birth names never hold any significance for them, other than a reminder of bad times, or just something they've always hated about themself. By changing his name to Muhammad Ali, he was able to become the self he actually wanted to be.
ReplyDeletePeople didn't approve of the change because he was already well-known by his birth name, and they didn't want the comfusion of a new name. They also might not have understood the full significance the new name held for Ali, and felt that they'd rather just keep things easy for themselves by comtinuing to use his old name.
I think Ali's name change represented who he was becoming and wanted to be come in the future. After converting to Islam, he felt that the name Muhammad Ali better suited what he believed in and who he now was. I think some of his supporters were upset and lashed out probably because of the fact that his old name, Cassius Clay was after an abolitionist. His supporters may have felt that he was neglecting his African American culture and history by changing his name, and were upset by that. Even though undergoing strong changes such as changing one's name, still does not change your history and where you come from.
ReplyDeleteHis name change represented his courage to represent a minority- now he was not only a black man in the spotlight, but also a Muslim. His name and religion change showed his individuality and who he wanted to become. I think people had a hard time accepting this and therefore refused to call him by his new name because they felt that it was his way of changing his identity in a negative way rather than a positive way, and it was also a way for him to cover up his African American identity rather than embrace it.
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ReplyDeleteBy changing his name to Muhammed Ali, he publicly announced his belief in the Nation of Islam By publicly endorsing a group of proud black individuals, Ali may also have encouraged other black people to take pride in their identity and heritage. People may have lashed out against him because the name change was a constant reminder that Ali was black. Before, he was just an American boxer and all Americans saw him as a hero because of his great skill at boxing. However, when the white Americans were reminded that he was black, they did not want to acknowledge that blacks are not inferior, but rather equals. Some other people may have disagreed with the objectives set out by the Nation of Islam and therefore refused to endorse Ali's decision to convert. This may also have been the reason many people refused to call him by his new name--because doing so would be endorsing his decision to follow the guidelines set out by the Nation of Islam.
ReplyDeleteThe name change symbolized Ali's ever growing pride in her heritage. He was not afraid to be proud about being black, showing a lot more courage than most people during his time. Also, it meant the beginning of new life for Ali. He was now able to openly practice and grow in his new faith without being restricted. I think that a lot of people lashed out at him because they were not used to an African American being so proud of their race. They were used to seeing blacks being treated badly, so they assumed that anyone who was black would be ashamed of it. Also, they might have been intimidated by the growing group of Islams in the Untied States. They viewed them as a threat who could cause problems in the future, so they lashed out at one of it's most public followers, Muhammad Ali.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone's thoughts on Muhammad Ali's name change. By changing his name, he is starting a new life for himself in which he is less outspoken and boastfull. Ali is making a better life for himself. His old name, Cassius Clay, was a link to his most recent history, during which his ancestors were enslaved in the south. The change to Muhammad Ali allows him to better connect to his ancestral roots.
ReplyDeleteMuhammad Ali's supporters lashed out against him because they disagreed with sudden change. In converting to the Nation of Islam, Ali is choosing to agree with all the religious beliefs. At the time, the Nation of Islam was a fairly new movement and many people disagreed with its beliefs. People refused to use Ali's new name because it represented a drastic change.
Muhammed Ali's name change, as people have said, symbolized Ali's discovery of a spiritual belief. His name went from something that didn't mean much about him - perhaps didn't accurately represent his self-pride or heritage or personal history - to something that represented his beliefs, so that just by hearing his name one might think of someone who was more similar to him than "Cassius Clay" would be.
ReplyDeleteI think that people lashed out against him because the Nation of Islam was seen as a threat. After all, Malcolm X was accused by some of advocating violence, and his belief in the Nation of Islam probably made it seem even more radical and dangerous to white people. Even if Muhammed Ali believed in "Allah and peace," the Nation of Islam was not viewed as a religion, so his name change was not accepted as a change or gain of faith.
i believe Ali's name changed represented his courage and the revolution that blacks were going threw at that time. It showed his rebellion against what everyone wanted him to be. He was a black kid who was gaining power faster and faster. This intimidated the white public espically when he changed his name to Ali and converted to the nation of islam. The white public was terrified by the nation of islam too because it was a bunch of blacks and the soul reasoning behind the group was to be proud and black. White poeple at that time never would of imagined somone would be black and proud about it. They thought that being black was a bad thing and poeple who were black should not have confidence. So this change of a black fighter coming up and gaining power and then converting to this arcane group that everyone was scared of was a large shock to the white public
ReplyDeleteAs others have said Ali’s name change was a turning point in his spiritual beliefs. But it was more of a recognition of his formal conversion. It is not like he was totally transformed after changing his name. His beliefs had been evolving ever since he came back to Kentucky from winning gold in the olympics. They took a more structured path after Ali became aware of and following the Nation of Islam. The name change was only such a big deal because it was something concrete that the public could see. Many people were disturbed by Ali’s name change because the nation of Islam was seen by whites as an incredibly threatening group. Ali was such an influential person white people were afraid that lots of other black people may begin to convert to the Nation of Islam.
