I have a friend of the family who worshipped Ali, he had scrapbooks, rare pictures, etc. Ali signed most of the pages and pictures.
Say what you want about Ali, but he was kind to strangers and fans, I was supposed to go to meet him as a kid but I had to get up at 5 AM and didn't go.
Ali invited my friend to come to to Pennsylvania and stay on weekends whenever he wanted, he has tons of pictures of his visits. He allowed him to bring whoever he wanted too.
These scrapbooks are huge, I was alllowed to borrow them once. Ali was very kind to an ordinary Joe, Bundini Brown used to try and steal the scrapbooks though!
Jimmy Breslin mentioned my friend when Ali was first hospitalized, he came to visit Ali and said of him to the effect that he was the only person who didn't want anything from Ali except his friendship which he gladly offered.
Last I asked him, he couldn't get through to him any more because of all of the layers of people protecting him.
I should also add that my friend is white, I think the Nation of Islam polluted his thinking only to a point and I make no apologies for for Ali. Just knowing this side of him takes SOME of the edge off his negatives.
Ali was surrounded by vultures, I think he took in my friend to try and maintain some connection with reality.