When We Were Kings.

Essay by zvon2000Junior High, 9th gradeA+, July 2003

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This essay is about a video report on "When We Were Kings". The video is a documentary on Muhammad Ali and his path to greatness. To fully understand the essay, you would need to have watched the film. Even if you hav not watched the movie, most of the essay will make resonable sense.

When We Were Kings

Muhammad Ali's significance for Spike Lee

Spike Lee's quote: "There was a time when, if you called a black person African, they'd be ready to fight" was in fact very true, especially at the time of Muhammad Ali's triumph. Spike Lee's descriptions of Muhammad Ali included being "handsome, articulate, funny, charismatic, and whoopin' ass too!"

"No Vietcong ever called me nigger", is the reason why Muhammad Ali never wanted to be selected to go to Vietnam. Since Spike Lee was also a black American, Muhammad Ali also meant something. This may be the reason why Spike Lee saw Muhammad Ali in this way - he meant something for all black people in the world.

Muhammad Ali's significance for Norman Mailer

Norman Mailer thought that Muhammad Ali was afraid of George Foreman, which was probably the reason why Muhammad Ali was always trying to convince everyone that he was "Scared of what? There's nothin' to be scared of..." Norman Mailer was often very pessimistic and doubtful about Muhammad Ali's chances to beat George Foreman in the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle". He also thought of Muhammad Ali as a great political leader, from the way he spoke to the people of Zaire. He said many times how Muhammad Ali would mention how he was going to dance and dance at the fight.

Norman Mailer saw Muhammad Ali this way because of the way he presented himself whenever there was a...