The Trials of Muhammad Ali

In 1967, the world's most famous boxer faced a five-year prison sentence for refusing to serve in the military. It was the time of the Vietnam War, the rise of the Nation of Islam and the aftermath of the murders of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King – an explosive mix of race, religion and war. The boxer joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. For him, the organization offered the possibility of liberation from predominantly white American history and supremacy. It was a personal choice that he stuck to, just like his refusal to sign up and join U.S. forces on the front line in Southeast Asia. His views ended up becoming public knowledge – some groups condemned him while others praised him, leaving his boxing career hanging in the balance. This documentary brings together existing TV footage and photos and new interviews with those who were there at the time – going to show that these shocking events took place not even a lifetime ago.