Friday, March 22 2024

Road video and map

Today I visited places that are dedicated to the lives of two very different men. The first, in Louisville, the home of Muhammad Ali, was the Ali Center. The center has a mission to “Mobilize Muhammad Ali’s legacy to foster respect, inspire generations of changemakers, and advance social justice” with a vision of “a just and compassionate world where all people can reach their greatness”. I think it achieves its mission well by telling the stories and development of the thinking of Muhammad Ali as his life unfolded. There is a wonderful introductory video that chronicles Ali’s life, showing how, through boxing, he was able to compare the world with his home in Louisville and the USA and came to reject much of what this country has traditionally cherished, such as Christianity and loyalty to country.

The only problem, to me, was that much of the rest of the center’s exhibits revolved around the same video clips and statements that were in the introductory video and I did not learn much more from these.

The Center is downtown and overlooks the Ohio River, which separates Kentucky from Indiana.

I found the most interesting exhibits to be some of the statements and art that he published over the years.

He converted to Islam because he believed that many white Christians used the religion to support and justify suppression and denigration of the dark people of the world. He also compared the treatment he and fellow African Americans suffered from in 60s America with the inclusive culture he enjoyed in the Olympic village in Rome in 1960 where he won his gold medal.

There were a few artifacts connected directly with Ali on display but it was mostly video.

This robe was given to Ali by Elvis Presley and the red boxing gloves are signed by boxers Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman.

It is a fascinating insight into the trials and tribulations of a thoughtful, principled, determined and successful black man who was excluded from so much because of these principles and choosing Islam. I’m finding it difficult to summarize my perceptions because I don’t think they have it right yet but hope that the Center can use his legacy to help fulfill their vision.

Before driving to Nashville I spent some time walking in downtown Louisville.

They are several large pieces of public art on Main Street.

And there is a giant Louisville Slugger baseball bat outside the factory where most Major League baseball bats are made.

My second visit, to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, just outside Nashville was far less challenging. This was the 7th President’s home and plantation and, after Washington’s Mount Vernon and Jefferson’s Monticello is the third most visited presidential home in the country. I took a guided tour of the Mansion as well as viewing the slave quarters and gardens. The experience was much the same as visiting the other presidential homes I mentioned but the organization that runs Hermitage have made great efforts to find and purchase the original furnishings, decorations and artifacts such that it is 83% original. The most unusual thing about the house was just how huge the rooms and windows are compared with the other places. It seemed very comfortable and inviting but, unfortunately, they do not allow any photography within the mansion, not even without flash, so I cannot show you.

The exterior of the Hermitage mansion.

The garden that was the pride and joy of his wife, Rachel.

I blogged last year how his policies supported the forcible removal of five Native American tribes along the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma and wondered how this policy would be portrayed here. He was described as being “very forceful” when dealing with the “Red Stick Tribes” but that was about it.

I have two nights in Nashville so will not be posting tomorrow.