ReplyDeleteAli's name change symbolized a separation from the identity given to him, basically creating a new identity for himself. It shows his increasing pride in his black heritage, and it bluntly states to the world his beliefs, without fear of rebuke.
ReplyDeleteBack then, people feared the Nation of Islam, believing it to be a 'hate-group' that could become threatening to the white community. When Ali announced his affiliation, it probably scared a lot of people, knowing that someone so admired and influential was associated with such an extreme group. Calling him by his new name would mean accepting this, and it was something that most people didn't want to do.
Ali's name change symbolized his conversion to a new religion. It also represented a change in his identity. It showed that he was confident in his religion and wanted people to know about his conversion.
ReplyDeleteI think that his supporters lashed out against him because the nation of Islam wasn't just seen as a religion, but as a threatening organization. People avoided calling him by his new name to protest and show their disapproval about his conversion to the Nation of Islam. They didn't want to accept his religious conversion.
Clay was the center of attention-he was the center of the talks and the center of entertainment. The people and media have also subconciously placed Clay into an identity (whether Clay realize it/know it or not). Therefore when Clay changed his name to Ali and announced that he is in the Nation of Islam, he has created an identity for himself.
ReplyDeleteAnd that might be the reason why people lash out and refuse to call him. Because he has changed the identity of himself, he has changed his identity to something different than what the people/media had placed him. It is just human tendency to call a person one identity and refer to him that identity for a while (forever if possible) and for that person to change identity into something totally new and different "aka, a threatening organization. And the sudden change causes shock and refusal to call/acknowledge him by his new identity.
muhammed ali changed his name to show people something. on one hand his obvious religious conversion to a muslim, but also his gain of a new identity: he showed his pride to be black. Like we saw in the movie elijah muhammed said that the old names the african americans had were a symbol for slavery and that this is one of the reasons why they get new names, if they join the nation of islam.
ReplyDeletePeople wanted to fight that, for sure, through calling him by his old name, which obviously annoyed him. since this was in a time where racial problems were more frequent than nowadays, this pride and self esteem that muhammed ali had and presented earned a lot of bad looks. People were also afraid because the group that ali converted to was a pretty strict, suspicious islamic group which probably wasnt easy to understand by his fans either.
I just want to add one little thought that i did not know how to present today: ali kept saying that he belongs to the islam because it praises peace and it is against war. I do not think taht this is wrong, but nowadays the islam stands for terroristic activities and fears for a lot of people. I just think taht this is kinda funny beause there is this discrepancy between our impressions nowadays and the messages back then.
When Ali changed his given name (Cassius Clay) to Muhammad Ali, a name given to him by his spiritual leader, it symbolized many things. Firstly, the name change completed Ali's conversion to the Nation of Islam. His name change also represents leaving behind the disrespect that African Americans had received from whites for so many years. He dropped his given name, which was most likely originally a white man's name, and adopted a name that he could call his own. People refused to call Ali by his new name because they were threatened by his relationship with Malcom X. They knew Malcom X was a very strong believer in black power, and they saw Ali's alleged nationalism as a threat.
ReplyDeleteThe name change, through my eyes, is a symbol of gaining self-confidence and change. Before Ali converted to the Nation of Islam, he felt as if he wasn't being honored for his great achievements as a boxer. He was still being discriminated against, and I think he may have started to lose confidence in himself. However, when he converted to this new religion, his life changed. The conversion gave him the confidence to demand respect and gave him an extreme amount of self-esteem. I believe the name change symbolized all of these instances in his life. Some people were angered by this because they felt threatened. They didn't want to call him by his new name because they didn't want to associate him with Malcom X, who believed in black power.
ReplyDeleteI think Muhammad Ali's name change help him to shed memories of his past. It helped him to move away from the negative thoughts that came to him as he thought about his name and how he was treated. Converting to Islam allowed him to start over new with a name that he decided and had a special meaning to him. Although Cassius Clay was a important abolitionist in the 19th century, Ali didn't have a personal connection to the name. With his name change some people may have thought that he was throwing away his black heritage because he was getting rid of such a famous name. Also his new Islam beliefs had him thinking heavily in "black power" which posed a threat to his white fans. I think people refused to calll him that name to begin with because he was such a cocky athlete. Whenever he spoke it seems like you can't take himself. Therefore people could see his name change and conversion as just another one of his stunts.
