History Now Essay The Importance of Muhammad Ali Thomas Hauser 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., as Muhammad Ali was once known, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 17, 1942—a time when blacks were the servant class in Louisville. They held jobs such as tending the backstretch at Churchill... Appears in: 23 | Turning Points in American Sports Spring 2010