The transformative power of sport in the American civil rights movementMartin Luther King Jr. had a dream, but so did Cassius Clay, Jackie Robinson and Bill Russell. Long before King's famous "I Had a Dream" speech or Rosa Parks' famous stand, came something much simpler: sports. Sport has always had the ability to open people's eyes in a more effective way than words or actions. It's amazing how athletics can shape a person's mind or open their eyes to something beyond what they already believe. They can get everyone to root for a common purpose, a common goal. And for some, that was freedom. The integration of professional and collegiate athletics not only changed the history of sports, but helped shape American history. Cassius Marcellus Clay was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 17, 1942, at a time when Louisville was severely segregated. African Americans were often considered the "servant" class. The highest goal that many parents could realistically set for their children was to be a priest or a public school teacher. Cassius Clay's father was a billboard painter and his mother worked in house cleaning. Being an African American in poverty was not easy; in fact Clay was mistreated since birth. His mother recalls a specific incident that happened at a convenience store when he was very young. “…He wanted a drink of water and they wouldn't give it to him because of its color. This really affected him. Clay was eventually drawn to boxing as a way to deal with stress after having his bicycle stolen at the age of twelve. It was in the ring that he would leave his legacy as an athlete, but it was in the real world that his legacy as a fighter would truly leave a lasting impact. As a supporter of all people, Muhammad Ali was able to challenge...... half of paper ......y.Works CitedFitzpatrick, Frank. “The 1966 Texas Western title left a lasting legacy.” ESPN.com. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, February 19, 2003. Web. October 29, 2013.Hauser, Thomas. "The Importance of Muhammad Ali". The Glider Lehrman Institute of American History, nd Web. October 31, 2013. Jackson, Scoop. “Black Athletes: Beyond the Field.” ESPN.com. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, February 24, 2010. Web. October 29, 2013. Merlin, Doug. “Bill Russell, civil rights hero and inventor of aerial basketball.” Bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report, April 29, 2011. Web. October 29, 2013. Naison, Mark. "Why sports history is American history." D, William. "Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Major League Baseball" September 1, 2003: 20. eLibrary. 2013.