Michael Jordan donates $5M to African American History and Culture museum

NBA Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan has donated $5 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Basketball Hall-of-Famer and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan has donated $5 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the museum announced Monday.

The gift is the largest made by an athlete. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a Smithsonian institution.

“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.”

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To recognize Jordan’s donation, a section of the museum featuring sports will be named “Michael Jordan Hall.”

Jordan has made his social activism more public this summer. Last month, he donated $1 million each to the Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.