The National Museum of African American History and Culture is slated to open in September in Washington, D.C. The museum received a $5 million donation from Michael Jordan, who will have a sports gallery dedicated to him in the exhibit.
More details from Peggy McGlone of the Washington Post:
The gift, the largest from a sports figure to the 19th Smithsonian museum, pushes private donations to the museum to $278 million. Including federal aid, the museum, which President Obama will open on Sept. 24, has raised more than $548 million.
The Chicago Bulls also gave a jersey that Jordan wore during the 1996 NBA Finals to the museum’s permanent collection. In recognition of the gifts, the museum will name a section of its sports gallery the Michael Jordan Hall.
From Jordan and the museum’s founding director:
“I am grateful for the opportunity to support this museum,” Jordan said in a statement. “I also am indebted to the historic contributions of community leaders and athletes such as Jesse Owens, whose talent, commitment and perseverance broke racial barriers and laid the groundwork for the successful careers of so many African Americans in athletics and beyond.”
Museum Founding Director Lonnie Bunch expressed gratitude for Jordan’s contribution. “His gift will enable our visitors to explore how sports were used to break barriers as a way to gain full participation in American society,” Bunch said in a statement.
Just a few weeks ago, Jordan donated $1 million to both the Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in response to the death of so many African-Americans at the hand of law enforcement. This effort clearly differs in context, particularly in that Jordan will have his own special display in the museum called “Michael Jordan Hall”, but his contribution is still made in the efforts of preserving history and culture.
