By Scoop Malinowski
Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxing champion of all time, was photographed attending a pro Palestine rally in Chicago in 1988 and expressed support of Palestine many times to the media. See link here
Also, in Frank Deford’s book ‘Over Time: My Life as a Sportswriter’, the journalist shared a controversial Ali anecdote on page 45, which if any major celebrity repeated today, they would be immediately condemned.
Deford, the legendary sports journalist, wrote: ‘…He performed a sort of personal theater. Along with the sleight of hand, he’d tell the same couple of strained jokes.
“What’s the difference between a Jew and a canoe?”
“I don’t know, Muhammad.”
“A canoe tips.”
If Muhammad Ali were around today saying these kinds of jokes and publicly supporting Palestine against the Israel genocide, there is little doubt the media would try to destroy him and assassinate his character, The media machine would try to cancel Muhammad Ali in a minute.
No, I would say Muhammad Ali was not anti Jew. But he had a tremendous sense of humor – and a compassion for an innocent nation of people who have suffered and endured over seven decades of oppression and now genocide.
If Muhammad Ali were still alive today, it’s reasonably certain he would be publicly and courageously supporting Palestine like soccer icon Ronaldo. tennis champion Ons Jabeur, and just a few other famous athletes.
(Ali & Cosell oil painting by Scoop Malinowski)