University of Virginia Library

Ali Advocates Racial Separation;
Preaches Strict Muslim Doctrine

Rick Pearson
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Photos By Mike Russell

"The slave was brought here 316
years ago to work, but now the
slave wants to be free. The blacks
are confused, and the white are
confused. The Honorable Elijah
Muhammad has the answer," stated
Muhammad Ali, undefeated former
heavyweight champion of the
world, in a speech Friday night in
University Hall.

Mr. Ali, who is in the midst of a
168-college speaking tour as a
disciple of Mr. Muhammad, leader
of the Black Muslim movement,
was introduced by George Taylor,
head of the University Black
Students for Freedom, who cosponsored
the talk with the
University Union and PK German.

In his prepared speech, which
was followed by a question period,
Mr. Ali traced the history of the
Negro in America, outlined the
struggle for integration, and then
presented the black separatist solution
to the race problem.

Frankensteins

"A nation of Frankensteins was
created. The slave was brought here
to work for his master, not to be
equal to him. A little too much
electricity got into the slave." The
former champion pointed out that
now that the slave is free, he has
had a problem in society.

"The slave has been brainwashed,"
he said. "He's always been
made to believe that white is good,
and now he feels he has to be a part
of white society.

"Everything good in society is
white. Santa Claus is white. Toothpaste
is white, there is white wax,
and you smoke White Owl Cigars.
You can always tell the good guy
because he rides a white horse.
Angel food cake is white, but they
made devil food cake chocolate.
Even Tarzan, King of the Jungle in
Africa, is white.

"Now, the number one goal of a
black man is to be in white
society," Mr. Ali continued. The
white former master, he said, does
not want to accept the Negro as his
equal. "The white man strikes the
slave down, but the black man
keeps saying, 'Ah loves ya, ah loves
ya!'

"Only one man today has the
solution, and that is the Honorable
Elijah Muhammad. The answer is
total separation of the races."

God's Plan

Mr. Ali then defended this plan.
"God made all these groups, and he
separated them by themselves.
These 25 million blacks don't
belong here. Integration has failed.
The former slave now devotes his
time and energy to making his own
neighborhood a nice place to live.

"Land means independence. The
black man must stop begging you
to be his friend. Separation is the
thing. I don't hate white people,
and you don't hate me. Nature just
won't let us get along.

"Nature makes the birds hang
out by themselves. The bluebirds
hang out with the bluebirds, the
blackbirds hang out with the
blackbirds. You don't see birds
trying to integrate," Mr. Ali said.

In Opposition

"The opposite of black is white.
Opposite means absolutely in
opposition. And by nature the
blacks and whites are in opposition,"
he said. "A rabbit and a
tiger are in opposition. They can't
get along. They may say they love
each other, but when they get
hungry, you know who's gonna get
eaten."

Mr. Ali then said, "The whites
should repay the black people for
316 years of slave labor. We can do
everything you can. All we need is
the land. Everything comes out of
the ground. With land, we can build
and make anything we need, Right
now, we can't get along without
you. We'd starve without the food
that is all made by white men.

Elijah Muhammad

"The Honorable Elijah Muhammad
is the only man who preaches
all this. The black people and the
white people can live among themselves
and quit fussing and fighting,"
Mr. Ali stated, concluding his
prepared remarks.

The question-answer period was
marked by varied questions from
the audience concerning Mr. Ali's
views on boxing, separatism, and
Malcolm X.

No More Boxing

The former heavyweight champion
was asked if he planned to fight
again. He replied that he had no
intention of boxing. "I'm smart, I
got out while I was ahead, like
Marclano. He saw Floyd Paterson
coming up and he got out; I see Joe
Frazier and I'm getting out."
However, the credibility of his
claim that he is through with
boxing was weakened by various
slips of the tongue.

When asked about his phantom
punch that knocked out Sonny
Liston, Mr. Ali said, "Sports Illustrated
has timed that punch as
being thrown in three-hundreths of a
second, the speed of an eye-blink.
The people who missed the punch
were the people who happened to
blink."

When asked about details of the
plan for separation. Mr. Ali replied
that the land could come from
Africa or several states in America.
However, he was unable to provide
other details, saying only, "These
aren't my ideas. You'll have to ask
Elijah Muhammad."