Laying the Foundation for Change: Muhammad Ali & the Civil Rights Movement

On June 4, 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio, a meeting like no other took place – the Cleveland Summit. 

Jim Brown invited Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor), and a few other prominent African American athletes to discuss Ali’s decision to refuse to be drafted for the Vietnam War. The goal was to convince Ali to take a deal with the federal government to simply perform boxing exhibitions for fellow enlisted men, avoid combat, and avoid being charged as a draft dodger and sent to prison. 

However, when these men emerged from their meeting, Jim Brown announced to reporters that he and the other athletes present, stood behind Muhammad Ali in full support of his decision. They had spoken for hours, Ali answered all of their questions and upheld his decision to refuse the draft, citing his religious beliefs. The other athletes knew he was genuine, and they had all come to an understanding that this was not about avoiding combat or being unpatriotic, but about standing up for something in which he believed. Even though the attendees played different sports, they understood that as Black men with platforms, it was important to showcase support for another Black man. This monumental meeting has a special place in history, as it demonstrated the power of athlete and community solidarity.