Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali

Title: Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali
2008 Corretta Scott King Honor Book
Author: Charles R. Smith, Jr.
Published: 2007
Group: African American

African American cultural examples in 12 Rounds: (1)12 Rounds is written in rhyme in the tradition of African American linguistic styles--a style that Muhammad Ali is renown for aptly delivering. Employing rhyme and rhythm when conversing is a unique African American linguistic style that can be traced backed to the oral storytelling traditions of West African griots . (2) Muhammad Ali is known for his verbal sparring and verbal agility. He makes herculean claims about his abilities "...I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick, I'm so mean I make medicine sick" This traditional African American linguistic style is known as rapping. (3) Ali verbally taunted his opponents "So deal with these fists smacking your ugly face; I'm taking you down for the crown to represent my black race." . In the African American oral tradition this is called playing the dozens and/or signifyin'. (4) Muhammad Ali won a 1960 Olympic gold medal, "To make America the greatest is my goal, so I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole, and for the USA won the medal of gold." During Jim Crow, in spite of their national and international cultural influences, Black athletes and entertainers were still subject to segregation and discrimination in America. After being embraced and hailed as a hero by the international community, Ali returned home from the 1960 Olympics and was dismissed by jeers such as "I don't care who you are boy; get out of here!" In 12 Rounds Smith writes, "...the country you fought for still put people, like laundry, in two separate piles..." (5) In 1967 Ali was drafted into the Vietnam War but Ali refused to report to duty. In 12 rounds Smith writes, "...you said no to the army refusing to fight an unknown enemy for a country that treated you with anger and hostility..." and "...eyes across the globe witnessed you take a stand when you said no to war for religious beliefs and defied your government by standing for peace." (6) Smith writes about Ali, "You shed your slave name of Cassius Clay, giving birth to a new belief in Islamic religion, reflected in your name when reborn as Muhammad Ali." As a testament to the positive affirmation of Black identity, self -expression, and African roots, some African Americans changed their names. Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali. (7) The political climate of the 1960s marked an increase in African American engagement in black nationalist movements that promoted political, social, and economic empowerment and spiritual growth for Black Americans. Malcolm X, was a friend and spiritual counselor to Ali. (8) In 12 rounds Smith writes about the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, "Elijah the messenger fed the teachings of the Nation to hungry black souls filled with years of frustration, souls stung by hate since the days of the plantation, souls beaten like animals in savage humiliation." Liberation from social oppression is often a part of African American theology. (9) The struggle for equality was given a platform and momentum through the careers of popular African American athletes and entertainers. In 12 rounds Smith writes of Ali, "The time is now to not think about you, but what the power of winning the title belt can do: uplift black people." (10) In the 1960s people that did not conform to mainstream American in terms of religion, support for the war, etc were dubbed anti American. The fight between Ali and Joe Frazier was coined "the fight of the century." Joe Frazier was coined the patriot, the baptist. Ali was dubbed the draft dodger, the Muslim.