my friend, Muhammad ali
I met Abdul at the Mahanoy City Public Library by pure happenstance. One Saturday I was sitting at a table on the second floor when he got off the elevator, put his keys on the table, laid on the floor, and started doing sit-ups. We were the only two in the room. I asked him why he worked out at the library. He didn’t quite answer and said that Muhammad Ali was his hero and that he copied all his workouts. He was obsessed with Ali and spoke a mile a minute about health and fitness. I realized Abdul was probably having a manic episode. He wore a homemade t-shirt with an inspirational passage ironed on the front.
It was unclear to me whether Abdul’s shirt was about Muhammad Ali, himself, or a combination. I was also unsure whether he had written the passage, or parts were quotations from perhaps Ali’s ring announcers. Abdul asked if I would write down (at that moment) all his thoughts for his children’s book, My Friend, Muhammad Ali. He said that God told him I was meant to be his scribe—“typist and editor”—and that he would give me credit when the book was finished. Following are Abdul's notes from that day:
38-40 W Centre St. - old bank
Club 54 owner- drug dealer going to jail, prostitution going on there. He doesn’t know he’s going to jail
school teacher
writer
mixed martial arts
Abdul-Gah Ghafur
Abdul-Ghafur Gh a fur
^
apple or
cell phone
“always good”
38-40 W. Center St.
38-40 W. Centre St.
I don’t like it here moving in 2-3 months
Need this info for book (“desperately, desperately”) about his friend, Muhammad Ali
5 things I have a photographic memory
1) Houston Mctbar
died age of 58 fastest boy in the world
Ali raced him beat him raced two others
Whoever wins the 100 meter dash is determined the fastest person in the world
Ali raced a total of 3 of them and he beat them
Computer says Ali challenged Wilma Rudolph- she was the fastest woman in the world in 1960 won 3 Olympic gold medals had polio, braces as a kid
are @ olympic village in 1960 - computer doesn’t tell who won the race
Houston Mctare
Wilma Rudolph
?Bob Hayes }
l_________ } 2 other men who won olympics in 1964
l
l
l__>won 100 meter olympics in Tokyo, 1968
5’11” 193 lbs
4th person person had to’ve won Olympics in 1964 or 1972
Met Ali, he was my friend, have a letter from him I can show you
2) How heavy were Ali’s combat boots he used to run in steel toe combat boots
“I’m also going to be the fastest old dude in the world” <— (“I already know that already”)
67 in July
I think each one weighed 41/2-10 lbs.
Don’t mind me I’m just gonna do my sit-ups
You work out at the library?
Well I broke my shoulder but I’m training to be a state trooper about 5-6 months before
run 3.5-4 mi/day in mountains Walk 4 mi/day
Best shape than everybody else
“I think as I’m walking”
Also used to be a school teacher Also worked as Queens correction officer wrote 89 children’s books
Muhammad Ali forced out of boxing 3.5 years. He had to take all kinds of jobs- garage in Chicago, IL, sold Champ burgers
Ali gave permission for burger place to use his name, came out Champ Burgers. Chain of fast food restaurants*
*(asked for my advice whether to put in children’s book or not)
Ali cheated on his wife/had a lot of girlfriends He was a pimp Women took care of him*
* (?) children’s book
When Ali moved to Chicago became lazy, training painful. Trained b/c he wanted to be the best
Believe —> Achieve
power of positive thinking
Ali knew about that before it was popular. He was the greatest before he was the greatest.
As a kid couldn’t keep still Had medical (genetic) condition to what became parkinson’s. Constant pounding in his head killed the nerves in his head and in his body which caused tremors, inability to speak for 20 years. Only whispered for 30 min/day to his wife.
Cognitively sharp; vocal chords and balance ruined. Should’ve gotten out 12-15 years earlier. Boxed 27 years.
17-18 years should’ve retired.
A form of arrogance and pride, fame, and also wealth, a portion of greed. People have money they want more money plus he loved boxing.
Oscar Wilde: That which we love destroys us. Unfortunately the opposite is true too: What we love we often destroy.
The very thing that he loved most he destroyed and that was himself (pauses) “Oh.” (reflecting) “That’s deep.”
He was an introvert. Shy/quiet. Reinvented himself —> boisterous, braggadocios, and self confident. Cassius Marcellus Clay evolved into Muhammad (“one who is worthy of praise”) Ali (“great warrior”)
“matter fact you’re gonna help me write the book and i’ll pay you i’ll give you credit. Yep, that’s what God just told me.”
Muhammad’s name:
(take a break from dictating to do sit-ups.)
before sit-ups:
“Let’s do it let’s get to it”
“lemme get my facts right”
Ever since he was born, at the age of 2-3, his mother knew something was wrong with him- extremely hyper, constantly moved, couldn’t sit still.
As a kid always carried bottle of water containing garlic- believed garlic would calm him down and keep his blood pressure under control. (Genetic condition —> mutated into what became some 40 years later- Parkinson’s syndrome yep yep yep that’s correct.
