Michael Jordan: ‘I can no longer stay silent’

a reply to: dreamlotus1111

I definitely agree that getting kids out of the inner city neighborhoods (which are more often than not the same neighborhoods where Blacks were forced to live prior to the end of Sundown towns and such) would go a a long way towards helping end the cycle of generational poverty, the gangs, the all too common lead poisoning, and probably more.

We also definitely need more affordable housing for everyone. New communities would integrate themselves.

But I don't think it's practical or fair to expect any private persons to do so -- celebrity or otherwise. There are planning issues, construction issues, and on and on. It's a bureaucratic mess that needs to be handled by the same folks who created it...

Most of all, I think we need to appreciate that which people can do, and actually do, and not look a gift horse in the mouth because they didn't do what we want or think should be done. We also don't know what else MJ (or anyone) is doing out of the public eye.

originally posted by: NthOther
I'm not sure how giving money to special interests is supposed to solve the problem.

Can someone explain that to me, please?

You really can't think of any ways -- ANY ways at all -- that funding can help people devote their time, effort, and ingenuity to solving problems. Really???

But Michael Jordan sure does come out looking cool, doesn't he?

Now that just made everything else you said before this sound like petty jealousy....

If you've got better answers, show us all how it's done. Talk is cheap.

a reply to: BLee8127

Like I give a damn what rich people have to say? LOOL. Atleast LBJ donated his money to help people you ******* douschebag.

Oh no... another one who didn't read the OP? Or is LBJ's money somehow better than MJ's money???

If that's all you've got, you've got nothing. MJ is already head and shoulders above you.

a reply to: Meee32

I think my point is that although Michaels gesture is nice it will ultimately do nothing because it doesn't address this huge problem above!

I disagree. Half of the money was given to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. These folks can and will (and already do) directly address policing practices in their work. They understand those problems at least as well as you and I do, and I'm betting probably much better.

With an understanding of the law and legal practices, especially working in conjunction with law enforcement, I'd say that's a darn good way to not only identify the questionable practices, but to also find better policies and practices that keep everyone safer.

originally posted by: Mclaneinc
Whilst I support and applaud Mr Jordan's views and actions he forgets there's an uneven mountain to level, black crime dwarfs most crime in the USA...

Actually, the vast majority of "Black crime" is committed by a relative handful of gang members, and is most often directed against members of other gangs... hence the high rate of "Black-on-Black" crime. Much the same way a relative handful of LEOs are responsible for the vast majority of police brutality complaints. I've seen estimates by police that gangs are responsible for up to 80% of crime in their cities.

In other words, many crimes are committed by a few... not many criminals each committing one or two crimes.

...and a majority of those doing it either use BLM as an excuse or are being used BY BLM to do more crime but at the police and against whites.....BLM simply MUST be taken out of the equation, they are an agitator in an already complex and violent issue.

BLM is violent and disruptive by design... BLM is exploiting longstanding legitimate issues in the worst way and for the worst reasons. Ignoring the root causes of those legitimate issues is what gave them their power...

And all the more reason to appreciate MJ's gift to organizations who won't play that game and thus take the attention and power away from BLM.

a reply to: violet

Very nice of him, but I'm of the belief when one donates, one does so anonymously. I think that's a classier approach, but ok his celebrity might bring an audience to the problems.

Making anonymous donations has its virtues, definitely... but so does public donations which brings attention to a cause and inspires similar gestures from likeminded individuals.

Good luck with that, the racial devides seem to be coming back around...

By design.

There's more to all this then meets the eye, a hidden agenda.

Definitely...

Like Mike...if I could be like Mike.

Seriously, if I could just give out two million dollars, that would be so awesome. Kudos to him for doing that--I wish I could affect things for the better with money like that. Instead, I usually have to devote time and skill in lieu of money, which I'm happy to do, but that can only go so far in the grand scheme of things.

originally posted by: SlapMonkey
Like Mike...if I could be like Mike.

Seriously, if I could just give out two million dollars, that would be so awesome. Kudos to him for doing that--I wish I could affect things for the better with money like that. Instead, I usually have to devote time and skill in lieu of money, which I'm happy to do, but that can only go so far in the grand scheme of things.

Don't we all wish that!!!

But we all have something to give, and every little bit helps. MJ's donation is great, but money can only facilitate the work and efforts of those who do roll up their sleeves and get dirty getting the job done.

originally posted by: Boadicea
a reply to: BLee8127

Like I give a damn what rich people have to say? LOOL. Atleast LBJ donated his money to help people you ******* douschebag.

Oh no... another one who didn't read the OP? Or is LBJ's money somehow better than MJ's money???

If that's all you've got, you've got nothing. MJ is already head and shoulders above you.

You don't make any sense at all, are you on drugs?

