"When We Were Kings"

The documentary "When We Were Kings" was very interesting  film. It  is a documentary about the 1974 heavyweight championship fight between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman, known to many as "Rumble In The Jungle." In my opinion it was a very inspirational film, and it let's you see exactly why people look at Mohammed Ali as such a great athlete. Ali was working on a comeback, and he knew the "Rumble In The Jungle" was going to be it.  When we were told we were going to watch it in class I was excited. My father used to talk about that same fight that took place in the documentary. He was very young at the time, but is a Congolese native and remembered how upbeat, and live Zaire was during that time.

 The film shows the build up until the fight. I found it particularly interesting how it focused on Mohammed Ali belief's  regarding African's and African Americans. Also how he had much love for the people of Zaire. Ali would personally go around promoting the fight, and getting the natives of Zaire hyped for the fight, and seeing him defeat George Foreman. He took advantage of the fact he was in another land, with different customs, and people.  The part that I enjoyed the most was the documentary opens you up to the fact that Mohammed Ali was more than a great boxer. He was an intelligent man who knew how to articulate his self  very well. The film shows him using the fact he was a well known celebrity to his advantage. Speaking about racial pride, peace, and hope. You can see in the film that Ali is proud to see Africans who are able to live, and governed their own selves.

Before watching this film I felt it was appropriate to classify it as a black film. I heard about it from my father, as well as previous documentaries, and movies about it I watched. What stuck out to me was that there was another main attraction besides the fight. It was the concert. Performers like James Brown, B.B. King, Miriam Makeba, and other big stars performed. People looked at it as a black 'Woodstock."  Many people talked about how it was a time of black pride and togetherness. The concert brought focus on the black culture of the U.S. and Zaire. The black culture that is defined by it's people, athletes, music, politics, as well as business. The artist who perform were at the peak of their carers, and were inspired by the Zairian people. From the film and little bit they show of the concert you can tell it was a sense of African pride in the air. It was a wonderful and life changing experience.

The documentary also causes you to open your eyes to how the fight was a black political statement. At the time Zaire was under the fierce dictatorship of  Joseph Mobutu. Mobutu put up the prize money for the fight, 5 million for each boxer, and 10 million being the cash prize. Don King and Mobutu served as the masterminds behind this fight. The film makes you look at the questionable ethics of locating the fight in Zaire. During that time Mobutu was looking for away to legitimize his regime, which had overthrown and assassinated former leader Patrice Lumumba with the help of U.S. and Belgium aid. The Western interest of Zaire mines enriched Mobutu, who in turn enriched Don King. Mobutu looked at the fight as a public relations investment. The 10 million was to help win the favor of black Americans, who were very aware of Mobutu's U.S. government backed overthrow of Lumumba. The documentary was not clear on whether or not Ali was aware of what exactly was going on from the political standpoint, but you see that the fight was way more than just a rival between two fighters.

"When We Were Kings" was a very touching documentary. The story of Ali and his comeback is definitely something many people can relate to. When he won the fight you felt as if you won too. The documentary in my opinion was not more so on the match but more so on Ali the man, and what he has come to represent. Everyone seemed to doubt Ali except the people of Zaire. Ali was standing in a ring with a man he knew he could not bully, who was stronger than him, who could hit harder than he could, and was determined to force his will on Ali as Ali was determined to do likewise. This was definitely a great moment of epiphany. Ali was a man who was surpassed  in almost every department, who with the power of athletic skill, determination, and self-belief managed to overcome a ferocious and worthy opponent. This documentary can be seen as very moving and touching. Just like Ali everyone has doubts but he did not let them stand in his way. He came out on top, with just believing within his self. Just like Ali people are faced with many obstacles, and just like Ali we as people should never let them stand in our way of reaching success.