As a kid he used to race buses. Everyone thought he was crazy; sometimes he would even win. That was a development of his speed and his..
Physical specimen.
Guru of health and physiology
His own doctor and scientist
Master of his ship
His own physician
Psychiatrist
Healer
Therapist
He always knew there was something wrong with him and learned how to minimize (“put it in your own words”) the “harmfulness of his disease”
His own best advisor, took his own advice. First he listened to God. Then he listened to himself.
Close relationship with God since he was little. Listened to inner voice (of God.)
Psychological perspective:
I (Abdul) learned in college we human beings have several layers to our beings --
plain language:
Jahari’s Window:
Jabari - a (German?) psychologist- hypothesis —> every human being comprised of 4 equally distributed parts
________
l l l
l___ l___ l
l l l
l___ l___ l
Each part 1/4 or 25% value.
4/4 = a whole
2/4 = a half
“Mention this to the kids” :
“No particular order as long as all 4 components are included.”
Four parts as follows:
1) Known self:
part of each individual that we know about ourselves and why we do what we
do. Conscious self.
2) Unknown self:
exact opposite; things about ourselves we don’t know. Other people’s perceptions
why they don’t like us because we pop gum or have B.O. (well I don’t know about
the B.O. ok put the B.O. in ha-ha.) The part of us that we are unaware of. How the
world perceives us.
3) Public self:
Public persona (that’s a good word) is how we want to be perceived. Self image.
Macho man. Lovely and self-confident woman. Way we want to be perceived by
the world at large.
4) Private self:
Exactly what it sounds like. Our humanness that no other human being, not best
friend or parents.. Nobody knows the secrets that we’ve done alone. Only one that
knows is two people: God and ourselves. If you ever reveal the secret, innermost
hidden window use extreme caution because if it is betrayed, the effects can be
catastrophic, destructive. Once most people are crushed- emotionally, homeless,
financial, hopeless 95% of the time they can never overcome that, never get back
to being normal and healthy, productive, constructive members of society.
I was homeless twice.
Only God, ok, & the belief in themselves can they ever have any hope of once again
to recapture their own essence and value.
Ali knew this very well. He was very selective who he considered a friend.
Ali:
“If you have one good friend in your lifetime who you can trust and who doesn’t betray you, consider yourself lucky.”
——————> on to psychology
me: (Alex): “I’m studying to be an art therapist.”
you: “I did that. I can help you with that.”
Asked me (Alex) to list the schools you attended:
Schools Abdul attended:
1) I was born and raised in the city of NYC. Born Brooklyn July 7th, 1949. I think I was born at 7 o’clock pm. My father- alcoholic. Brother OD’d at 18. Sister died… a lot of tragedy in my family.
Born Brooklyn lived there till I was 3. My mother was black and Native American from North Carolina. Her name was Mildred (“I believe the spelling was”): Bemberry.
Her sister’s name was Lilian, born the same day as me, 7th of July.
One of my cousins, Andre, he and his twin sister. He’s 7’2” twin is 6’11”.
Gonna get my son July 29th
17 & going to be 7’
“tall family”
“thank you”
My mother was 6’ tall. Father 5’7”.
He used to beat my mother. She never used to fight him back because she loved him.
She asked, never beat her in front of her children. One day she suffered a nervous breakdown, picked him up by the arm and was going to throw him down the stairwell.
She died…
it’s nobody’s business
it’s nobody’s business, is it
I met relatives in Brooklyn on my mom’s side, all Native American. Saw two full blooded Native American girls.
me (Alex): “Found out they were your cousins?”
Abdul: “How did you know that?”
“You just told me.”
They were beautiful. If they had given me a play it would’ve been my cousins and I wouldn’t have known it.
Aunt Lilian said: attraction to forest, nature.. because of Native American roots. I’ve always been happiest around natural elements, my children, little kids. All was the same way.
I read yesterday Ali’s grandfather was Irish. Now I might be related to him because my grandfather on my dad’s side was from Ireland. My dad’s dad was from the Bahamas. His wife, Margaret, they raised me. My dad would get drunk 4-5 times per week and beat me with a steel pipe over the head.
My brother died when he was 18 years old (OD.) I had to go to the hotel and close his eyes.
Ali- distant kin- his mother looked like my mother, his father looked like my father. Also a lot of turmoil in the family. Might be one of my distant relatives. Even now people tell me I look just like him.
A couple times I’d be walking down the street people will say: “Ali! Ali!” and I say “I’m not Ali.”
My hair is getting gray because of the stress but I’m going back to graduate school to become a nutritionist so I can get herbs for the gray.
Ali —> super shy til age 16. My speech impediment is from abuse I suffered as a kid.
Something I asked the computer, didn’t answer me:
August 15th, 1977:
Ali in preparation for the fight with Ernie Shavers <—(still living.)
6’ and 230 lbs. “K.O. artist”
His hands were made of steel or stone
Ernie Shavers besides George Foreman and Rocky Marciano heaviest hitting heavy weight in the world.
Ali + Shavers
Sept. 30. So 6 weeks, not 3 weeks.
