Muhammad Ali

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Narrator

Back in the summer of 1966, while in Chicago between fights, Ali had been driving around the Southside with a German photojournalist. After Ali requested that his driver return to a Nation of Islam bakery for a third time, the photographer followed him inside and realized the reason for the frequent visits. (bell jingles) (funky music) Behind the counter stood a striking 16 year old named Belinda Boyd. Ali is a very gorgeous guy, good looking. I was attracted to him right away. He was a very warm, down to earth, kind person. Ali is very flirtatious too. I think that's the charm that I liked about him. He was always happy. -

Narrator

The daughter of Muslims, Boyd had attended elementary and high school at the University of Islam in Chicago and had been a frequent guest at the home of Elijah Muhammad. Herbert Muhammad had encouraged Ali to pursue her and soon the two were seeing each other away from the bakery. On August 18th, 1967, Muhammad and Belinda were married and moved into a small brick house on the Southside. Both were tall and athletic, voluble and charming. And Belinda, who had loved Muhammad since she was a young teenager, could mimic his cadence. The couple were so much alike that Elijah Muhammad once joked that Ali had married his twin. My mom and my dad were a lot alike. I think she was good for him in the sense that she wasn't quiet and shy, she was strong and she spoke her mind. I think my dad was attracted to her because she was a strong woman and she was a Muslim and she had values that my dad respected and loved. -

Narrator

Without income from fights, money was tight. Belinda sewed her own clothes and dipped into her college fund to cover expenses. Elijah Muhammad gave us money. He would give me money to survive and I wouldn't let him know it 'cause I didn't want him to feel bad as a man, not being able to support us. They struggled. My dad couldn't make any money, but my mom just deeply, just truly loved him and she would've, she didn't care about any of that stuff. She just really loved him and she'll follow him anywhere. So my dad went on the speaking circuit and he started to speak at colleges as a ways to make money.