The stupidity of Muhammad Ali‘s name change

[Daniel Peres]

Muhammad Ali is of my child heroes, having grown up in the seventies. One of my fondest memories is of him visiting my high school in 1984. So, I was very disappointed when I discovered the stupidity of his name change.

He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay. He was named after a Kentucky politician and emancipationist who worked for the abolition of slavery.

Soon after he became Heavyweight boxing champion, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Let’s compare the Islamic prophet Muhammad to Cassius Marcellus Clay.

As already stated, Mr. Clay was an abolitionist. Muhammad, on the other hand owned many black slaves, as well as white slaves. In fact, he thought slavery was great. To add insult to injury, Muhammad believed that one white slave was worth two black slaves.

Am I am an Islamaphobe for point out the stupidity of the name change?

 

[JosephZ]

In his own words:

KTVU news footage from June 30, 1967 featuring scenes from a press conference by Muhammad Ali, who explains the cultural significance of a recent decision to change his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. Ali states: "Muhammad means one who's worthy of all praises and one who's praiseworthy and Ali means the most high. But Clay only meant dirt with no ingredients ... Cassius Clay was the name of the white slave master." He goes on to point out how names are closely linked to stereotypes of both national and ethnic identity and when a reporter ask if he intends to change his name 'legally', Ali rejects the idea that he must ask permission to choose his own name.

 

[Jonaitis]

Muhammad Ali is of my child heroes, having grown up in the seventies. One of my fondest memories is of him visiting my high school in 1984. So, I was very disappointed when I discovered the stupidity of his name change.

He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay. He was named after a Kentucky politician and emancipationist who worked for the abolition of slavery.

Soon after he became Heavyweight boxing champion, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Let’s compare the Islamic prophet Muhammad to Cassius Marcellus Clay.

As already stated, Mr. Clay was an abolitionist. Muhammad, on the other hand owned many black slaves, as well as white slaves. In fact, he thought slavery was great. To add insult to injury, Muhammad believed that one white slave was worth two black slaves.

Am I am an Islamaphobe for point out the stupidity of the name change?

Muslim: What about Abraham, Moses and David?!

 

[Daniel Peres]

In his own words:

KTVU news footage from June 30, 1967 featuring scenes from a press conference by Muhammad Ali, who explains the cultural significance of a recent decision to change his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. Ali states: "Muhammad means one who's worthy of all praises and one who's praiseworthy and Ali means the most high. But Clay only meant dirt with no ingredients ... Cassius Clay was the name of the white slave master." He goes on to point out how names are closely linked to stereotypes of both national and ethnic identity and when a reporter ask if he intends to change his name 'legally', Ali rejects the idea that he must ask permission to choose his own name. Please note: different scenes from the same press conference may be viewed in KRON-TV footage shot on the same day. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.

No matter what he said about the name change, the fact us that he was named after a good man, and changed his name to imitate a filthy man.

 

[Daniel Peres]

Muslim: What about Abraham, Moses and David?!

I don’t know what you mean. They were not muslim. Mohamed’s Allah, by his own admission, is a liar like the Devil, and the God of Abraham is Truth.

 

[Jonaitis]

I don’t know what you mean. They were not muslim. Mohamed’s Allah, by his own admission, is a liar like the Devil, and the God of Abraham is Truth.

The point was that Abraham and David owned slaves, and that Moses regulated it. Should we not use their names?

 

[Daniel Peres]

The point was that Abraham and David owned slaves, and that Moses regulated it. Should we not use their names?

Two different types of slavery. Old Testament slavery was not chattel slavery. Furthermore, they didn’t castrate their male slaves. As far as I know, they didn’t have sex slaves either.

 

[JosephZ]

No matter what he said about the name change, the fact us that he was named after a good man,

Although Clay spoke out against slavery from an early age, he owned slaves. Clay freed a portion of those slaves in 1844 at an estimated loss of $40,000. Many of his newly-freed slaves remained at White Hall, his Madison County estate, and were paid for their work. By freeing his slaves, Clay gained credibility in antislavery circles. However, his opposition to slavery rested upon the negative economic, social, moral, and cultural influences that the “peculiar institution” had upon Kentucky’s white population, rather than his sympathy for enslaved African Americans.

