Did DNA Testing Really Reveal Muhammad Ali’s Surprising Ancestral Link?

Muhammad Ali, the former three-time heavyweight champion who defeated all great pugilists of heavyweight boxing’s golden era, was every bit of a fighter. Not only did he lace his gloves to beat his opponents, but he also fought against every challenge that came his way in the boxing ring. The great advocate of equality was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville. His African American parents were Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr and Odessa Grady Clay. From the beginning, the boxing legend was rebellious in nature. And it stayed with him when he rose to fame by winning the Gold medal in the light-heavyweight division at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

It was then he took a bold step against racism. Questioning ‘white supremacy’, he threw his medal into the Ohio river. For him, it was inhumane to differentiate people based on color. Gradually, he learned more and denounced his identity when he came in contact with Malcolm X.

The more he explored, the more curious he became about his ancestors. After changing his religion, he gave himself the name Muhammad Ali and began to draw inspiration from his forefathers. Years after his death, a report published recently showed Ali was right. His argument that his forefathers were warriors like him was proven right.

What did the new study say about the ancestors of Muhammad Ali?

A new study published in The Washington Post came after Ali’s family research. It says that Archer Alexander, a slave hero was his great-great-great-grandfather. In the pages of history, the man immortalized his name by fighting to break the narrow walls of bondage and slavery. Later, his efforts reached fruition, and he became the inspiration for the slave depicted in the Emancipation Memorial.

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Keith Winstead, Ali’s third cousin, came up with this discovery backed with DNA evidence. He said, “I didn’t know who Archer Alexander was when I traced the family tree. I Googled him, and I just said, ‘Wow.’”

His finding shows, “Ali’s father, Cassius Clay Sr., was the son of Edith Greathouse, who was Alexander’s great-granddaughter.”

What do you think of this report? Do you think if Ali would have known it during his war against racism, it would have boosted his confidence? Let us know what do you think about this new report about Ali’s ancestors in the comments below.

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