-
Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. is Born
Father of Cassius/Muhammad is born on the 11th of November,1912. In Louisville, KY. He was a painter and musician. Only able to play the piano, his son Cassius/Muhammad once called him "the fanciest dancer in Louisville" and "a handsome, noisy, hard-drinking, skirt-chasing dandy of a daddy". -
Odessa Grady Clay is Born
Mother of Cassius/Muhammad is born on the 12th of February,1917. In Hopkins County, KY. She never had a job,was a household mother who looked after her children. She was a baptist who would take Cassius and his brother Rahman to church every Sunday.Cassius once said "She's a sweet, fat, wonderful woman, who loves to cook, eat, make clothes, and be with family. She doesn't drink, smoke, meddle in other people's business, or bother anyone, and there's no one who's been better to me my whole life." -
A legend is Born.
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, later known as Muhammad Ali is born on the 17th of January, 1942. Also in Louisville, KY. Muhammad would grow to be the World's Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1964, and an Olympic Gold Medalist in 1960. Ali would play a small role in a long lasting Civil Rights Movement. -
Rudolph Arnett Clay is Born
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.'s brother Rudolph Arnett Clay is born on the 18th of July, 1943. In Louisville, KY. He would also be a boxer like his older brother and change religion as well as Cassius/Muhammad. -
It begins...
Cassius gets his bike stolen, and talks to a police officer named Joe Martin. He tells him he wants to beat up a thief, to that the officer replies "Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people,". And so Cassius begins boxing lessons with Joe. -
School
Cassius attended Central High School in Louisville, KY. He graduated in 1960, the same year he won the Light-Heavyweight boxing gold medal in the Olympics. He did not go to college after graduating. -
Calm before the Storm
Cassius climbs up the ranks after his olympic victory, and gains a chance against the World Heavyweight Champion Charles "Sonny" Liston. Cassius beats Sonny in the 7th round by technical knockout. -
Conversion
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. announces to the world that he has accepted the teachings of a black separatist religion known as the Nation of Islam. First name Change was Cassius X. -
Muhammad Ali
Cassius X finally settles on Muhammad Ali, the name given to him by his spiritual mentor Elijah Muhammad. -
Ain't got no Quarrel
Citing he religious beliefs, Ali he refused to be inducted/drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Muhammad say's “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.”. -
Conviction
Following the previous statement, the Government responded with “Since when did war become a matter of personal quarrels? War is duty. Your country calls; you answer.” Muhammad replied "I got nothing against no Viet Cong. No Vietnamese ever called me a ni**er.........I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.” Ali was convicted of refusing induction into the United States Armed Forces and sentenced to five years in prison. -
Period: to
Muhammad switches sides once again
in the 1970's Muhammad began studying the Qur’an more seriously, he soon switches to Orthodox Islam. His earlier acceptance to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad—that white people are “devils” and there is no heaven or hell—was replaced by a spiritual embrace of all people and preparation for his own afterlife. During this time many African Americans and colored people look up to Muhammad and see him as a determined rebel who could stand up against whites and wouldn't care being profiled by them. -
Conviction gets overturned
4 years after being convicted, the conviction is overturned unanimously by the Supreme Court. But was stripped from his titles and blocked from boxing for another 3 and a half years -
The last big one
Muhammad Ali comes back after being away from boxing for almost 10 years to fight the current World HeavyWeight Champion George Foreman. Ali Won, and regained his World Title. Muhammad Ali went on to gain the same title another two times after losing them. -
....One last time for old times sake...
Muhammad had his last official fight in Nassau, Bahamas. Against Trevor Berbick. Muhammad lost after a ten-round decision. He retired afterwards at the age of 39. His record after 61 fights: 56 wins, 5 losses, 37 knockouts. -
Period: to
The last pieces
Ali is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Raises funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix Arizona. Next few years he is involved with many foundations, like Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics Foundation. In 1996 he lit the Olympic cauldron at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. In 1998, he was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace because of his work in developing nations. In 2005 Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and opens Muhammad Ali Cent. -
Last straw for Ali and the Nation of Islam
Ali spoke out against the separatist doctrine of Nation of Islam representative Louis Farrakhan, declaring, “What he teaches is not at all what we believe in. He represents the time of our struggle in the dark and a time of confusion in us, and we don’t want to be associated with that at all.” After this event he cut all ties with anyone affiliated with the Nation of Islam -
Muhammad's Father dies
Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. passes away due to a heart attack, while leaving a department store in Jefferson County, KY. -
Muhammad's Mother dies
Odessa Grady Clay passes away from heart failure at a nursing home in Louisville, KY. -
Legends never fade away
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr./Muhammad Ali passes away on June 3rd, 2016 due to septic shock. In Phoenix,AZ. -
The Legacy
We still remember Muhammad Ali today not only for being the greatest Boxer ever, but also for being a Firm believer in Civil Rights. Muhammad Ali stood up against everybody. He spoke his mind regardless of whether people liked what he said or not, and his courage to challenge anyone in his way.