Turning point- physiological point- despite damage to Ali from Joe Frasier in 3 fights, Shaver would do more damage because they rocked Ali. Ali said when Shavers punched him it “awakened and shook his kinfolk in Africa.”
After the Shavers fight, Ali was noticeably different. Shaver said after that fight, Ali should’ve retired. He could still walk at a reasonably normal pace and talk, and he didn’t have problems with his balance.
I also have back problems.
(“Put two or three different stars next to this:”)
Shaver/Ali fight:
In preparation from the New York Daily News, NY Post and NY Times
August of 1977 until the day of the fight and 2 days after the fight
recorded Ali fight
** Children’s book title:
My Friend, Muhammad Ali
That’s the title God told me to have.
me (Alex): typist and editor
As a kid during 1968, during the Columbia riots, I (Abdul) was at Brandeis High School (formerly Commerce High School.)
145-181 W. 84th St.
Manhattan, NY
Brown and Stokley Carmichael <— (deceased; cancer.)
I saved his (Carmichael’s) life. I swear to God. A New York City cop tried to kill him. I was 18. Stokley was 26-27. The cop pushed him down and was gonna beat him with a baton, then had his hand on his gun.
Stokley looks just like me. He/his grandfather also from Bahamas. I picked him up and told him “You see this cop is tryina’ kill you, play you outta pocket.”
“I don’t give a ‘F’ man I’m not gonna let that cracker dish me like that.”
I calmed him down. “You don’t have to die here today, man.” I saved his life I swear to God. They took a lotta pictures that day. You can see my ear and my afro in one, not my face.
H. Rap Brown (in reference to Stockley Carmichael)— Muslim name. Now on death row for killing a Sheriff’s deputy in North Carolina or South Carolina. Dying of cancer, too.
If I followed in Stockley Carmichael’s footsteps (we’ll use both his slave name and his Muslim name) I would’ve been in the cell right next to H. Rap Brown’s solitary confinement for 23 1/2 hours a day, 7 days per week without hearing human voice, having human touch. I would have been in a jail cell- cage- right next to him, because I was young and impressionable.
me (Alex) talking: But you made wise decisions, similar to Muhammad Ali. You listened to your inner voice above all else. Not impulsive
“Civil rights activists sacrificed their lives and made life better for millions of people of color.” (Abdul)
“Thinking things through- not being impulsive- think for myself”
Drawing parallel between Abdul and Ali:
Ali is a celebrity; everybody knows him; Abdul’s idol, he emulated him, he was a positive person.. a positive role model.
That’s all you need sometimes is that glimmer of hope, inspiration, motivation, that drive, to see someone who’s focused. When Ali fought George Foreman at The Rumble in the Jungle
’74
Ali—> dressing room to ring—>
announcer said:
“Ali has that single-minded focus”
I met Ali in Harlem, NY, between 7th and 8th ave. I felt the spiritual presence of someone behind me, peace; I felt happy, I felt love. That love turned out to be Ali.
He talked to himself. The importance of self talk— we can talk ourselves into something, we can talk ourselves out of something. Positive self talk is powerful.
He was talking (Abdul pauses, says “lemme get my facts right”, turns around, turns back around.. “yeah he was on my left side.”)
Ali said (to himself):
“I’m the heavyweight champion of the world. I’m pretty. I’m a bad man. No one can beat me,”
He said:
“I’m Ali. I’m Ali.”
I turned around and said, “Ali!” and he just smiled.
It’s true, it’s true.
(Maybe your brother can find pictures of me/my cousin/my family.)
I said “Ali, you were in the Olympics with my cousin Herbert in Rome in 1960. My cousin, Herbert, was the first black cyclist.
The Muslim minister threw out all my pictures of my brother, my teacher’s license, college degree, my high school diploma, because I was in critical condition in 2005 after a sprint operation in Shamokin. 513-514 North…
I lived in a grocery store.
I bought an old grocery store from this 95 year-old man. I was gonna turn it into a health food store/grocery tore. 17 years ago Shamokin was extremely prejudice, used “N” word a lot.
Getting back to Ali.
My cousin- Olympic cyclist- no pictures because of 2005- major spine surgery- I was not expected to survive.. Evil minister..
An old lady used to say:
“It’s a matter of choice. Just because you might happen to live in the ghetto doesn’t mean the ghetto has to live in you.
Now getting back to Ali.
Single-minded focus. While he was talking and listening to me.. he was listening to me but he made his mind up what he wanted to do anyway.
3x:
“Kid, how about you and me walking all over Harlem today, kid.”
“Come on. With me. Let’s go. We’re gonna walk all over Harlem today, kid.”
“Ok, Ali.”
All of a sudden I heard people across the street “It’s Ali!” and less than 3 minutes that street was filled with thousands and thousands of people.
Summertime, June (Ali is 7 1/2 years older than Abdul; Abdul was 18, Ali was 25.)
Noticed about Ali:
“That’s Ali. But that’s not Ali, that’s a white man.”
