History: the case of muhammad ali and conscription

Drawing on all the sources below, explain the issues surrounding Muhammad Ali’s “greatest fight,” his refusal to be drafted for combat during the Vietnam War.  Consider the historical context and the various perspectives of the five personas.  Why was his decision met with such hostility?  How did the controversy both reflect and shape larger social struggles, both in the civil rights and antiwar movements, as well as beyond?   What does Ali’s struggle tell us about American society in the 1960s?  In short, why is Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali so important?

  A good paper will consider these questions and provide evidence from the various sources and/or your textbook to support your answer.  (1250 words double spaced)