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Sucker Punch, written by Jack Cashill is not your normal Muhammad Ali story. It is less of a boxing story, and more of a cultural analysis of Ali’s impact upon America. There is Ali the legend and there is the real Ali. Writer Joyce Carol Oates began her boxing essay, The Cruelest Sport, “Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942, grandson of slave, began boxing at the age of twelve, and by eighteen had fought 108 amateur bouts.” Nice beginning but not true. Ali’s grand parents were not ******, but born after the Civil War. Here is another irony; Clay was named after a white abolitionist firebrand named Cassius Marcellus. This is just one of many gems Cashill produces.
Cashill major objection to Ali is that at a time when America needed a unifier, Ali introduced the politics of black separatism unto the political scene. In reviewing the history of the Nation of Islam, Cashill found that Elijah Muhammad spent World War II in prison for draft resistance and during the 30’s, he openly supported the Japanese cause. The Nation of Islam appeared comfortable with supporting the Axis powers and their goals. This was the religion that Ali joined.
To understand Ali’s impact, one has to understand the heavyweight champion's hold on the American public. The heavyweight champion was one of the most noted figures in all of sports. Joe Louis became the first man who transcended the color barrier in popularity and had a large following even among the white population. Many whites rooted for Louis even against other white opponents and Louis popularity allowed the great champion to essentially pick his own successor when he retired. Ezzard Charles inherited Louis title after he defeated Jersey Joe Walcott. (Louis declared the winner of this bout as his heir.) For the first time, a black fighter followed another black fighter as heavyweight champion and African-American domination of the heavyweight division took hold. With few exceptions, an African-American held the heavyweight champion over the next fifty plus years. [details]
Cashill major objection to Ali is that at a time when America needed a unifier, Ali introduced the politics of black separatism unto the political scene. In reviewing the history of the Nation of Islam, Cashill found that Elijah Muhammad spent World War II in prison for draft resistance and during the 30’s, he openly supported the Japanese cause. The Nation of Islam appeared comfortable with supporting the Axis powers and their goals. This was the religion that Ali joined.
To understand Ali’s impact, one has to understand the heavyweight champion's hold on the American public. The heavyweight champion was one of the most noted figures in all of sports. Joe Louis became the first man who transcended the color barrier in popularity and had a large following even among the white population. Many whites rooted for Louis even against other white opponents and Louis popularity allowed the great champion to essentially pick his own successor when he retired. Ezzard Charles inherited Louis title after he defeated Jersey Joe Walcott. (Louis declared the winner of this bout as his heir.) For the first time, a black fighter followed another black fighter as heavyweight champion and African-American domination of the heavyweight division took hold. With few exceptions, an African-American held the heavyweight champion over the next fifty plus years. [details]