Lion of White Hall | ExploreKYHistory

Historical Marker #533 in Madison County notes the life of Kentucky emancipationist Cassius Marcellus Clay. During his long life, Clay participated in many battles. Some were fought to ensure free speech for antislavery advocates. Others, including his service in the Mexican War and the Civil...

explorekyhistory.ky.gov

 

[Daniel Peres]

I didn’t say he was perfect. He owned slaves because he was born into it, but he didn’t want to. But he did have an obligation to provide for his slaves until slavery came to end.

Mohamed, on the other hand, enjoyed being a slave owner and abusing his slaves, and encouraging his followers to have Slaves.

You really can’t see the difference? One man was trying, the other man was pure evil.

 

[Jonaitis]

I didn’t say he was perfect. He owned slaves because he was born into it, but he didn’t want to. But he did have an obligation to provide for his slaves until slavery came to end.

Mohamed, on the other hand, enjoyed being a slave owner and abusing his slaves, and encouraging his followers to have Slaves.

You really can’t see the difference? One man was trying, the other man was pure evil.

At the end of the day, it is just a name. The both of them have passed on, and one day this discussion will too.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Name a culture where slavery didn't exist.

You won't find one.

The difference today of course is that there are cultures which still own slaves.

 

[Daniel Peres]

Name a culture where slavery didn't exist.

You won't find one.

The difference today of course is that there are cultures which still own slaves.

Yes. Islam still permits slavery, and it has no theological way of ending it.

 

[Daniel Peres]

At the end of the day, it is just a name. The both of them have passed on, and one day this discussion will too.

There is truth in what you say, but at the end of the day it was still a stupid decision.

 

[Lady Bug]

Well, imagine a Muslim becoming Christian and changing his Muslim name to a Christian one - I don't think Muhammad Ali/Cassius Clay would be as loved by so many as he is now.

 

[public hermit]

Am I am an Islamaphobe for point out the stupidity of the name change

Maybe not an Islamaphobe, but you seem to have a thing for liberals. You're obsessed, but I think it's sweet.

 

[Daniel Peres]

Maybe not an Islamaphobe, but you seem to have a thing for liberals. You're obsessed, but I think it's sweet.

Maybe not an Islamaphobe, but you seem to have a thing for liberals. You're obsessed, but I think it's sweet.

My real obsession is with dystopian novels like 1984, Animal Farm, and Brave New World. I see so many of the dystopian predictions coming true in the left, and that’s why I see so obsessed with the left. Maybe I’m just traumatized by those novels and hate seeing aspects of them come to life. So yes, I admit I’m a little crazy.

 

[atpollard]

Am I the only one that thinks “beating up” someone in 2022, that died in 2016, for changing their name in 1964 is more than a little bizarre?

 

[public hermit]

My real obsession is with dystopian novels like 1984, Animal Farm, and Brave New World. I see so many of the dystopian predictions coming true in the left, and that’s why I see so obsessed with the left. Maybe I’m just traumatized by those novels and hate seeing aspects of them come to life. So yes, I admit I’m a little crazy.

Great books. I wouldn't call you crazy. But it's interesting that those are the impetus and not eschatology or badly done youtu.be videos.

 

[Daniel Peres]

Great books. I wouldn't call you crazy. But it's interesting that those are the impetus and not eschatology or badly done youtu.be videos.

When I read those books back in the eighties they were scary and entertaining, but it didn’t seem possible. Now to see them starting to come to life in the left has freaked me out.

 

[public hermit]

When I read those books back in the eighties they were scary and entertaining, but it didn’t seem possible. Now to see them starting to come to life in the left has freaked me out.

I'm willing to bet some on the left would say what they see happening on the right reminds them of those books as well.

Here's a random pick from 2018

https://www.salon.com/2018/05/24/george-orwells-animal-farm-guide-to-the-rise-of-authoritarianism-in-the-donald-trump-era/

Are you sure your fascination with liberals isn't a latent, perhaps subconscious, idea that they're right? Just a thought. Sometimes our phobias about others is indicative of a similarity.