The first book to bring to life the influential friendship between Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali
In 1962, no one believed that the obnoxious Cassius Clay would ever become the heavyweight champion of the world. But Malcolm X saw the potential in Clay, not just for boxing greatness, but as a means of spreading the Nation of Islam's radical message. Malcolm secretly molded Clay into Muhammad Ali--a patriotic boxing star in public, and a radical reformer behind the scenes. Soon, however, their friendship would sour, with disastrous and far-reaching consequences.
Based on previously untapped sources,Blood Brothersis the first book to offer an in-depth portrait of this complex bond. An extraordinary narrative of love, betrayal, and violence, this story is a window into the lives of two of our greatest national icons, and the tumultuous period in American history that they helped to shape.
is a distinguished professor of history at Purdue University. An award-winning author, he has written biographies of iconic athletes and celebrities, including Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Bear Bryant, and John Wayne. Roberts lives in Lafayette, Indiana.
Johnny Smithis an assistant professor of American history at Georgia Tech. He is the author ofThe Sons of Westwood: John Wooden,UCLA, and the Dynasty that Changed College Basketball. Smith lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Winner of the 2017 North American Society for Sport History Book Award [An] absorbing and provocative new book... An engrossing and important book.
David Margolick,Wall Street Journal A rigorouslyresearched book that gracefully pivots between the world of the ring andthe racial politics of the early '60s.
New York Times Book Review Earnest and...smartly constructed.
Washington Pol“G
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