“City Of Ali” Documentary Celebrates Muhammad Ali 5 Years After Demise

City for Ali

Five years after the death of boxing icon Muhammad Ali, a new documentary “City of Ali” has been produced to relive moments after his death.

Ali, former world heavyweight champion and arguably the greatest boxer in the world, died on June 3, 2016.

The new documentary looks at the week of Muhammad Ali’s funeral in Louisville, Kentucky, when the community came together to celebrate the legacy of “The Greatest.”

The movie, which is just less than an hour and a half, shows the way Ali’s hometown united during his death. As the funeral procession snaked its way through the city to the cemetery, the streets were lined with admirers throwing flowers onto his hearse and shouting his name.

“He was always so excited to go back to Louisville and to see his people, because that’s where it all started,” recalled Ali’s daughter, Rasheda Ali. “He loved Louisville and Louisville loved him back.”

Rasheda, who participated in the documentary, says learning of the events surrounding that week was special to her because it was during her “darkest hour.”

“Everything around this moment was just a big blur for me and my family,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Ali may have been known to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, but there was much more to the man. Ali used his words as effectively as he used his fists, refusing to be silenced by those who did not like what he had to say.

“My dad stood for inclusion, my dad stood for racial equality, for peace and love,” said Rasheda Ali. “Muhammad, he did not change his conviction. He stayed true to who he was.”

As one of the highest profile conscientious objectors and someone who spoke out against racial inequality, Ali remains a symbol of resistance and strength to many in Louisville.

“I definitely don’t think you can be Black in America and not be inspired by Muhammad Ali,” said Phelix Crittenden, a community organizer for Blacks Organizing Strategic Success (BOSS).

Crittenden said meeting Ali, though briefly, left an impact.

“He told my parents to watch out for me because I was going to be somebody,” Crittenden said. “I would hope that I’m proving him right and serving him justice by getting into this realm of uplifting marginalized voices.”

Keeping his legacy alive is the goal of the Muhammad Ali Center. The Louisville museum and multicultural center educates people about Ali and teaches the core principles he lived by — confidence, conviction, dedication, respect, giving and spirituality.

To celebrate his life on the anniversary of his passing, the center, which also participated in the documentary, is holding an Ali Festival through June 13, with screenings of “City of Ali” taking place daily.

“The film reminded all of us of the importance of unity,” said Laura Douglas, the museum’s interim president and CEO. “It reminded us that it was something that was achievable, that we had done it before, and it caused us to think about replicating it again.”

“City of Ali” is also available for streaming through Abramorama’s Watch Now @ Home Cinema Release.

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