"Mealymouth of the Year: Cassius Clay"

Carl Fischer, artist

1924–2023

"Mealymouth of the Year: Cassius Clay", 1966

Portfolio/Series title: "Esquire's Sixth Annual Dubious Achievement Awards," published in Esquire magazine, January 1967

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: gelatin silver print

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 16.6 x 11.4 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 6 9/16 x 4 1/2 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 17.8 x 12.7 cm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 7 x 5 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Gift of Esquire, Inc.

Accession number: 1980.1079

Not on display

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Label texts

Muhammad Ali was a controversial figure through much of his career, both loved and hated for his self-proclaimed “greatness.” Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, he announced his conversion to Islam and name change soon after becoming boxing’s heavyweight champion in 1964. Many journalists, competitors, and fans were unwilling to recognize Ali’s adoption of a new
name—and simultaneous rejection of his “slave name”. This seems to be the case in Esquire’s Dubious Achievement Awards of 1966, when the magazine takes a jab at Ali by crowning him “Mealymouth of the Year.”
Earlier that year, rival boxer Floyd Patterson penned an article in Esquire titled “In Defense of Cassius Clay.” Patterson defended Ali for past statements regarding politics and religion, as well as taunts of “Uncle Tom” that Ali had directed toward him, as part of a public performance. Patterson noted that when Ali proclaimed “I am the greatest,” “He wants people to say, ‘You’re not!’ and then he is forced to meet the challenge, put himself in a do-or-die frame of mind, go a little crazy maybe, crazy with ferocious fear. So far it has worked for him.”