He’s light skinned. His mom and half white. He used to tan himself to appear darker. This was the second time I met him. I also could’ve met him when I was 14 at Savior’s Day (Muslim celebration) at the Armory in February, 1964. But I was overwhelmed. After Ramadan— Ali was there.
(“Lemme get my facts right”):
The Armory, between 141 & 142 street.
Used to race indoor track and field there. Three years later I would become the fastest runner in my high school. 60 yard dash in 6.5 seconds.
2 years later:
run 60 years dash in 6.4 seconds against Cortland, considered the fastest high school runner in the world. I didn’t have the same name then, I had a slave name, last name Frances (Francis?)
The Armory on 168th St. & Broadway, raced Cortland.
Turning point of my life because Cortland—> 100 yard dash in 4.3 seconds. Also a football player. Supposed to go to the Olympics in 1972 but was injured in football and couldn’t.
Later met Cortland again on the 168th & Amsterdam in 1972.
Cortland beat me. I ran 6.4. Cortland beat me, took indoor high school record/beat the record of 6.3.
(Abdul): I was the fastest boy in the world but at the end I deliberately slowed down because I knew the photographers would interview me and would laugh at my stutter. But I knew I could’ve beat him. But like Bo Jackson, like many athletes with speech impediments do, I let him win. On that particular day if I had more self confidence I would’ve been the fastest boy in the world.
Later I trained 3-4 days per week at the 142nd St. Armory where I met Ali a few years earlier. Ran 23 flat for 200 indoors.
Also- same Armory, same meet, I ran 1/2 miles at 202. Could’ve run 158 but I didn’t have anybody pushing me. I was the fastest runner in my high school. Most outstanding athlete of 1986, I have a trophy at home, I’ll show it to you.
John (Carlos?) fastest runner from the Bronx.
Born in Brooklyn, raised in the Bronx, trained in Harlem. Ran great 1/2 mile middle distance.. and sold my weighted track jacket to Brandeis for $30. He went on to one of the USA’s best middle distance runners. I would like to think my weighted jacket helped.
(off the record): John Carlos
We were close friends. At the track meets he would ask me who in the race should I be concerned about?
Track field Van Cortland Park , 242nd (& Broadway?)
I grew 5’10 to 6’2”
Carlos came up to me. I’m putting on my track shoes. “If you don’t win I’m gonna kick your f’n butt.” That day I ran the fastest I ever ran. Carlos then asked me who should he be concerned about in the 100 yard dash race coming up in 15 minutes. I said someone runs a 9.6. Carlos not concerned.
Carlos never warmed up in front of anyone. He was similar to Ali- master of the psych game- Carlos trained and got warmed up away from the track- competitors couldn’t see. Wore heavy clothes so he appeared out of shape. Psychological game. Drank grape juice so people thought he was drinking wine.
Goals to become the “world’s fastest old dude”: Unfinished Business
Closing thoughts/quotes:
George Eliot:
“Remember this: it is never too late to become the thing(s) that you might’ve been.”
Robert Frost:
“Remember this: the saddest words ever spoken, the saddest words of tongue or pen, the saddest words are these: ‘Oh the things that might have been’.”
Civil Rights activist, Marcus Garvey:
“He who is without self confidence has lost the race even before it has begun.”
Mark Twain:
“The two most important times in a person’s life is when they’re born and when they find out why.”
Abdul:
(“I just realized”) I’m meant to be a healer, holistic nutritionist, doctor of nutrition, writer, playwright, movie scripts.
God keeps sparing my life at least on 15 occasions. I died in my doctor’s office once, died in the hospital once, died on the operating table 3x, died in a car accident, and I drowned once.
God kept me around to help people and be a healer and inspiration.
You’re never too young/too old to accomplish your dreams.
Through God, all things are possible.
By age 70, my goal is to be the fastest old dude in the world.
Unfinished Business
Me (Alex) talking: This is a conceptual project.
Abdul: Self-fulfilling prophecy—> actualize what you’ve been told
My father/racist white educators told me I’m dumb/ I began to believe it. (Me—> “This is where there’s similarity /overlap with Ali, because Abdul, you broke the cycle.”)
Abdul’s positive influences: Ali, Aunt Margerite Francis, Clifford
“tough love” —> kept me out of jail at least 3 occasions:
1) Group of friends got to Bronx- orthodox Jewish section- to rob the Jews. I said I don’t wanna rob. They said you need money in your pocket don’t you? They convinced me. Aunt Marguerite could tell something was wrong, kept me in the house. “Boy, you will keep your ass in this house tonight, boy. Not hang out with your thug hoodlum friends, boy.”
All the friends got caught and even killed a Jewish man. Got caught at the train station in ’66.
2) Second group of thugs robbed a professor. Killed Professor Wolfgang. Aunt Margerite- “psychic”- kept me in the house again. All the thugs got caught. One looked just like me. Some got electrocuted. The rest- life in jail.
Last words for today:
“Please include I copy Ali and I run in combat boots.”
“I can tell you’re going to be a famous book writer and also you’re gonna do film.”
Also put I only eat one meal a day because it slows the aging process down. (Ali did that.) Starting on my 67th birthday, I’ll start eating meals 5x/week. Fast Monday-Thursday.
