Before Ali, no one boasted or predicted the outcome of fights or called opponents names or even chided the media after a victory. He did all that, and he did it smartly, with humor and certainly at times with a mean spirit. But he promoted the fight. He said things like, “To beat me, you have to be greater than great.” It infuriated fans. People watched his early fights in particular because they wanted to see him lose. Black America overwhelmingly rooted for him because he represented its causes and was not afraid to communicate the frustrations and concerns of the people. Also, his interviews with the late sports commentator Howard Cosell were legendary for their humor — the two had a strong rapport — and Ali’s candor. Boxers of all weight classes have tried (with most of them failing) to hype fights in Ali’s fashion.
This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.
For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.
Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.
We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.
If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.
Boxing: Self-Promotion