ReplyDeleteMuhammad Ali’s name change symbolized his ability to reconnect with his ancestry and uncelebrated past. It also represented his spiritual revival in a different religion. By changing his name, Ali was associating less with the false history his ancestors were given by slave owners. Ali was choosing a new religion that he actually agreed with and wanted to follow rather than something previously forced upon him. His name change truly represented who Ali wanted to be, and not who the general public expected him to be.
ReplyDeleteMany people were angry about Ali’s name change because they were confused. They did not understand the religion of the Nation of Islam, and did not understand why Muhammad Ali wanted to change his name. People had been used to seeing his name as Cassius Clay through the media and the beginning of his life, but suddenly it changed. Also people saw the Nation of Islam as a threat, and a non-white religious group, which made them nervous.
Like people have said before, changing his name represented his change in identity and spiritual beliefs. The name Cassius Marcellus Clay represented freedom from slavery, the conversion of the black person from being seen as an object or a possession to a type of human being. Nevertheless, black people, although seen has human were seen as being inferior to white people. It represents black people’s need at that time to fit into white society. But the name Muhammad Ali represents black pride, and the independence of black people from whites.
ReplyDeletePeople were probably upset with Muhammad Ali because, although black, with the name Cassius Marcellus Clay, he was still sort of conforming to white America – he was a sports hero. But by converting to Islam and changing his name, he rejected the “superior” white society, so to many people it must have seemed as if he were rejecting America itself, and they couldn’t handle this sort of “unpatriotic” display in someone who represented America and was a role model for American children.
I think so many people lashed out against him after his name change because they weren't expecting it. A persons name is a large part of their identity. If someone chooses to go by a new name many people may not see them as the same person. And when someone who was as well known as Clay changed his name his fans may have started to see him in a different light, almost like he was a whole new person. Then when something as touchy as religion is added to the mix it can add a new twist to things. There must have been some of his fans who weren't completely sure of what the Nation of Islam was, and people often don't trust what they can't understand. People could not have called him Ali because they weren't used to it. To them he was and always would be Cassius Clay, other may just not have been able to accept the name change and decided to ignore it, or even hope that if no one called him Ali then he would stop insisting on being called it.
ReplyDeleteA lot like in the Color of Water, with Ruth's name change, Clay changed his name to Ali for spiritual reasons. He as a person changed and like many others, he probably felt that his name, was an important symbol of his identity, which had changed. People may feel uncomfortable with this change because they may associate themselves with only Clay, with Clay's beliefs and the identity of Clay, or they may strictly not associate themselves with the spiritual identity of Ali.
ReplyDeleteMuhammad Ali's name change was mainly for spiritual reasons. He was attempting to make a new life for himself within his new set of beliefs. He was making an effort to leave his old self behind. His old name, Cassius Clay, was well known for his cockiness in the sport of boxing. He wanted to create a new name for himself to show that he was a changed person, and that he no longer had the negative connotation that accompanied his old name because of his reputation.
ReplyDeleteLike many people have already said, Muhammad Ali's name change was a big part in his change of identity. The name change signified a confidence born in Cassius Clay that only finding yourself can bring. Because Cassius Clay was creating a new persona for himself, many people probably felt angry because they wanted Clay to stay the way he was and not join the likes of Macolm X. Who was considered as being a 'black power' fanatic. Another thing that probably angered the media was the idea that Cassius Clay could shed his slave roots and become a person who believed that his skin color was not a factor in having his rights as a citizen of the USA.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali because a name represents much more than what a person is called by. In his case, it is associated with religion and a different way of life. This, of course is turned back on Ali, because he stands out and is different. I think that people would refuse to call him by his new name for that reason. People are scared of things they do not understand, and no attempt was made by anyone except Ali to reveal what the purpose of his relious epiphany was.
ReplyDeleteI think that the name change symbolized Ali becoming a new person. He was changing identity, like a snake sheds his skin. Ali was becoming known for a fighter, a powerhouse and a leader. Changing his name so that people would associate him with a group of people who demanded a change. This is maybe why people were so worked up about the change. They had this idea in their heads and they didn't want to change them. To them Cassius was a little league fighter who liked to gab and say things that he shouldn't say. When he became Ali it was almost as if he demanded a new image to be formed. He was now a man, who represented a community that had suffered for long enough. I think that the reason people refused to call him by his new name is because it was a way to be disrespectful without saying anything mean. It was an easy way to share their dislike and frustration without anyone getting hurt.