As of my 68th birthday: 3 meals/week. Protein fruit shakes. Slows aging 10-20 years.
Bodies are machines and computers.
1 meal a day slows aging process 66%
“I’M DONE!”
It was unclear to me whether Abdul’s shirt was about Muhammad Ali, himself, or a combination. I was also unsure whether he had written the passage, or parts were quotations from perhaps Ali’s ring announcers. Abdul asked if I would write down (at that moment) all his thoughts for his children’s book, My Friend, Muhammad Ali. He said that God told him I was meant to be his scribe—“typist and editor”—and that he would give me credit when the book was finished. Following are Abdul's notes from that day:
38-40 W Centre St. - old bank
Club 54 owner- drug dealer going to jail, prostitution going on there. He doesn’t know he’s going to jail
school teacher
writer
mixed martial arts
Abdul-Gah Ghafur
Abdul-Ghafur Gh a fur
^
apple or
cell phone
“always good”
38-40 W. Center St.
38-40 W. Centre St.
I don’t like it here moving in 2-3 months
Need this info for book (“desperately, desperately”) about his friend, Muhammad Ali
5 things I have a photographic memory
1) Houston Mctbar
died age of 58 fastest boy in the world
Ali raced him beat him raced two others
Whoever wins the 100 meter dash is determined the fastest person in the world
Ali raced a total of 3 of them and he beat them
Computer says Ali challenged Wilma Rudolph- she was the fastest woman in the world in 1960 won 3 Olympic gold medals had polio, braces as a kid
are @ olympic village in 1960 - computer doesn’t tell who won the race
Houston Mctare
Wilma Rudolph
?Bob Hayes }
l_________ } 2 other men who won olympics in 1964
l
l
l__>won 100 meter olympics in Tokyo, 1968
5’11” 193 lbs
4th person person had to’ve won Olympics in 1964 or 1972
Met Ali, he was my friend, have a letter from him I can show you
2) How heavy were Ali’s combat boots he used to run in steel toe combat boots
“I’m also going to be the fastest old dude in the world” <— (“I already know that already”)
67 in July
I think each one weighed 41/2-10 lbs.
Don’t mind me I’m just gonna do my sit-ups
You work out at the library?
Well I broke my shoulder but I’m training to be a state trooper about 5-6 months before
run 3.5-4 mi/day in mountains Walk 4 mi/day
Best shape than everybody else
“I think as I’m walking”
Also used to be a school teacher Also worked as Queens correction officer wrote 89 children’s books
Muhammad Ali forced out of boxing 3.5 years. He had to take all kinds of jobs- garage in Chicago, IL, sold Champ burgers
Ali gave permission for burger place to use his name, came out Champ Burgers. Chain of fast food restaurants*
*(asked for my advice whether to put in children’s book or not)
Ali cheated on his wife/had a lot of girlfriends He was a pimp Women took care of him*
* (?) children’s book
When Ali moved to Chicago became lazy, training painful. Trained b/c he wanted to be the best
Believe —> Achieve
power of positive thinking
Ali knew about that before it was popular. He was the greatest before he was the greatest.
As a kid couldn’t keep still Had medical (genetic) condition to what became parkinson’s. Constant pounding in his head killed the nerves in his head and in his body which caused tremors, inability to speak for 20 years. Only whispered for 30 min/day to his wife.
Cognitively sharp; vocal chords and balance ruined. Should’ve gotten out 12-15 years earlier. Boxed 27 years.
17-18 years should’ve retired.
A form of arrogance and pride, fame, and also wealth, a portion of greed. People have money they want more money plus he loved boxing.
Oscar Wilde: That which we love destroys us. Unfortunately the opposite is true too: What we love we often destroy.
The very thing that he loved most he destroyed and that was himself (pauses) “Oh.” (reflecting) “That’s deep.”
He was an introvert. Shy/quiet. Reinvented himself —> boisterous, braggadocios, and self confident. Cassius Marcellus Clay evolved into Muhammad (“one who is worthy of praise”) Ali (“great warrior”)
“matter fact you’re gonna help me write the book and i’ll pay you i’ll give you credit. Yep, that’s what God just told me.”
Muhammad’s name:
(take a break from dictating to do sit-ups.)
before sit-ups:
“Let’s do it let’s get to it”
“lemme get my facts right”
Ever since he was born, at the age of 2-3, his mother knew something was wrong with him- extremely hyper, constantly moved, couldn’t sit still.
As a kid always carried bottle of water containing garlic- believed garlic would calm him down and keep his blood pressure under control. (Genetic condition —> mutated into what became some 40 years later- Parkinson’s syndrome yep yep yep that’s correct.
As a kid he used to race buses. Everyone thought he was crazy; sometimes he would even win. That was a development of his speed and his..
Physical specimen.
Guru of health and physiology
His own doctor and scientist
Master of his ship
His own physician
Psychiatrist
Healer
Therapist
He always knew there was something wrong with him and learned how to minimize (“put it in your own words”) the “harmfulness of his disease”
His own best advisor, took his own advice. First he listened to God. Then he listened to himself.
