Why Is Muhammad Ali Be Remembered

Many people know that February is Black History month; a time of the year where people dedicate a whole month to remember African history and black icons whose ideas and actions have had small to big effects on everyone's lives today. Ranging from athletes, to politicians, to civil rights leaders, some very well-known famous black icons are Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, and Jackie Robinson, an American Major League baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. But there is one famous celebrity who stands out from the crowd, and his name is Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest boxers of all time. Although Ali is remembered as a great boxer, people should see other accomplishments that he's achieved that have affected a lot of people’s lives. Muhammad Ali should be remembered as an icon who stood up for his religious principles while giving back to the community and being one of the
In late 1981, Muhammad Ali announced his retirement; his record was 56 wins, 37 knockouts, and 5 losses. Four years later, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome, caused by the head trauma from his career. This caused Ali to have limited speech and movement. Parkinson's did not stop Ali from being in the spotlight. He had the honor of lighting the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom During a White House ceremony; and the same year in 2005, the Muhammad Ali center in Louisville opened its doors to the public. He was on hand to celebrate the inauguration of the first African-American president in January 2009, when Barack Obama was sworn into office. He has also been involved in raising funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the years, Ali has also supported the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among other