“I Did Not See Him as a White Kid, and He Didn’t See Me as a Black Kid”: Michael Jordan Once Admitted His Father’s Actions Taught Him a Key Moral Against Racism

When Michael Jordan was growing up in North Carolina, he was still dealing with a lot of racism. He would often be excluded from pool parties and other social events just because he was African American. But despite wanting to act based on how he felt, actions by Jordan’s father made MJ relook at his morals in his fight against racism.

His Airness grew up in a place and an era where racism was still prevalent. He struggled like any other African American kid at that time and was from one of the most rural communities in North America. And this meant he had to face racism in a lot of different aspects of his life.

And Jordan wanted to respond, but his father’s actions made him change his whole view of how to.

Michael Jordan had a friend that stood with him amid insults

Michael Jordan had a friend named Dave Bridgers. He was like another son to Jordan’s dad, and he was like a brother to Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend once said that he still keeps in touch with him and he had high praise for him.

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In an interview, he once said,” We grew ever since we are six years old. You know he’s always been the type of guy we’ve never seen, different relationships that did not work. I did not seem him as a white kid, he did not see me as a black kid.”

“It was situations where we used to go to other pools, and he would take me, and as soon as I get in the pool, they would get out of the pool. He and I would get up and leave. We would leave that house because he felt like if I wasn’t welcome, he wasn’t welcome.”

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Jordan learned how to deal with racism at a very young age and he grew past responding. And he went on to have a legendary career. The four-time NBA champion was drafted into the league in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls. In his 15-year career, Jordan went on win six titles and six Finals MVP awards, along with five NBA MVP awards. He was one of the main reasons that the game became global and he became an inspiration to millions of people around the world.