Michael Jordan shut down criticism over not giving back to Black community: "I don't seek publicity from it"

When you think about NBA legends who give back, a few names always come up. Dikembe Mutombo. LeBron James. Chris Paul. Clyde Drexler. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Michael Jordan‘s name?

Often missing from those lists.

So why is that?

It’s certainly not because His Airness doesn’t give back — there are enough examples to prove otherwise. It’s more about how he does it, something the basketball icon addressed in 1992.

Jordan – the quiet giver

By the early 90s, Jordan was everywhere. Global icon. Walking brand. The most recognizable athlete on the planet. And with that, of course, came criticism.

That Playboy Q&A started where you’d expect — on-court stuff, endorsements. Then it shifted. The conversation moved into personal territory, specifically how Jordan was perceived in the Black community and why certain writers had started questioning whether he was “black enough.”

When the interviewer then pointed out he was being criticized for not giving back, Jordan jumped in.

“I get criticized about not giving back to the community — well, that’s not true,” said the Chicago Bulls legend. “I do. I just don’t go out and try to seek publicity from it.”

Sure, Jordan could hold a press conference on everything he does for the Black community, talk about it at length. But what would that actually accomplish? Like on the hardwood, he was more about actions than words. His approach to philanthropy reflected that.

MJ’s philanthropy

Jordan said that because he didn’t make a noise about his involvement, most people simply didn’t know. And he was fine with that — that was never the point anyway.

The point was using his platform to uplift — and he still does today, just without needing validation or front-page headlines. That’s actually rarer than it sounds. After all, a lot of celebrities attach themselves to similar causes for the wrong reasons. The exposure. The image rehab. Jordan wasn’t built that way.

As for his philanthropy, it built gradually over the years. He served as Make-A-Wish’s Chief Wish Ambassador. Helped grant hundreds of wishes. Raised more than five million dollars along the way. He directed settlement money to 23 Chicago-area charities. Food banks. Youth programs.

Jordan also donated millions to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Through all of it, the six-time NBA champion rarely showed up with a microphone.

In a way, that’s part of what fuels the mystery around the man.

The only real outlier came in summer 2016.

Back then, a wave of police shootings and retaliatory violence finally pulled the Hall of Famer out of his silence. He published a one-page letter on “The Undefeated. “

“I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions,” wrote Jordan.

It wasn’t a press conference. It wasn’t a photo op. It showed that this was an honorable, good-natured act, not a performance. History backs that up. After all, it was the same thing Jordan had been saying for over two decades.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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