Racially the 60s and 70s were a very different world to the one we live in today. It is very easy to look back in a selective manner and paint distorted pictures.
I don't think he was ever racist. The word gets used a lot more often than it should, saying you think people should be with people of their own race is just an opinion and not in anyway belittling other races. He grew up in a culture where nearly everyone in his country was racist (quite a few openly) towards him and other black people, he was segregated and looked down upon by pretty much everyone that wasn't his own race. Why would that environment breed a willingness to couple with another race? Even still he didn't hate the people that looked down upon him, he just strived to gain their acceptance and prove himself as an equal. He using his boxing and eventually won his country an Olympic Gold medal, a higher achievement than pretty much anyone looking down on him would gain in their lives, in the hopes of being seen as equal. When he still was treated with disdain and not allowed to eat with white people in his home town he threw his gold medal in the river and realised that even with all he had accomplished he wouldn't be treated with respect. He became a muslim, joined the Nation of Islam to stand up for himself and his race. I'm sure you're capable of doing some research on the black civil rights movement, maybe it wasn't all niceties but they were fighting for basic human rights. He was targeting white people because they were the ones denying him equality. He made some mistakes just like everyone else and he'd probably be the first to admit them. Personally I have nothing but respect for him, if anyone thinks their heros are without flaws they are sorely mistaken. I'm sure you know of how he forefitted his title and his boxing liscense and went to jail because he refused to fight in the Vietnam War. To me his speach on that and his willingness to risk his livelyhood, fame and everything to stand up for his belief and continue fighting for his ideals and race is worth more respect than a couple of misguided interview answers.
"No intelligent black man or black woman in his or her right black mind wants white boys and white girls coming to their homes to marry their black sons and daughters." - Muhammad Ali. He also repeatedly referred to the white man as "the devil" and actively campaigned for segregation of the races. He also white people "the enemy." But as Will Rose says, it was actually an understandable reaction to what he saw going on around him. I don't think we should try to rewrite those words though. He said them and at one time believed in them. He was a racist.
Not true about Dundee & Eamon Andrews. Heres the real story... It was Michael Parkinson not Andrews. He had Ali on his show. Parkinson thought he'd be clever because the rumour was Ali couldn't read. He asked Ali to read a few of his poems out of the book he'd published. Ali stood up scowl on his face started undoing his jacket. It scared Parkinson to death he was ready to run and call security. Then Ali burst out laughing& said "Did I scare you Michael" ??? Parkinson was shaking Ali said ' Are we even now we both tried to embarrass the other & I won" ?? Then he read the poems. Parkinson admitted he thought Ali was going to hurt him. They became friends & Ali was on his show every time he came to England. So get the facts right OK?? Oh BTW Floyd signed with Arum & De la hoya too didn't he LOL Manny could read his contract wonder who read Floyd's to him LOL:good