Close relationship with God since he was little. Listened to inner voice (of God.)
Psychological perspective:
I (Abdul) learned in college we human beings have several layers to our beings --
plain language:
Jahari’s Window:
Jabari - a (German?) psychologist- hypothesis —> every human being comprised of 4 equally distributed parts
________
l l l
l___ l___ l
l l l
l___ l___ l
Each part 1/4 or 25% value.
4/4 = a whole
2/4 = a half
“Mention this to the kids” :
“No particular order as long as all 4 components are included.”
Four parts as follows:
1) Known self:
part of each individual that we know about ourselves and why we do what we
do. Conscious self.
2) Unknown self:
exact opposite; things about ourselves we don’t know. Other people’s perceptions
why they don’t like us because we pop gum or have B.O. (well I don’t know about
the B.O. ok put the B.O. in ha-ha.) The part of us that we are unaware of. How the
world perceives us.
3) Public self:
Public persona (that’s a good word) is how we want to be perceived. Self image.
Macho man. Lovely and self-confident woman. Way we want to be perceived by
the world at large.
4) Private self:
Exactly what it sounds like. Our humanness that no other human being, not best
friend or parents.. Nobody knows the secrets that we’ve done alone. Only one that
knows is two people: God and ourselves. If you ever reveal the secret, innermost
hidden window use extreme caution because if it is betrayed, the effects can be
catastrophic, destructive. Once most people are crushed- emotionally, homeless,
financial, hopeless 95% of the time they can never overcome that, never get back
to being normal and healthy, productive, constructive members of society.
I was homeless twice.
Only God, ok, & the belief in themselves can they ever have any hope of once again
to recapture their own essence and value.
Ali knew this very well. He was very selective who he considered a friend.
Ali:
“If you have one good friend in your lifetime who you can trust and who doesn’t betray you, consider yourself lucky.”
——————> on to psychology
me: (Alex): “I’m studying to be an art therapist.”
you: “I did that. I can help you with that.”
Asked me (Alex) to list the schools you attended:
Schools Abdul attended:
1) I was born and raised in the city of NYC. Born Brooklyn July 7th, 1949. I think I was born at 7 o’clock pm. My father- alcoholic. Brother OD’d at 18. Sister died… a lot of tragedy in my family.
Born Brooklyn lived there till I was 3. My mother was black and Native American from North Carolina. Her name was Mildred (“I believe the spelling was”): Bemberry.
Her sister’s name was Lilian, born the same day as me, 7th of July.
One of my cousins, Andre, he and his twin sister. He’s 7’2” twin is 6’11”.
Gonna get my son July 29th
17 & going to be 7’
“tall family”
“thank you”
My mother was 6’ tall. Father 5’7”.
He used to beat my mother. She never used to fight him back because she loved him.
She asked, never beat her in front of her children. One day she suffered a nervous breakdown, picked him up by the arm and was going to throw him down the stairwell.
She died…
it’s nobody’s business
it’s nobody’s business, is it
I met relatives in Brooklyn on my mom’s side, all Native American. Saw two full blooded Native American girls.
me (Alex): “Found out they were your cousins?”
Abdul: “How did you know that?”
“You just told me.”
They were beautiful. If they had given me a play it would’ve been my cousins and I wouldn’t have known it.
Aunt Lilian said: attraction to forest, nature.. because of Native American roots. I’ve always been happiest around natural elements, my children, little kids. All was the same way.
I read yesterday Ali’s grandfather was Irish. Now I might be related to him because my grandfather on my dad’s side was from Ireland. My dad’s dad was from the Bahamas. His wife, Margaret, they raised me. My dad would get drunk 4-5 times per week and beat me with a steel pipe over the head.
My brother died when he was 18 years old (OD.) I had to go to the hotel and close his eyes.
Ali- distant kin- his mother looked like my mother, his father looked like my father. Also a lot of turmoil in the family. Might be one of my distant relatives. Even now people tell me I look just like him.
A couple times I’d be walking down the street people will say: “Ali! Ali!” and I say “I’m not Ali.”
My hair is getting gray because of the stress but I’m going back to graduate school to become a nutritionist so I can get herbs for the gray.
Ali —> super shy til age 16. My speech impediment is from abuse I suffered as a kid.
Something I asked the computer, didn’t answer me:
August 15th, 1977:
Ali in preparation for the fight with Ernie Shavers <—(still living.)
6’ and 230 lbs. “K.O. artist”
His hands were made of steel or stone
Ernie Shavers besides George Foreman and Rocky Marciano heaviest hitting heavy weight in the world.
Ali + Shavers
Sept. 30. So 6 weeks, not 3 weeks.
Turning point- physiological point- despite damage to Ali from Joe Frasier in 3 fights, Shaver would do more damage because they rocked Ali. Ali said when Shavers punched him it “awakened and shook his kinfolk in Africa.”
After the Shavers fight, Ali was noticeably different. Shaver said after that fight, Ali should’ve retired. He could still walk at a reasonably normal pace and talk, and he didn’t have problems with his balance.
