Muhammad Ali after 1970

This is Gordon Parks's potent, undated photograph, Muhammad Ali. Parks, a master of capturing Black life in America, presents Ali not as a distant icon, but as an intimately human figure. In a close-up, Ali’s sweat-drenched face and chest glisten under stark light, revealing the physical and emotional intensity he brought to boxing and to life. The image transcends the spectacle of the sport, inviting viewers to contemplate Ali's identity as a Black man who was outspoken about racial injustice and his beliefs. Parks and Ali were both shaped by the civil rights era and understood the power of imagery to shape narratives. Ali once said, "I know where I'm going, and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want." The photograph seems to echo Ali's sentiment, capturing the vulnerability and strength inherent in self-determination. It reflects the burdens and battles faced in the quest for identity and equality.