Charles Brown and John Walker made some interesting criticisms of my post a
few days ago about Ali winning the BBC sportsperson of the century award.
I agree there are reservations about boxing. It is dangerous. Fortunately
there has been no suggestion that Ali's Parkinson's disease comes from that.
It is true it is invariably about working class people fighting. But so are
most mass spectator sports.
It was not mentioned but I would agree there have to be reservations about
the ideological significance of black islam. That was not mentioned last week.
It is a sign of racism and the marginal position of black people in the
reserve army of labour that Black people have had to win respect through
some specialist contributions in music, including jazz, and in sports such
as athletics and boxing. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was marginalised as a
serious composer in Britain. Paul Robeson had to fight to win respect as a
footballer and went onto the stage because racism prevented him winning a
respected place in law.
If the contributions of black people to modern society were restricted to
boxing, the images would be negative - they would be merely the gladiators
of the empire. But it is more than that and images of positive role models
are important.
Like Hugh, (who essentially agrees with me apart from having to take a
customary swipe at reformism) I also remember the black power salute at the
Olympics. That took courage.
Robeson was marginalised from the black community when he came out against
the Korean War. Ali came out against the Vietnam war and won. Less
politically conscious, less eloquent, but no less brave.
I am glad to say both were respected by many white people in Britain.
I really know nothing about boxing but the BBC expert sportsreporter
claimed his skill and ability reached new heights. Certainly he trained
hard enough. And was fighting fit within a short space of coming out of
prison.
Nelson Mandela also used pride about boxing to make links with the black
community in the USA.
In England there has been a fight over 20 - 30 years against racism in
sport. The fascists particularly tried to recruit at football matches. That
battle has been largely won, although we should not be complacent. The BBC
vote clinched it.
What happened last week at the BBC ceremony is not important as a verdict
on Ali (No doubt Charles Brown has more detailed knowledge of the strengths
and weaknesses of Ali's political position than I do.) What happened last
week at the BBC ceremony was important for the consciousness of white
English people. The votes were over a million (I do not know the total). No
doubt the age profile may have been middle aged on average and
predominantly men.
When you see a hall of mainly white men standing up and applauding three
black men, shall we say it is better that it happens than it does not. It
is a liberation for the white people, quite apart from more obvious benefits.
It is worth a hundred lectures against racism and a thousand lectures in
praise of proletarian internationalism. It is iteself a concrete act of
proletarian internationalism.
If we abolish boxing, let us do it together, but meanwhile let us respect
skill, courage, and dignity in the face of great difficulty. That is the
real revolutionary significance.
Chris Burford
London
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