When speaking about the impact Malcolm X had, Ossie Davis explained he was our manhood. Though Davis’ remark was for Malcolm it’s still relevant for another man, Muhammad Ali.

When he criticized for his association with the black Muslims and was denied his name he fought Floyd Patterson to prove his worth. Beating his opponent throughly within the fight before knocking him out in the 12th round. In 1967 after being internationally loved he rejected the draft for the Vietnam War and his heavy championship was taken from his. Banned for years, in his prime he still didn’t back down.

Muhammad Ali was unapologetically black. Like Jack Johnson’s ‘unforgivable blackness’ he was brash, speaking his mind and not compromising to any one’s standards.