The Universal Title: Muhammad Ali’s Spiritual Journey America Abroad Media

What did it mean for young Ali (then Cassius Clay) to grow up Black and Christian in the segregated South? We’ll hear from Ali’s family members, childhood friends, and religious leaders as we explore the religious landscape and tensions of Ali’s childhood.

From Louisville to Chicago to Rome from Miami to New York, we’ll trace  some of the factors and the actors on the world’s stage who influenced Ali’s conversion to Islam. We’ll also take a look at how his name change was connected and when such a major identity shift might be required for Muslims.

What did Ali believe about heaven and hell as a member of the Nation of Islam? And what exactly did he mean when he said white men were the devil? We’ll take a look at this and explore the opposing religious messaging that began to turn Ali in yet another new direction in his spiritual journey: toward traditional Islam. 

Ali refused the Vietnam War draft as a conscientious objector. For five years he had to wage a battle in U.S. courts to defend his religious freedom. We’ll look at the religious beliefs that informed his position and why Ali’s eventual Supreme Court case helped turn the tide for religious minorities in this country. 

In 1975, the Nation of Islam began to go through a dramatic shift called the Second Resurrection. It marked a transition to traditional Islam and a different style of leadership. Learn about some of the core changes to Muhammad Ali’s religious beliefs during this pivotal period and how he helped ensure the future of the community after the death of the Nation of Islam leader known as the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Ali’s career boasts three-time Heavyweight Champion of the world, the first to ever do it, 56 wins, 37 knockouts, and an Olympic gold medal.  But the title that would mean the most to him had 0 to do with boxing. In fact, in a riff he did with radio hosts in 1966, he first imagined it as the title win from a match in outer space, with an alien opponent. The Universal Title in this series, however, is symbolic of universal human excellence.  We’ll look at how Muhammad Ali won that Universal Title and why this standing is so important to his legacy.