Written by
Ali, Muhammad, American, 1942 - 2016
Owned by
Ali, Khalilah, American, born 1950
Subject of
Muhammad Speaks, American, founded 1962
Unidentified Man or Men
Date
ca. 1968
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W (2018.75a): 8 11/16 × 8 9/16 in. (22 × 21.7 cm)
H x W (2018.75b): 11 × 8 9/16 in. (28 × 21.7 cm)
Caption
In this letter, Muhammad Ali explains to then-wife Khalilah Camacho-Ali why he converted from Christianity to Islam. Ali publically converted to Islam in 1964.
Description
A letter written by Muhammad Ali to his wife, Khalilah Camacho-Ali. The letter is two pages in length and is written in cursive, in blue ink, on two (2) sheets of partially torn, unlined, white paper. The first page (2018.75a) describes a night in Louisville, Kentucky where he encountered a man selling the newspaper of the Nationa of Islam, Muhammad Speaks. He noted that it was the first time he had heard of the paper. The second page (2018.75b) continues from page one and goes on to say that the newspaper seller invited him to a meeting, and though he did not intend to go to the meeting, he did purchase a copy of Muhammad Speaks. The rest of page 2 describes a cartoon in the paper that depicted an enslaved person being punished for praying in Arabic and a white slave owner insisting that the enslaved person prays to Jesus. The back of both pages are blank.
Place depicted
Louisville, Kentucky, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
letters (correspondence)
Topic
Activism
Black Press
Boxing
Communication
Identity
Islam
Religion
Slavery
Sports
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jonathan Eig and Khalilah Camacho Ali
Object number
2018.75ab
Restrictions & Rights
© Estate of Muhammad Ali
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd54f039d61-c8cd-4361-99b6-29b97547963f

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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