Sept. 27, 1963 | Cassius Clay Visits McClymonds High School in Oakland

Sept. 27, 1963 - As classes were ending today at McClymonds High School in Oakland, Calif., 21-year-old heavyweight Cassius Clay made a surprise appearance. He reportedly is in the Bay Area at the invitation of the Afro-American Association for a weekend civil rights conference in Oakland. But his impromptu talk to the students was about his favorite topic — himself. “I’ll hold the title for eight years and then turn it over to my brother Rudolph, just like the Kennedys. I’ll do it in five, so see it live.” An aide then whispered a reminder that he was supposed to say something inspiring to the students. “Oh yeah,” he said softly, and then in a loud voice: “Honor grades make you feel good like a black kid should.”

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