Magic Johnson visited Arizona State University on Monday as a guest speaker for the ‘Building History: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’ event.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“Look at the room,” Johnson said. “Different people of all walks of life, different races coming together and being a blessing to one another. That’s the only thing (King) wanted. Don’t see color. Just see the person. We’re proving that right now at ASU by coming together and doing things together. This is really powerful.”
60 years to the day, Dr. King visited ASU to speak to a crowd of 8,000 people. At the time, Arizona was in the midst of Civil Rights conflicts, but had Dr. King come and speak weeks before the 1964 Civil Rights Act was sealed.
The university held an event on Monday to honor Dr. King’s speech in 1964. Johnson, a Hall-of-Famer and cultural icon, credits a large amount of his success to the King.
Magic Johnson came to ASU, showcased the awesome Black leadership we have among us, shared his words on how to be an amazing leader in all walks of life, and promised future investment in our community. I have never in my life been more grateful and proud to be a Sun Devil ???????? pic.twitter.com/mAuT9kECRe
— sunshine (@__5unna_) June 4, 2024
“I’m one of the young black men who benefited from everything that he was teaching,” Johnson said. “Everything that he was about. Everything. He went around to tell people that things had to change for the better. That it has to be a world (where) everybody is equal and treated with respect and dignity. “The only thing that minorities wanted was an opportunity. He wanted everybody to treat them as individuals and not hate them for their race. And I benefited from that message.”
Johnson specifically credited his success as an entrepreneur towards Dr. King’s influence.
“Now I own these businesses, and I’m the only Black man sitting at the table,” Johnson said. “I think about what he stood for, what he was about and how he opened these doors for a young man like myself.”
Magic Johnson ends his appearance at Arizona State with impromptu $25,000 pledges to three female ASU students, including one of his fellow Michigans native who’s a journalism major in @Cronkite_ASU. pic.twitter.com/3MeEsOj1iK
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) June 4, 2024
Johnson ended his speech by rewarding three female students in ASU’s Black African Coalition $25,000 towards their tuition.
“I’m trying not to cry,” Nia Heckler, a junior majoring in pre-medical psychology said after receiving $25,000. “I’m just so grateful.”
It was great running into my friend of many years and former NBA player Eddie Johnson and his wife, Joy, at Arizona State University yesterday! Eddie and I played together in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany, representing the US as high school seniors and winning the… pic.twitter.com/39G6Ah63vT
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 4, 2024
Eddie Johnson, 17-year NBA veteran, visited Johnson’s speech on Monday. The two played together in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany in 1977.
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