If MJ ran for President, he'd win, hands down, LOL.

a reply to: Boadicea

Well done, '23!' Positive moves need to be made to quell the fear, and work together to stop perpetrators of violence (LEOs and private citizens alike.)

a reply to: supremecommander


"until the law treats everyone under the sun equally" that's the same reaction they have in white communities when guns are reported. The problem is when they get trigger happy.

a reply to: Boadicea

Great message, but always skeptical when donations are involved. Donation = tax break right?

originally posted by: dreamlotus1111
you know honestly what i wish? i wish all of these celebrities that claim they want to make a difference would stop sending cash to these organizations that are not doing SHT. celebrities claim to care so much but why cant they take all of that money and create new communities like full on communities. invest in something great with new schools making sure to move people in of all walks of life. focusing on educating people having community events etc.

i feel like what we are doing is trying to go in a solve issues in already broken segregated communities
...

Exactly!! Instead of just giving money, celebrities who really want to make a difference should make a difference by helping provide new jobs. Heck, MJ doesn't even have to provide money. Do you know how much funding he would get just with his name and backing a program to bring new jobs to trouble areas around the nation? I am not talking just about black neighborhoods, but all troubled neighborhoods.

The Hollywood elite alone have more than enough money to help fund for millions of jobs, but like I wrote they don't even have to give money. Giving their time, and name to back such funding would cause a lot of people to donate enough to at least help alleviate a lot of problems. Throwing in a couple millions to two charities won't do a lot. But his thoughts are what count. Just wish he had an idea similar to yours instead of just throwing 2 million.

originally posted by: thinline
you could argue that MJ has killed more black kids then cops.


ftw.usatoday.com...


Who shot and killed MJ's dad? Did they ever figure that out?

No, actually you can't argue that. In fact that's literally one of the stupidest comments or comparisons I've heard. You make it sound like Jordan is out in the hood on a dark street corner peddling his shoes to the kids in the hood.

Let's put this in perspective. MJ is worth as of 2016 1.1 billion U.S.D. and he gave $1 million to two charities for a total of $2 million.
1.1 billion = 1,100 million. So MJ gave less than 0.2 % of his net worth to these particular charities. Regular people give more to charities willingly if they want to help. He would have done more good if he had just come forward with a plan like ATS member dreamlotus1111 said.

a reply to: ElectricUniverse

I really don't understand how Michael Jordan or anyone can create jobs for an entire community, much less a specific demographic. But more to the point, with federal regulations driving jobs out of the country like bats out of the belfry, the unemployment problems for everyone -- every race, creed and color -- is much bigger than any individual can solve.

And, of course, giving folks a job doesn't do anything to stop bad cops and bad training and bad policing.

Hence why I applaud MJ for trying to address and empower both sides of the issue -- from the Black community's perspective, and from the law enforcement perspective -- and to facilitate solutions from both sides.

But given the many negative comments against someone trying to do a good thing, I understand better why more celebrities don't make any effort. No matter what they do (or don't do), someone will find something to complain about.

originally posted by: Boadicea
a reply to: ElectricUniverse

I really don't understand how Michael Jordan or anyone can create jobs for an entire community, much less a specific demographic. But more to the point, with federal regulations driving jobs out of the country like bats out of the belfry, the unemployment problems for everyone -- every race, creed and color -- is much bigger than any individual can solve.

And, of course, giving folks a job doesn't do anything to stop bad cops and bad training and bad policing.

Hence why I applaud MJ for trying to address and empower both sides of the issue -- from the Black community's perspective, and from the law enforcement perspective -- and to facilitate solutions from both sides.

But given the many negative comments against someone trying to do a good thing, I understand better why more celebrities don't make any effort. No matter what they do (or don't do), someone will find something to complain about.

They can by funding needed businesses and services. Let me give you an example.

Here in Chicago, we always hear about "Food Deserts" which are basically areas of town that don't have major grocery stores. The areas are poor and have a lot of crime, so it make sense as to why some main line businesses don't invest in the communities.

However, people like Mike can easily put up the money to fund businesses that serve under valued communities. Magic Johnson did this with his Magic Theatres after the mainline cinemas were ignoring the black community.

The black community has far too many rich blacks who don't do sh*t for the community economically. We literally have all the black entertainers and athletes making millions of dollars and yet none of them truly invest in the community. starting banks. funding local schools. other needed services.

Despite Bill Cosby's transgressions, the man gave $20 million to Spelman College and other millions to Morehouse and other black colleges. That $20 million is probably like $35 million in today's dollars.

While I can't tell Mike what to do with his money, I think he'd get more bang for the buck actually funding a business that has the potential to grow and expand creating jobs and providing services rather than giving money to these washed up organizations who are just going to piss it away.

a reply to: Edumakated

If MJ (or anyone) were so inclined -- and preferably with the knowledge/experience to actually run a successful business -- those efforts would be laudable as well, albeit on a much smaller scale (i.e., only benefitting one community and so many individuals who would get a job).

But it does nothing to address bad cops, bad training, and bad policing policies, and which is part of MJ's purpose.

It's not an either/or situation.