Ali's ability to get the message of Africa to American blacks always hinges on winning the fight. The 1974 footage of When We Were Kings foreshadows the nineties lack of solidarity and understanding between Africans and Americans of all races. It's a time capsule opened up to make us long for the brilliance and charisma of Ali, and regret the compromised result of his political ambition. And the song remains the same with Hangin' With Mr. Cooper 's use and abuse of New Guinea. Bowens' commentary on Foreman is both fascinating and problematic.
Foreman embodies the slippery character of transcontinental racial identity.
With great pleasure, Bowens recounts how Ali did kill Foreman in 1974, just like in the prescient chorus. Cut to Plimpton, who tells of Ali's visit to Mobutu's feticheur. With Mr. Cooper will attest, that's what we Americans seem to expect from Otherland, that island where black magic determines how the race is won. The best response to the moment of contact between America and Africa belongs to George Foreman. If it is, it leans toward the representation found in Hangin' With Mr. Cooper .