ReplyDeleteMuhammed Ali’s name change symbolizes his spiritual journey in finding a solution to the problems that plagued him as a young black American. While Muhammed Ali probably recognizes the importance of his past he realizes that the best way to accomplish his own goals, and the Nation of Islam’s goals would be to change his name. The public lash out against Muhammed Ali was probably from confusion about the Nation of Islam’s goals. There may have also some confusion among whites about the difference between Black Nationalism and a hate group. As a celebrity figure taking a very public stand for his political beliefs Muhammed Ali amplified the attention that he was getting and as a consequence probably got written off by a lot of the press as trying to just draw attention to himself by declaring this radical name change. The refusal to call Muhammed Ali by his name comes from this, as well as the racial tensions feeding the conflict.
ReplyDeleteI think that his name change was a representation of his independance and self-discovery. He finally had become a new person that he wanted to be, based on his beliefs and values. Ali no longer had anything imposed or forced on him, and his name change was a way of showing everyone that he is happy with himself as a person. He chose a path to follow and he wants to make it clear to the world that he is going to follow the path of the muslim religion. Everyone was so angry and confused because they were unsure why he suddenly abandoned his "beautiful" name from the past. His name held such fame and importance to his image, that people found it difficult to accept without him being Cassius. As Muhammad Ali, no one knew him, and he was no longer the same little fighter in the eyes of his fans.
ReplyDeleteI think that his name change represented a changing sense of self-definition. Whenever people grow up, they change. For one thing, kids when they are young, tend to go along with what their parents say, but then often come up with their own beliefs later in life. I think that Muhammad Ali just got to a point where he was like, this is what I believe in, and I want my name to reflect who I am.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm not completely sure why people were so angry. A lot of people here have said that the nation of islam was also sort of a black power group of sorts, and people were worried about that. That idea makes sense to me. Also, I was thinking, what if some famous athlete today, like for example, Tom Brady, suddenly changed his name to something totally different. I don't think that the public would react well to that, simply because they are used to rooting for him by that name. The name contributes to his fame in a way.
The changing of his name represented his personal development and the strength of his beliefs. To remain Cassius Clay would be to prove he was not fully dedicated to the Nation of Islam- and though taking the name Muhammhad Ali was accompanied with trial, it was the only way to verify that his faith was based on truth. He was not the same person before and after his personal discovery of religion. Accepting the new title symbolized the change through which he implemented the new principles of his faith.
ReplyDeleteThe lashing out of his supporters was largely due to their narrow thinking. They figured boxing should be boxing, and religion should be held as an entirely seperate issue. They view Cassius Clay as a pair of gloves and quick moving feet (as well as a large mouth), but through becoming Muhammad Ali he proved he was a multidemensional man. The refusal to accept his new name had roots in the conflict surrounding the Nation of Islam. The strife of that belief had caused so much escalation previously that nearing it was a dangerous approach.
I think Muhammad Ali's change from Cassius Clay to his well known name is a change in identity. A lot of people refused to call him by his changed name because, first of all, Cassius Clay was his given name. Second of all, Muhammad Ali was a different person with a different identity. Muhammad Ali was a boxer with a loud mouth and a truckload of confidence. He could go on and on about how "pretty" he was. Like others said, Ali might not have wanted to relate to his past of his ancestors being slaves.
ReplyDeleteAs I watched the movie on Wednesday, I believed that Ali was a person with a lot of spunk. He was courageous, and a bit of a daring person.
Ali's name change symbolized a new beginning, a rebirth; he adopted the ideals and practices of the Nation of Islam and so changed his name to complement his new identity. It was a spiritual and mental revival for Ali. The National of Islam was not seen as a real religion, rather a questionably legitimate organization. Ali's name change was therefore not seen as a respectable and legitimate choice, but a laughable one. Since the Nation of Islam was not seen as legitimate, many people refused to acknowledge Ali's new identity.
ReplyDeleteThe name change to Mohammad Ali represented a spiritual change for Cassius Clay. Many converts to Islam adopt Arabic names, perhaps to feel more accepted into their new culture, perhaps to show their commitment to their new religion.
ReplyDeletePeople may have been resistant to his name change because of the nature of the Nation of Islam. Its anti-white stances were very objectionable. Today, the Nation of Islam has continued its anti-white position, and proudly displays its Anti-Semitic, Anti-American, and Anti-Western views, which are so rampant in the Muslim World today.
I've never really understood the black movement to "return" to African roots by practicing Islam. In reality, Muslims were colonizers of Africa as well, and were the first to enslave black Africans (and continue to do so today).