Assignment task: Muhammad Ali - Not just a boxer, but a civil rights activist
Read the questions below carefully. Answer them in your copy books, you should do some research before you answer the questions.
Q1) Why are sports figures so influential?
Q2) Muhammad Ali went from being seen as a divisive figure (tends to cause disagreement or hostility among people), to a popular American icon. What can be attributed to this change in public opinion?
Q3) How did Muhammad Ali help define the role of the athlete in social justice movements and/or sports diplomacy? (Sports diplomacy is the ability to make a change in social or political issues)
Q4) How did Ali's outspoken reaffirmation of his religious identity influence public opinion of him?
Q5) Ali conscientiously objected to the Vietnam War and refused the draft. In what ways does his decision still resonate today? What can his actions teach us about notions of patriotism and identity? (Patriotic means devoted to one's country)
Q6) How did Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, and the court cases that proceeded, reflect race relations in the US?