6/04/2016

R.I.P. Muhammad Ali (January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016)

Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, by Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams,  Dick Giordano, Terry Austin, Gaspar Saladino,, Cory Adams.
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
DC - The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke
DC - The New Frontier
Muhammad Ali - Amazing Améziane by Sybille Titeux de la Croix.
Amazing Améziane
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II, photo by John Rooney / The Associated Press.
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II
Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle", photo by Associated Press.
Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle"
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III "Thrilla in Manila", photo by Mitsunori Chigita/Associated Press.
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III "Thrilla in Manila"

"My conscience won't let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father... Shoot them for what? ...How can I shoot them poor people, Just take me to jail."
"I am America. I am the part you won’t recognise. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky, my name not yours. My religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.” 
“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it.” #MuhammadAli

Like many a star athlete, Ali was known for making outrageous and self-aggrandizing statements. But as a child of the Civil Rights era, the "Louisville Lip" also developed a reputation for speaking truth to power. His eloquence on these matters has become just as memorable as his actions in the ring. Or on the comic book page.

Farewell, champ.