Muhammad Ali was named after Cassius Marcellus Clay, an ardent abolitionist who emancipated the 40 slaves he inherited from his father. Clay edited an anti-slavery newspaper, commanded troops in the Mexican-American War and served as minister to Russia under Abraham Lincoln.

Muhammad Ali originally named for ardent abolitionist and Yale alumnus Cassius Clay When heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam, he stated that his birth name was “a slave name,” adding, “I didn’t choose it and I don’t want it.” His new name, he noted, is “a […]

Muhammad Ali was named after Cassius Marcellus Clay, an ardent abolitionist who emancipated the 40 slaves he inherited from his father. Clay edited an anti-slavery newspaper, commanded troops in the Mexican-American War and served as minister to Russia under Abraham Lincoln. Read More »