5 Chapter 4 Cassius Becomes Muhammad

Chapter 4 Cassius Becomes Muhammad Not long after his big win over Sonny Liston, Cassius surprised everyone again. He announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam. He said that from then on, his name would be Muhammad Ali. Many people who become Muslims change their names to reflect their new beliefs. The man born as Cassius Clay took a name that means "one worthy of praise." He said that Clay was his "slave name," given to his family by a white man years ago. Boxing fans had been shocked by Ali's win over Liston, but more people were shocked by this even bigger news. Most fans were very upset. They had supported the young champ, and now they felt that Ali was rejecting them. By joining a group that was seen as anti-American and anti

Christian, Ali angered many white fans. In fact, for years after his announcement, newspapers and reporters refused to use Ali's new name. They continued to call him Cassius Clay.

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America was very divided over the issue of equal rights for black Americans. Black Americans and many white Americans wanted everyone to have equal rights. However, the Nation of Islam did not call for equal rights. It called for a complete separation of blacks and whites. Ali began to speak out about the NOI's ideas, and this angered many people. "Jesus was white, Santa Claus was white, Tarzan the king of the jungle was white, everything seems to be white," he said. "Angel food cake is white and devil's food cake is dark.

But now that we have a man in America like [NOI leader] Elijah Muhammad, we are the greatest." Ali's brother, Rudy, joined the NOI, too. He changed his name to Rahman Ali. Their parents were upset about the news. Cassius Sr. and Odessa had raised their sons in the Baptist Church. Ali's father felt that Nation of Islam members were controlling his sons' lives. Odessa Clay was sad that her sons had changed their faith.

Though millions of people, including his family, disagreed with him, Muhammad Ali stuck to his beliefs.