Khalilah Ali, a Remarkable Journey
In the Spring of 2018, photographer Robert Zuckerman introduced me to Khalilah Ali, the second wife (1967-77) of Muhammad Ali. Born Belinda Boyd (1950), Khalilah Ali was raised in Chicago where she attended Islamic schools. Her parents were members of the Nation of Islam.
Boyd married Muhammad Ali on August 18, 1967, at the age of 17. After their marriage, she changed her name to Khalilah Ali.
When Ali’s avoidance of the military draft during the Vietnam War cost him his boxing title in 1967 (a decision later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court), Khalilah supported Muhammad emotionally and financially.
During their 10-year marriage, the couple had four children, Maryum “May May” (b.1968), twins Jamillah and Rasheda (b.1970), and Muhammad Ali Jr. (b.1972).
Khalilah Ali studied acting with Lee Strasberg, and appeared in The China Syndrome (1979), What America Looks Like (2017) and Muhammad Ali: A Life (2016).
During her remarkable life, most especially while married to Muhammad Ali, Khalilah Ali met and engaged with some of the most creative people of her time.
The videos below are organized by Success Factor and run between 30 seconds to 11 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.
EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES: 4:04 min.
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 8:00 min.
CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND: 1:54 min.
SELF-CONFIDENCE: 1:40 min.
OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED: 3:56 min.
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 3:05 min.
COLLABORATION: 0:59 sec.
DEVELOPS A VOICE: 3:47 min.
EMPATHY: 4:01 min.
SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 10:40 min.
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 4:26 min.
SERENDIPITY: 0:45 sec.
EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES: 3:53 min.
EMPATHY: 4:53 min.
