military during the Vietnam War. Kareem was very honored to be invited to an event with all the prominent black athletes. Before this Kareem was already close to Ali, but after this event and supporting Ali, their bond grew extremely strong. Kareem later goes on to describe that later in life they are still the best of friends. Ali's unwavering commitment to his beliefs, both inside and outside the ring, left an indelible impression on Kareem. Through their conversations, Ali not only shared his wisdom, but also imparted profound insights into faith, identity, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Even helping Kareem to convert to Islam, “and that summer I also decided on my spiritual beliefs by converting to Islam.” (260) With Ali's unwavering support and encouragement, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar emerged as a towering figure in his own right, unafraid to use his platform for meaningful