Muhammad Ali Visit to Kent State

On April 9, 1969, Muhammad Ali, legendary boxer and activist for African American rights who rose to prominence in the 1960s, spoke at Kent State University in the Memorial Gymnasium, now known as the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. Given the name Cassius Clay at birth, he later changed his name to Muhammad Ali when he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964. Ali is widely considered one of, if not the greatest boxer of all time with a record of 56 wins and only 5 losses. Because of his incredible skill and his strong promotion of equality for African Americans, Muhammad became a very in-demand and influential speaker. In 1969, Ali was invited to speak at Think Week at Kent State University which took place between the 7th and the 11th of April. Think Week was designed to be a week of lectures and speeches that promoted civil rights for African Americans, specifically Black students. In Ali’s speech on April 9th at the Memorial Gymnasium, he talked about Black people peacefully separating from white people, believing that they were not meant to exist together. Muhammad Ali’s presence on campus was documented through a series of articles in The Kent Stater Newspaper, as well as through a multitude of photos taken by photographer Lafayette Toliver.

On February 25th, 1964 Cassius Clay just 22 years old at the time defeated Sonny Listen with a Technical Knock Out in the 7th round. This was not his first successful bought as in 1960 before entering the professional arena he was the winner of the 1960 summer Olympics gold in boxing. Despite his stardom it would not stop him from standing against the Vietnam War. This stance would lead to his suspension from boxing, and it was during this time that he visited Kent State. During such a time where his career was in jeopardy he found it important enough to come to Kent State and speak at the Memorial building. In 1970 he would get his boxing license back and continue his career till 1981.

Influenced through his religious views and time with NOI he would choose to opt out entering the draft. When asked why he said, '“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?”' This would ultimately lead to him being suspended from boxing which would last for three years and stripped him of his title.

Muhammad Ali spoke to the students of Kent State in the Memorial Gymnasium on the evening of April 9th, 1969 with a prepared speech for the Think Week assembly. Ali entered with notable and infectious enthusiasm as the gymnasium was packed full. Ali seemed to have attracted the largest crowd amongst the Think Week assembly. His overall message was summarized by the phrase “peaceful separation”. Ali claimed that the Black community and white community were never intended to cohabitate peacefully. He claimed that full integration would only serve to weaken the Black community. Instead, he argued, the Black community must start anew and honor their ancestral roots, culture, and heritage that had been stolen from them and ignored as a result of slavery. Ali argued for Black independence and Black pride. Specifically, Ali urged the Black community to protect themselves however necessary. To do this, he stressed that Black men must prioritize the protection of Black women. As he passionately spoke with prepared notes, the audience proved to share his enthusiasm with thunderous applause. Ali ultimately argued that in order for the Black community to achieve justice, equality, and freedom, they needed to become independent and remain cautious efforts of full integration.

Beyond Ali’s speech in the Memorial Gymnasium, he spent the remainder of the week traveling to various classrooms in which he conversed with students and answered specific questions. Students reportedly sought to find Ali all across campus and eagerly anticipated any chance to meet him. While visiting these classrooms or running into students in the Kent area, Ali seemed to always circle back towards his overall message of Black power and Black independence. With influences from the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali serves as a great example as to how concepts of separation and Black pride began to take hold of college campuses and college students across the nation.

The Black Student Movement, and the ideas surrounding it were not exclusive to Muhamad Ali, or Kent. While the Student Movement was popular in campuses of primarily Black University (such as Jackson and Colombia State), we can see from our own local media, such as the Kent Stater, that the Black Student Movement began to gain a much more national presence. Student activism during this time was deeply affected by the ongoing cold-war and anti-communist fervent seen throughout post 1950's America. A rejection of the perceived "conservatism" of the NAACP inspired them to find a more radical or progressive method. The Movement, though, was effected by the political splits within the broader Black Liberation Movement itself. Muhamad provided a bridge for the political & ideological rifts that were dividing some members of the movement. His presence in Kent would also be useful in getting aware across the national & local airways  

Muhammad Ali might have had quite the impact in the ring but that one that meant the most to him was outside of it. Kent State and the world at large provided a platform that focused on the peaceful divide for the African American increasing their ability to achieve power in the United States to wield themselves. While his boxing made him popular, it was everything that he would do after for those struggling under oppression that made him remembered. Think Week at Kent represented everything that Ali stood for which made for the perfect stop to talk to the young minds that were going to provide a brighter future for the African American population. His influence is still being felt to this day as we 50 years later focus on his words and actions in Civil Rights and Black Power at Kent State. 

Armstrong, Bill. “'A Peaceful Separation'... Muhammad Ali.” The Daily Kent Stater. April 15, 1969.  

BAILEY-NDIAYE, STACY. 2015. “The Muhammad Ali Impact and Muslim Americans.” Islamic Horizons 44 (3): 28. https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.library.kent.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=brb&AN=102491204&site=ehost-live. 

History.com Editors, ed. “Muhammad Ali Wins First World Title.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, November 24, 2009. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/clay-knocks-out-liston#:~:text=On%20February%2025%2C%201964%2C%2022,a%20seventh%2Dround%20technical%20knockout. 

 “In KSU's Corner... Muhammad Ali.” The Daily Kent Stater. April 1, 1969.  

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