On Friday, it was announced that Michael Jordan, together with his iconic Air Jordan Brand, will donate $1M to the journalism and sports programs at the storied Atlanta-area Morehouse College.
Morehouse is a historically black liberal arts college. The donation comes as part of the Jordan brand's "Black Community Commitment" drive. Their mission is to help further a worthy narrative of the black story in American media, arts and entertainment.
According to Axios, Jordan commented the following:
"Education is crucial for understanding the Black experience today. We want to help people understand the truth of our past, and help tell the stories that will shape our future."
"Many people are influenced to think a certain way about Black folks based on what they see on television and in Hollywood. We’ve got to tell our story."
Jordan himself has been a controversial public figure as of late due to his often-outspoken views. For example, he has publicly stated that he values law enforcement, contrary to the prevailing beliefs in many areas of his community.
The Jordan brand has taken a particularly keen interest in subjects such as journalism and the history of people of color in the US. It has already donated some $3M in past years to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture, and a further $1M to the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative reporting.