A Muslim solution
Ali trades punches with Negro problem
By BOB KEARNEY
Kansan Sports Editor
MANHATTAN-Cassius Clay, better known today as Muhammad Ali, still floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. But the deposed heavyweight boxing champion has a new punching bag.
"Most Negroes in America are in need of mental resurrection," emphasized Ali, expounding on the beliefs of the Black Muslims before an estimated 2,500 persons last night at Kansas State University.
Shuffle to pulpit
The colorful innovator of the "Ali Shuffle" has taken himself from the ring to the pulpit as a Muslim minister. Gone is the boisterous spirit of a boxing heyday, supplanted now by an uncompromising zeal for the teachings of Elijah Muhammad.
But the witty tongue, the graceful retorts -yes, even a dash a poetry -remain in the Ali ren repertoire.
"Were I to do the shuffle, it would only cause a shuffle," mused Ali when asked for a demonstration of his famous step, all the while scribbling autographs. "People once paid $250 to see it—you only paid fifty cents."
Regardless of the disposal of Ali's appeals on his military draft evasion indictment, his boxing days are ended. Boxing itself has lost its appeal, in his judgment.
"Today, none of the contenders—not Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry, Buster Mathis, Joe Frazier—none of them can save boxing when I'm still the greatest," Ali reminded last night.
Ali of the "Louisville Lip" era felt he could rejuvenate the sport with his brash image.
Busy slate for KU crew
This weekend the KU gymnastics team will face its second endurance test in as many weeks.
Today the squad travelled to Norman for a meet with Oklahoma, and on Monday the Jayhawks will host a double-dual in Robinson Gymnasium.
Looking forward to the meet with the Sooners, Coach Robert Lockwood said: "The only thing we have to go on is that Colorado beat OU by $ 2 \frac{1}{2} $ points, and we beat CU by $ 3 \frac{1}{2} $ points. Just from that, it should be real close.
"The winner of this meet should have a mental edge going into the conference meet March 22.
"The team has hit well through this entire week, and they will be ready to go. Robert Pierson's injured elbow is healed and he will be able to work the all-around." he added.
Monday's contest slates Wichita State and Colorado State College in a double-dual with KU starting at 7:30 p.m. Students will be admitted with their ID card.
The meet Monday will be the last home performance for Pierson, team captain and only graduating senior on the squad.
After last Saturday's marathon in Salina and at home with Colorado, Lockwood emphasized the endurance factor saying: "We are real happy to have hit as well as we did in both meets."
10 KANSAN Mar. 7
1969
Taunting his opponents with his predictions—"I can plainly see, this man will fall in three" and aggravating everyone else with his braggadocio, Cassius Clay did just that.
Boxing is almost dead." Clay once said. "I've got to do something to stimulate it. This will save boxing."
To save boxing
From the time of his 1964 technical knockout of Sonny Liston until the day Ali refused to take that step forward at his draft induction, his impact upon boxing was profound. His first round knockout of Liston, one year after Clay captured the title with Liston sitting in his corner, prompted calls for a Senate investigation.
The "Clay-Pigeon" fight, as one writer described it, spurred the kind of controversy that characterized his career in the ring. Fans cried "Fake", much like the cry of Clay's draft board to his stand as a conscientious objector and Muslim minister.
"People paid $23 million at my 14 fights," said Ali, "But Uncle Sam was sitting at the ticket box and took 90 per cent of my cut ($6 million)."
Meets problems
Muhammad Ali reminded his Kansas State audience, "You didn't come here to see me box--there are no contenders."
What Ali did come to spar with was the problems of the American Negro—and to present the Black Muslim solution.
"The black-white conflict in America is more serious than the war in Vietnam. It's a 400-year-old problem and still today it's getting worse.
"I'm not using any 15-letter college words. I had to bluff my way through high school," said Ali. "But education means nothing if you haven't got common sense."
Ali warned that "The sun of truth is rising on the darkness of falsehood" in prefacing his Black Muslim answers to the conflict. Attacking current integrative steps in education and housing, and interracial marriage, Ali said the Negro "doesn't know enough about himself to do anything for self."
The Black Muslims demand for the Negro a complete separation in a state or territory "to allow us to build a new nation dedicated to freedom, justice and equality." That state would be supported for 20 to 25 years by the federal government in repayment for the Negro's past contributions to America, explained Ali.
"The author of integration was hypocritical-after 400 years of suffering, now they try to tell us we're friends," Ali said.
Hypocritical
"Under the white system, it made us what we are-black bodies and white minds," said Ali. "Everything was made white. Even Tarzan, king of Africa, was white."
Ali stressed the need for Negro unity. "Our job is to re-educate the black man where he'll want to live in his own neighborhood with his own people.
"Angel food cake is white, devil's food cake is chocolate," he remarked. "You ask for ice cream—one scoop of vanilla and one scoop of chocolate—and I'll bet the chocolate's on the
bottom and the vanilla's on top."
Ali asserted that the truth of Elijah Muhammad's teaching will be "so plain that a fool will not err."
Finally, the former boxing champion defended the non-violent nature of the Black Muslim movement, and then traded punches during a 60-minute question-and-answer period.
"The Negro would look foolish being violent with America. It's not a revolution, it's a slaughter," said Ali.
EVERYONE SAYS
Everything in the Pet Field
And Free Parking At
Grants Drive-In Pet Center
Experienced
Dependable
Personal service
1218 Conn., Law, Pet Ph. VI 3-2921
"It's like you coming up here to fight me," he said, pointing to a K-State student. "It wouldn't be a revolution, it would be a slaughter."
Ali said the H. Rap Brown and Stokely Carmichael elements are "stinked" in America. "They talk bad, burn a building or two, and it's finished overnight.
In answer to a question following his speech, Ali replied:
"If I ever do go back into boxing, it will only be to pay my bills. Boxing gets to be tired."
Besides, Muhammad Ali has a new "thing," five-year prison term or not.
SPECIAL!
Ranch Fresh—Smakin' Good
HAMBURGER (Reg.19c)
Golden brown, Krinkle-Kut
FRENCH FRIES (Reg.19c)
Choose Coke, orange, Sprite, etc.
10c DRINK
(Reg.10c)
Regular Total 48c ★ Good thru March,1969
Special Price
38¢
SAVE A DIME!
Eat inside at booths or tables,or in your car under the canopy and enjoy the finest Ranch-Fresh Hamburger!
1404 W.23rd Just south of Allen Fieldhouse
Home of the Ranch-Fresh Hamburger