Michael Jordan Explains His Decision To Donate $100 Million For Social Justice

Photo Credit: Getty Images / Kevork Djansezian / Stringer

In a recent interview with The Charlotte Observer, Michael Jordan spoke about police brutality and his recent $100 million donation through the Jordan Brand to the Black community.

“We have been beaten down (as African-Americans) for so many years. It sucks your soul. You can’t accept it anymore. This is a tipping point. We need to make a stand. We’ve got to be better as a society regarding race,” Jordan said.

“Face up to your demons. Extend a hand. Understand the inequalities,” he urged. “Sure, it’s about bargaining for better policing, but it’s more. We have encountered racism to be somewhat acceptable in certain circles.”

Jordan also spoke about his recently announced $100 million donation. He isn’t yet specifying where exactly the donation will go, but says it’s about making an effort: “We haven’t yet figured which vehicles to utilize. But it’s first about making an effort. It’s not just (donating) money. It’s the act of calling on all of us to take a look at ourselves. That’s an important start.”

The Hall of Famer also spoke about education, police bias, and philanthropy.