Michael Jordan is probably the best basketball player ever to set foot on the court. He’s also the most quiet when it comes to issues of racism and police brutality—until now.
According a letter sent to The Undefeated , Jordan is opening up about how “deeply troubled” he is with the way in which law enforcement interacts with black people. He’s also putting his money where his mouth is, so to speak.
“As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers,” Jordan writes in a letter sent to The Undefeated. “I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well.”
In the letter, Jordan said he will donate one million dollars to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and another million to the Institute for Community Police Relations.
Although Jordan says he credits police officers “for their sacrifice and service” on behalf of protecting his family, he also understands that “for many people of color their experiences with law enforcement have been different than mine.”
“I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late,” Jordan explained. “I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.”
Eze Afrika
