Muhammad Ali, Titan of Boxing and the 20th Century, Dies at 74 - The New York Times

A true personal hero throughout my childhood in adulthood. He clarified in words my opposition to the Vietnam war. I would never fight for a nation that called me the "N" word which was happening to me every day at school and on the way home. At sixteen I joined Student Mobilisation against the War. My father in particular like him in the same way he loved Malcolm. He said they both "put their finger in the eye of white hypocrisy. For me Ali, Malcolm and the Nation of Islam meant proud black manhood and professionalism. Getting my CT scan yesterday the and said to me "Yes Sir" in the all to familiar cadence of the Fruit of Islam. I greeter him in the traditional Arabic greeting. He returned it. We started talking about the Nation of Islam. A young orderly, in the CT room kept excitedly saying this is history. I said to him yes it is. Rest in peace Brother Muhammad. You were a hero and role model for me. Yor talks with Howard Cosell on WABC taught me how to defeat white men in debate. Rest in peace Champ, Rest in Peace.

Muhammad Ali, Titan of Boxing and the 20th Century, Dies at 74 - The New York Times