I also have back problems.
(“Put two or three different stars next to this:”)
Shaver/Ali fight:
In preparation from the New York Daily News, NY Post and NY Times
August of 1977 until the day of the fight and 2 days after the fight
recorded Ali fight
** Children’s book title:
My Friend, Muhammad Ali
That’s the title God told me to have.
me (Alex): typist and editor
As a kid during 1968, during the Columbia riots, I (Abdul) was at Brandeis High School (formerly Commerce High School.)
145-181 W. 84th St.
Manhattan, NY
Brown and Stokley Carmichael <— (deceased; cancer.)
I saved his (Carmichael’s) life. I swear to God. A New York City cop tried to kill him. I was 18. Stokley was 26-27. The cop pushed him down and was gonna beat him with a baton, then had his hand on his gun.
Stokley looks just like me. He/his grandfather also from Bahamas. I picked him up and told him “You see this cop is tryina’ kill you, play you outta pocket.”
“I don’t give a ‘F’ man I’m not gonna let that cracker dish me like that.”
I calmed him down. “You don’t have to die here today, man.” I saved his life I swear to God. They took a lotta pictures that day. You can see my ear and my afro in one, not my face.
H. Rap Brown (in reference to Stockley Carmichael)— Muslim name. Now on death row for killing a Sheriff’s deputy in North Carolina or South Carolina. Dying of cancer, too.
If I followed in Stockley Carmichael’s footsteps (we’ll use both his slave name and his Muslim name) I would’ve been in the cell right next to H. Rap Brown’s solitary confinement for 23 1/2 hours a day, 7 days per week without hearing human voice, having human touch. I would have been in a jail cell- cage- right next to him, because I was young and impressionable.
me (Alex) talking: But you made wise decisions, similar to Muhammad Ali. You listened to your inner voice above all else. Not impulsive
“Civil rights activists sacrificed their lives and made life better for millions of people of color.” (Abdul)
“Thinking things through- not being impulsive- think for myself”
Drawing parallel between Abdul and Ali:
Ali is a celebrity; everybody knows him; Abdul’s idol, he emulated him, he was a positive person.. a positive role model.
That’s all you need sometimes is that glimmer of hope, inspiration, motivation, that drive, to see someone who’s focused. When Ali fought George Foreman at The Rumble in the Jungle
’74
Ali—> dressing room to ring—>
announcer said:
“Ali has that single-minded focus”
I met Ali in Harlem, NY, between 7th and 8th ave. I felt the spiritual presence of someone behind me, peace; I felt happy, I felt love. That love turned out to be Ali.
He talked to himself. The importance of self talk— we can talk ourselves into something, we can talk ourselves out of something. Positive self talk is powerful.
He was talking (Abdul pauses, says “lemme get my facts right”, turns around, turns back around.. “yeah he was on my left side.”)
Ali said (to himself):
“I’m the heavyweight champion of the world. I’m pretty. I’m a bad man. No one can beat me,”
He said:
“I’m Ali. I’m Ali.”
I turned around and said, “Ali!” and he just smiled.
It’s true, it’s true.
(Maybe your brother can find pictures of me/my cousin/my family.)
I said “Ali, you were in the Olympics with my cousin Herbert in Rome in 1960. My cousin, Herbert, was the first black cyclist.
The Muslim minister threw out all my pictures of my brother, my teacher’s license, college degree, my high school diploma, because I was in critical condition in 2005 after a sprint operation in Shamokin. 513-514 North…
I lived in a grocery store.
I bought an old grocery store from this 95 year-old man. I was gonna turn it into a health food store/grocery tore. 17 years ago Shamokin was extremely prejudice, used “N” word a lot.
Getting back to Ali.
My cousin- Olympic cyclist- no pictures because of 2005- major spine surgery- I was not expected to survive.. Evil minister..
An old lady used to say:
“It’s a matter of choice. Just because you might happen to live in the ghetto doesn’t mean the ghetto has to live in you.
Now getting back to Ali.
Single-minded focus. While he was talking and listening to me.. he was listening to me but he made his mind up what he wanted to do anyway.
3x:
“Kid, how about you and me walking all over Harlem today, kid.”
“Come on. With me. Let’s go. We’re gonna walk all over Harlem today, kid.”
“Ok, Ali.”
All of a sudden I heard people across the street “It’s Ali!” and less than 3 minutes that street was filled with thousands and thousands of people.
Summertime, June (Ali is 7 1/2 years older than Abdul; Abdul was 18, Ali was 25.)
Noticed about Ali:
“That’s Ali. But that’s not Ali, that’s a white man.”
He’s light skinned. His mom and half white. He used to tan himself to appear darker. This was the second time I met him. I also could’ve met him when I was 14 at Savior’s Day (Muslim celebration) at the Armory in February, 1964. But I was overwhelmed. After Ramadan— Ali was there.
(“Lemme get my facts right”):
The Armory, between 141 & 142 street.
