The 56 Most Intriguing Blacks Of 2001

Ebony, Nov, 2001

MUHAMMAD ALI

ALTHOUGH no longer in the ring, Muhammad Ali--in the eyes of millions--is still "the Greatest." He is an enduring hero who refuses to give in to his toughest challenger, Parkinson's disease, choosing instead to use his fame to bring attention to the affliction that affects 500,000 people in the U.S.

The former three-time heavyweight champion has set a frenetic pace to show others that they don't have to give up or give in. "I'm fighting Parkinson's [disease] now," Ali says. "But I don't let it stop me. I still travel, attend to my business."

That business includes traveling the world to deliver a message of peace, to display acts of humanitarianism and to highlight the benefits of discipline, perseverance and social responsibility. Despite the symptoms of a degenerative disease that has robbed Ali of some of the agility that allowed him to "float like a butterfly," he is still exhibiting the willingness to stand up and be counted, to be front and center when it comes to helping others. "Kindness to others," he says, "is the rent we pay for our time on earth."

No longer is he the vociferous "Louisville Lip" who shocked the world in 1964, but the aura of Ali remains intact. Although appearing a little unsteady on his feet sometimes, his mind is not diminished; he is still graceful, still magnetic, still charming, still witty, still youthful at heart and still doing the magic tricks that have long been a part of his persona. He lives quietly with his wife, Lonnie, in their home in Berrien Springs, Mich., and to his fans, he is, 20 years after his last fight, still "the Champ."

KOFI ANNAN

HE is more than the front man for the United Nations. In his highly visible role as the face of this multinational consortium, Annan, the seventh secretary-general of the UN, has become a clear and unrelenting voice for peace in the face of escalating world violence.

Whether he is surveying world hot spots where UN peacekeeping forces are attempting to quell uprisings or stumping for compassion at the International Conference on Racism, Annan's message remains the same. He preaches the values of equality, tolerance and a belief in human dignity.

There are those who wonder if this soft-spoken, 63-year-old career diplomat--a native of Ghana who was educated in the U.S. and Geneva, Switzerland--can command genuine respect and bridge the many gaps between nations and people that have resulted in myriad atrocities. But in his five years as UN head, Annan, who is fluent in English, French and several African languages, has shown that he does indeed have persuasive powers. Backed by the 70,000 military and civilian personnel of the UN peacekeeping operations, he also knows that he can walk softly, but carry a relatively big stick.

Kenneth BABYFACE Edmonds

ALTHOUGH he is in his early 40s, the man known almost everywhere as Babyface has reached iconic status as a songwriter, producer, superstar-recording artist and revolutionary label owner. A statistical juggernaut, Kenneth Babyface Edmonds keeps adding milestone after milestone to a legacy that seems to have no threshold or peak in sight. In 2001, he released a new album that pointed in a new direction, and his gorgeous wife, Tracey, who is also a producer, gave birth to their second son, Dylan. But if he received in 2001, he also gave back, continuing his humanitarian efforts and joining with former President Bill Clinton on the AIDS for Africa project, a comprehensive effort to help stem the tide of the dreaded AIDS epidemic on the continent. What makes Edmonds such an enigma is that he is still the shy, soft-spoken unassuming singer from Indiana who can barely be heard when he speaks without a microphone. Although his speaking voice whispers, his recording voice roars.