In this lesson, students will analyze the ways Muhammad Ali protested the Vietnam War draft and racial inequity in America, and also how the American public responded. Students will examine how public perception of Ali’s war resistance changed over time as public opinion about America’s presence in Vietnam shifted, and consider how Ali's identity as a Black male athlete was reflected in the public response to his activism. Students will understand what a protest is and how Ali’s anti-Vietnam war stance fits into the broader context of anti-war sentiment during this time. Students will examine the concept of moral courage and draw comparisons between Ali’s experiences as a celebrity activist and present-day examples of elite athletes endorsing social and political causes. Media-making extensions give students the opportunity to create podcasts and visual presentations demonstrating their understanding.

Video segments from Muhammad Ali provide source material for students to analyze how people responded to Ali’s anti-draft stance; and how Ali’s relationship with the Nation of Islam, a Black nationalist movement, shaped both his own politics and how the public responded. 

Lesson Objectives:

Students will aim to.....

• Define the term “protest” and compare and contrast how protests impacted society during the Vietnam Era and continue to impact society today;
• Examine the activism of high profile sports figures like Muhammad Ali and Colin Kaepernick and identify how their methods of protest have been communicated by mainstream media;
• Analyze the social and political impacts of anti-Vietnam War protests in their historical context;
• Construct multimedia projects to communicate key themes and demonstrate their understanding.

About the Author:

Terry Gray (he/him) is a High School Social Studies teacher and an Administrative Intern in the Prince George’s County Public School System in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Terry has worked for 21 years as an educator in Louisiana, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. He has served in various capacities, such as, Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and Lead Teacher. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, taking road trips, listening to audiobooks, and watching sporting events.