Used to race indoor track and field there. Three years later I would become the fastest runner in my high school. 60 yard dash in 6.5 seconds.
2 years later:
run 60 years dash in 6.4 seconds against Cortland, considered the fastest high school runner in the world. I didn’t have the same name then, I had a slave name, last name Frances (Francis?)
The Armory on 168th St. & Broadway, raced Cortland.
Turning point of my life because Cortland—> 100 yard dash in 4.3 seconds. Also a football player. Supposed to go to the Olympics in 1972 but was injured in football and couldn’t.
Later met Cortland again on the 168th & Amsterdam in 1972.
Cortland beat me. I ran 6.4. Cortland beat me, took indoor high school record/beat the record of 6.3.
(Abdul): I was the fastest boy in the world but at the end I deliberately slowed down because I knew the photographers would interview me and would laugh at my stutter. But I knew I could’ve beat him. But like Bo Jackson, like many athletes with speech impediments do, I let him win. On that particular day if I had more self confidence I would’ve been the fastest boy in the world.
Later I trained 3-4 days per week at the 142nd St. Armory where I met Ali a few years earlier. Ran 23 flat for 200 indoors.
Also- same Armory, same meet, I ran 1/2 miles at 202. Could’ve run 158 but I didn’t have anybody pushing me. I was the fastest runner in my high school. Most outstanding athlete of 1986, I have a trophy at home, I’ll show it to you.
John (Carlos?) fastest runner from the Bronx.
Born in Brooklyn, raised in the Bronx, trained in Harlem. Ran great 1/2 mile middle distance.. and sold my weighted track jacket to Brandeis for $30. He went on to one of the USA’s best middle distance runners. I would like to think my weighted jacket helped.
(off the record): John Carlos
We were close friends. At the track meets he would ask me who in the race should I be concerned about?
Track field Van Cortland Park , 242nd (& Broadway?)
I grew 5’10 to 6’2”
Carlos came up to me. I’m putting on my track shoes. “If you don’t win I’m gonna kick your f’n butt.” That day I ran the fastest I ever ran. Carlos then asked me who should he be concerned about in the 100 yard dash race coming up in 15 minutes. I said someone runs a 9.6. Carlos not concerned.
Carlos never warmed up in front of anyone. He was similar to Ali- master of the psych game- Carlos trained and got warmed up away from the track- competitors couldn’t see. Wore heavy clothes so he appeared out of shape. Psychological game. Drank grape juice so people thought he was drinking wine.
Goals to become the “world’s fastest old dude”: Unfinished Business
Closing thoughts/quotes:
George Eliot:
“Remember this: it is never too late to become the thing(s) that you might’ve been.”
Robert Frost:
“Remember this: the saddest words ever spoken, the saddest words of tongue or pen, the saddest words are these: ‘Oh the things that might have been’.”
Civil Rights activist, Marcus Garvey:
“He who is without self confidence has lost the race even before it has begun.”
Mark Twain:
“The two most important times in a person’s life is when they’re born and when they find out why.”
Abdul:
(“I just realized”) I’m meant to be a healer, holistic nutritionist, doctor of nutrition, writer, playwright, movie scripts.
God keeps sparing my life at least on 15 occasions. I died in my doctor’s office once, died in the hospital once, died on the operating table 3x, died in a car accident, and I drowned once.
God kept me around to help people and be a healer and inspiration.
You’re never too young/too old to accomplish your dreams.
Through God, all things are possible.
By age 70, my goal is to be the fastest old dude in the world.
Unfinished Business
Me (Alex) talking: This is a conceptual project.
Abdul: Self-fulfilling prophecy—> actualize what you’ve been told
My father/racist white educators told me I’m dumb/ I began to believe it. (Me—> “This is where there’s similarity /overlap with Ali, because Abdul, you broke the cycle.”)
Abdul’s positive influences: Ali, Aunt Margerite Francis, Clifford
“tough love” —> kept me out of jail at least 3 occasions:
1) Group of friends got to Bronx- orthodox Jewish section- to rob the Jews. I said I don’t wanna rob. They said you need money in your pocket don’t you? They convinced me. Aunt Marguerite could tell something was wrong, kept me in the house. “Boy, you will keep your ass in this house tonight, boy. Not hang out with your thug hoodlum friends, boy.”
All the friends got caught and even killed a Jewish man. Got caught at the train station in ’66.
2) Second group of thugs robbed a professor. Killed Professor Wolfgang. Aunt Margerite- “psychic”- kept me in the house again. All the thugs got caught. One looked just like me. Some got electrocuted. The rest- life in jail.
Last words for today:
“Please include I copy Ali and I run in combat boots.”
“I can tell you’re going to be a famous book writer and also you’re gonna do film.”
Also put I only eat one meal a day because it slows the aging process down. (Ali did that.) Starting on my 67th birthday, I’ll start eating meals 5x/week. Fast Monday-Thursday.
As of my 68th birthday: 3 meals/week. Protein fruit shakes. Slows aging 10-20 years.
Bodies are machines and computers.
1 meal a day slows aging process 66%
“I’M DONE!”
