Muhammad Ali brings to life one of the most indelible figures of the 20th century, a three-time heavyweight boxing champion who captivated millions of fans across the world with his mesmerizing combination of speed, grace, and power in the ring, and charm and playful boasting outside of it. Ali insisted on being himself unconditionally and became a global icon and inspiration to people everywhere.

4-part Documentary Series Begins
Sunday, September 19th at 8 PM

Airing Next Week, and Online Anytime

Watch the four-part film by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon,beginning Sunday, September 19th at 8 PM. Or online, anytime, with Mountain Lake PBS Passport.

Sunday, 9/19 – 8 PM |Round One: The Greatest (1942-1964)
Monday, 9/20 – 8 PM |Round Two: What’s My Name? (1964-1970)
Tuesday, 9/21 – 8 PM |Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974)
Wednesday, 9/22 – 8 PM |Round Four: The Spell Remains (1974-2016)

For educational & community resources:

PBS LearningMedia Collection

Educators can utilize the Muhammad Ali Collection on PBS LearningMedia to support learning alongside screenings of the documentary film.

This collection includes seven media-rich Social Studies and English Language Arts resources for grades 6–12. Explore educational themes including sports in society, personal identity, and physical and mental health.

Share Your Story: Red Bike Moment

All of us have memories to reflect upon which reveal insights into how we became who we are today. More often than not these are remembered as brief moments. Muhammad Ali came into being through such a defining moment that it completely changed the course of then twelve-year-old Cassius Clay’s life.

What is a Red Bike Moment?

A Red Bike Moment is a transformational event in your life that occurred because of a challenge or overcoming some type of adversity. 

Partnering with the Muhammad Ali Center, PBS stations across the country are encouraging members of the public to share stories of moments in their life that helped make them who they are today. It can be a large or small moment—if it has had a profound impact on a person’s life in any way, it counts.

How To Participate:

Simply post a video or photo on social media telling your story, and include the hashtags #RedBikeMoment #MuhammadAliPBS and #AliCenter to share it with the world! 

Tag the Muhammad Ali Center on Facebook (@MuhammadAliCenter), Twitter (@AliCenter), or Instagram (AliCenterLou) and your story may be included in the Ali Center’s Red Bike Moment digital archive!

Conversations on Muhammad Ali

Join the filmmakers and special guests as they explore Muhammad Ali’s life and legacy. These hour-long discussions feature clips from the four-part series.

FINAL VIRTUAL CONVERSATION

Ali, Activism & the Modern Athlete
September 14th at 7 PM
REGISTER HERE

Examine the nature of the modern athlete and celebrity through the lens of Muhammad Ali and today’s biggest stars. What is the responsibility of an athlete today and how do they leverage their unique platform for good?

This event features a live discussion with filmmaker Ken Burns, New Orleans Saints player and NFL Players Coalition founder Malcolm Jenkins, ESPN/The Undefeated Vice President and Editor-in-Chief Raina Kelley, and special guests.

All national virtual conversations are available as archived recordings following the live events.

Can’t get enough? Check out other Ken Burns documentaries – from Jazz, to Baseball, and Country Music – with the Ken Burns in the Classroom Collection. The collection includes 300+ films along with 150+ PBS LearningMedia resources to support learning in the classroom and at home.