Reading: Man-of-Action Heroes: The Pursuit of Heroic Masculinity in Everyday Consumption (Douglas B. Holt and Craig J. Thompson)

What most intrigued me about this reading was its discussion of athletes and their inherent relation to the man-of-action hero trope. Holt and Thompson write: “The most lauded athletes are celebrated for their individual accomplishments, displays of superhuman skill, and inimitable personal style while at the same time acting as team players, expounding the importance of their supporting cast” (6). They go on to mention legendary athletes, like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, but they failed to discuss the one who perfectly personified the heroic man-of-action: Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali is perhaps the most iconic sportsman of all time, not only because of his skill and talent as a boxer, but because of his charismatic personality and dedication to pushing back against the white supremacist power structure present in America during his career. He was cocky, witty and trash-talked his opponents to no end; he defeated powerful rivals where he was often considered the underdog. In addition, he stood up against the racism of American society in the 60s and 70s and became an icon for black racial pride. Through his boxing victories and public actions, Ali solidified his presence as a rebellious, man-of-action hero. Though in his day he was vilified and hated by many white Americans, his image gradually transformed into that of a true American hero. There are few athletes in history that have the iconic legacy he had because Ali perfectly maintained the “rugged individualism of the rebel” (6) and the “allegiance to collective interests” (6).