Olde Hornet
Well-Known Member
Through this lens: Remembering Muhammad Ali’s visit at the Turkey Day Classic
On Thanksgiving day, 1966, Muhammad Ali attended the Turkey Day Classic game between Alabama State College and Tuskegee Institute. Now, we look back.
www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
The memory of his face still hangs in Joseph Caver’s mind.
Caver is a 67-year-old historian. His mind is full of things and sharp as ever, but the clarity of this face outlasts time and remains a high definition image in the head space of a seasoned psyche.
The countenance Caver stared into on Thanksgiving day of 1966 was smooth without blemish, and a strong jawline with a priceless smile to match left him in awe. The man’s skin was a lighter tone than his own, but nevertheless, it was anchored in a soul as black as his ancestors and the nights spent in the bellies of slave ships.
The man was tall and his presence spoke for him just as much as his mouth did. He was a black man just like Caver, and he was flawless.
Frozen in intimidation, just looking, Caver stood glued to the bleachers beneath his feet on the Tuskegee-claimed side of Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.
It was November 24, 1966, and Caver was a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Autauga County Training School, handing out “Turkey Day Classic” game day programs with his boy scout troop at the Tuskegee-Alabama State football game.
