Michael Jordan pledges $5 million to African-American museum

Former NBA star Michael Jordan. AP FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON — Michael Jordan has pledged $5 million to the Smithsonian’s new African-American history museum on the National Mall.

Officials at the National Museum of African American History and Culture announced the gift from the basketball great Monday. The museum is set to open Sept. 24.

In recognition of the gift, the museum will name a section of its sports gallery after Jordan. He also donated a jersey he wore during the 1996 NBA Finals to the museum’s collection.

Jordan says in a statement that his gift was made possible in part by athletes, including Jesse Owens, who broke racial barriers. Museum Director Lonnie Bunch says the gift will aid the museum’s vision of exploring how black athletes changed sports and changed American society.

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