Muhammad Ali February 25,1964 - ?
Harry P. Pine Room June 2013
Introduction Famous Quotation: Friendship...is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you haven't learned anything. Best known for: Winning the heavyweight title three times when nobody else had.
What I find interesting: He won his first 10 bouts.
3 Key Qualities: 1. Brave 2. Boastful 3. Compassionate
I chose this person because... He is an interesting icon. He boxed and changed the world.
Overcame a Hardship/Challenge Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing when he did not step forward in the military induction ceremony.
I think that I would have given up after being banned from boxing but he did not.
Showed Compassion and Empathy Muhammad Ali thought it was wrong to send AfricanAmericans to the most dangerous war zones, so he spoke out to the government.
I think it was important that he spoke out to the government because the African-Americans were being asked to be soldiers even though they would still be segregated when they returned to the U.S.
Took Action When he left his bike out in the rain it was stolen by somebody. He then went all around trying to find it. He eventually gave up and he went to a gym run by a policeman named Joe Martin and began his life of boxing. If he had not gone looking for Joe and just walked home, then he would not have started boxing and then he would not be a Change Maker.
Persevered When Muhammad Ali lost his first fight to "Smokin" Joe Frazier, he did not freak out even though his perfect record was broken.
When I played soccer and lost, I got super angry.
Impact: How Things are Different Today He spoke out about how it was unfair to treat people differently. Now schools and water fountains are integrated not segregated.
I think that I could not have spoken out like that with lots of people who were opposing me.
Viewed Problems as Opportunities The Vietnam war was a problem for him but he used it as an opportunity to speak out about how lots of people hated it.
I think that if he had not done that then he would probably not be a Change Maker to some people.
Demonstrated Bravery When he thought the war was wrong because his religion told him not to kill people, he refused to be drafted. He was taking a big risk. He was risking 5 years in jail and a $10, 000 fine. Luckily his lawyers appealed the case and he was kept out of jail.
I think that he was very lucky to be kept out of jail.
Learned from Mistakes When Ali thought that Ken Norton was an easy win, he ended up losing. Eventually he learned Norton's fighting style and got a rematch, and won.
I think that if I lost to a person that I thought was an easy win, I would have been very embarrassed. But, he was not.
Communicated and Shared Sometimes he communicated in poems when not really anybody else did. Ali was humorous and that made him popular.
Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali Persevered when he kept going even when his perfect professional record was broken.
Took action by going door to door trying to find his red and white Schwinn bicycle.
Showed compassion when he spoke out and said that it was wrong to send African-American troops to the most dangerous battle zones.
Made a difference when he spoke out against segregation laws which were very common in the South.
The author Harry
Author Talk
I’m similar to my Change Maker because I like to box.
I’m a Change Maker when I help my friends when they fall down.
My Change Maker is connected to Jesse Owens because they were both involved in the Civil Rights movement.
Bibliography Muhammad Ali King of the Ring by Stephen Timblin
Muhammad Ali Heavyweight Champion by Coretta Scott king
Twelve Rounds to Glory by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Glossary A Change Maker is: A person who finds something that is unfair and makes a good difference in the world that other people benefit from.
Segregated: separated or set apart
Icon: An image, figure or symbol that represents something
Heavyweight: heaviest category in professional boxing.
Map Muhammad Ali lived in Louisville, Kentucky.