Muhammad Ali’s daughter shares insight into the man, he and we called “The Greatest”
By: Cheryl Smith
Do you really know what it means to “Float like a Butterfly and Sting like a Bee?”
You have to see her and hear her to really glean insight into “The Champ,” and his evolution from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali.
When Maryum “May May” Ali said she was bringing her one-woman show to Dallas, the message was received with enthusiasm.
After all, she was not only the daughter of a legend, the Champ, Muhammad Ali; but also a legend in her own right, having had an impressive career as an entertainer, actress, author, speaker and social worker/educator.
Sitting in the Bishop Arts Theatre, listening to her speak was an adventure.
Yes, it was a one-woman show, but she brought so many characters to the forefront—characters of all ages, genders and ethnicities—making her performance all the more riveting.
Not only did you hear the different characters, you were able to imagine them as she walked around the stage educating and entertaining the audience.
At one point, I put my head down, just listening intently. I thought a clip of her father speaking was being played.
Then I looked up and much to my amazement, she was standing on the stage in front of a lectern, looking and, more importantly for that scene, sounding like the Champ.
But it wasn’t Muhammad, it was May May!
She didn’t shy away from sensitive subjects as she talked about growing up as an African American female Muslim. It was refreshing to hear her tackle sensitive issues that we all really need to become more comfortable discussing – like racism, terrorism, domestic violence, humanity, religion, healthy relationships and tolerance.
Now I will stop here with an invitation to check out FLOAT. You have until June 7, to attend the performance.
Weekday performances are at 7:00 p.m.
Alicia Brown-Young, Founder/Principle/CEO of ABY Digital Marketing and Communications, LLC told me it was great and Alicia knows what she is talking about.
May May, the oldest child of Muhammad and Khalilah Ali, and also the oldest of his nine children, will make you laugh out loud, smile, shed a tear, think, develop an understanding, and maybe even challenge or inspire you to become a better person.
She learned several lessons from her father and shared a few with the audience, following her performance.
“My father taught me how to think critically,” she said, adding that she learned how to see people as humans, and not to judge. In showing her father, she “felt it was necessary for people to see a humanized view of someone else’s experience and view.”
Bringing the experiences of an African American Muslim is especially important, given these times, she noted.
I wish we could all look at each other as humans,” she continued. “We have more in common than not: we love our families, we want affordable eggs. We’re all humans and we want the same stuff.”
Ali hopes FLOAT will spark conversations and bring people together. Referencing pain and suffering, and those uncomfortable moments she illustrated in her performance, Ali said she didn’t bring the topics up to make people uncomfortable.
“We’ve got to heal,” she explained. “But we’re not going to if we don’t listen to one another.”
Her message was similar to ones espoused by her parents.
Several years ago, I spent time with May May’s mom when she visited Dallas’ Muhammad’s Mosque Number 48.
May May is definitely her father’s and her mother’s child as she is intelligent, witty, candid, sincere, and possesses an impeccable work ethic.
Did I also say she is a fighter?
And I’d also be derelict in my assessment if I left out one word her father used when describing himself—“pretty.”
So go see the gorgeous, talented Mary on stage. You’ll be glad you did!
Who: Mary “May May” Ali
What: FLOAT – a one woman show
Where: 215 S Tyler St, Dallas, TX 75208
When: Through June 7
Phone: (214) 948-0716
https://bishopartstheatre.org/
