By Zachary Kenitzer
Louisville rolled out the red carpet two weekends ago for the grand gala opening of the Muhammad Ali Center. Celebrity call-ins backed up all the phone lines, but most Louisvillians showed relatively little support. After three and a half years of construction the center is still not finished, and now many people speculate that it won’t be done within the year. Recently some city officials asked why Louisvillians are no longer showing much support. The reasons are abundant.
The first reason is that the center seems to be without a clear purpose. Is it a museum, community center, research center or religious education center? It could be all of these things. According to a Nov. 21 Courier-Journal article, “‘The Ali Center aspires to be more than a shrine to Ali’s boxing skill and charisma,’ the Alis say. ‘It champions substance as style, particularly in regard to religious tolerance and racial harmony.'” All of this does little to present a clear and stated goal, or at least a goal that everyone understands.
Does the center exist to promote racial harmony? Muhammad Ali championed minority rights during the 1960s and ’70s, and became one of the most prominent faces of the Civil Rights movement. Propelled by his charisma, Ali became one of the most vocal proponents of racial equality. But if his center is promoting racial harmony, I would like to know how. Does he intend to hold community forums, or seminars to stress the importance of equality? Or will he make it a center for people of varied races and cultures to gather and overcome their differences?
The center may also serve as a forum to promote religious tolerance. Ali is most famous for his defiance both in and out of the ring. In the ring he trash-talked his opponents, and outside the ring he defied the government. He was drafted for the war in Vietnam, but did not go because it was against his Islamic beliefs. Due to his defiance he was exiled from boxing for three years, and in many ways so was his religion. If the center is to promote religious tolerance, how will it accomplish this? The absence of a stated mission makes it difficult for the community to muster any real enthusiasm.
The Ali Center as a building and as a concept is still not complete. Construction started three and a half years ago, but bad weather and the mounting costs of construction have slowed its progress significantly, and many citizens feel it should be done by now. By the looks of the building, we will be lucky if it’s finished in another six months.
The Muhammad Ali Center could be one of the most important tourist attractions in Louisville, garnering millions of dollars in business revenue, as well as attracting residents to the city. But although the red ribbon has already been cut, there is still a long way to go before the center gains any credibility. The first step is completing the building.
Zachary Kenitzer recently joined The Louisville Cardinal as a staff writer. Contact him at: opinion@louisvillecardinal.com.
