MUHAMMAD ALI, THE GREATEST

The 20th Annual African American Film Festival
Dance like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee

Curated by author and cinema scholar Terri Francis
With special guest Jimmy Jacques

(1977, 123 min) Rated PG

Gridiron Diaspora: The Henry McDonald Story 2 min (short)

Klein highlights key moments in Muhammad Ali’s career, showcasing the people, events and media frenzy surrounding his rise. The first half, in black and white, depicts Cassius Clay winning the World Heavyweight Championship against Sonny Liston in 1964 and becoming Muhammad Ali after joining the Nation of Islam. The second half, in color, occurs ten years later in Kinshasa as Ali attempts to regain his title against George Foreman after being stripped for refusing military service. Ali’s evolution into a politicized cultural icon is narrated through interactions with fans, Malcolm X, and observations of changing cultural landscapes in the USA and Mobutu’s Zaire.