Michael Jordan

the world's best basketball player, has not only affected the game of basketball, but American society. Jordan was not the first African American man to play professional football, he was not denied anything because( air jordan shoes)  of his race,( air jordan shoes) but Michael Jordan transcended the question of ( air jordan shoes) race as a business man and as a person. His story is not the story of a African American "victim", but instead, it is a story of a passionate and competitive man, ( air jordan shoes) basketball player, and salesman. Jet, February ( air jordan shoes) 28,2000

As a child, Michael Jordan always wanted to play with the "big boys",( air jordan shoes)  he was always striving to be better. ( air jordan shoes)  Jordan's parents, unlike Tiger Woods' father, never pushed him to be a great basketball player, they pushed him to be a good person and believe in where he came from and who he was. ( air jordan shoes) "Rather than trying to create a superstar, ( air jordan shoes)  Mrs. Jordan and her husband wanted to rear children with strong moral character, ( air jordan shoes) confidence, high self-esteem, and who( air jordan shoes)  would feel that they could accomplish whatever goals they set. ' To give those values to your children doesn't cost you a dime,' ( air jordan shoes) she says'. '( air jordan shoes)  Those are the characteristics and gifts that money cannot buy.'" ( Ebony, May1997)
Like most southern, African America families, Michael Jordan was raised with the understanding that church was not an option. Therefore, ( air jordan shoes)  a sense of community, as well as community service, was instilled in Michael from an early age. Mrs. Jordan say that her goals as a parent were to " instill spiritual faith, moral values, ( air jordan shoes) integrity, concern for others, a strong sense of self-identity, ( air jordan shoes)  and setting dreams and goals." (Ebony, May1997) All of Jordan's accomplishments on the court have made his mom proud, but what matters the most is that he is a good person who donates both time and money back to the community. " For seven years the Michael Jordan Foundation supported many charitable endeavors. ( air jordan shoes) Last fall, Michael and Mrs. ( air jordan shoes) Jordan opened the James Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Life Center." (Ebony, May1997) Also, Jordan has donated Five million dollars to the National Foundation for the Improvement of Education. ( air jordan shoes)  "Over the next five years, ( air jordan shoes)  the Jordan ( air jordan shoes) Fundamentals grants program will put money directly into the hands of literally thousands of teachers and paraprofessionals struggling with limited resources. ( air jordan shoes) "(Nea Today, April 1999) Jordan is giving back to the public schools that don't have enough money so that the less privileged kids can still have a good education ( air jordan shoes) and move on to the next stage in their lives. ( air jordan shoes) Similarly, Jordan donated one million dollars to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which will "help establish an institute for families at the university's School of Social Work, ( air jordan shoes) which will be dedicated ( air jordan shoes) to studying how poverty, child abuse, teenage pregnancy and care for the elderly impacts families." (Jet, December 1997) Jordan is ( air jordan shoes) making sure to give back to the communities that really need the money to empower the less privileged children to succeed.