Michael Jordan donates $ 5m to Afro-American museum

Basketball player Michael Jordan donated five million dollars to the Smithsonian's new African-American history museum on the National Mall.

The 53-year-old sportsperson also donated his basketball jersey from the 1996 N.B.A. finals.

The museum, which is due to open on September 24 in Washington, said the "Game Changers Hall" in the museum's Sports Gallery will be named "The Michael Jordan Hall" in recognition of his generosity, reports the New York Times.

According to a news release, the hall is "dedicated to the people and institutions whose actions changed their sport, transcended their game and transformed society."

Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the museum, said in a statement Jordan's "gift will enable our visitors to explore how sports were used to break barriers as a way to gain full participation in American society."

"The game-worn 1996 jersey will be added to the museum's permanent collection," added the museum said.

In a statement, Jordan said that he was indebted to leaders and athletes such as 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.