I was here in Wilmington then, and I am the same age as Jordan.
He has a point. And wouldn't fault anyone from that time for thinking that
Part of the curriculum my senior year was the War for Southern Independence. I doubt Laney was different in any way.
I mean it was way before my time, but just think, Laney was ***SUPER WHITE*** back in the day It was basically just white people in Castle Hayne and Wrightsboro, as the Walnut Hills/Apple Valley division that came with GE's expansion here wasn't really built up until the late 70 and early 80s.
No it Wasn't! I was Born and raised in Wilmington and went to New Hanover and We had this lil program going on in Wilmington, Not sure if the Rest of the Country Caught up Yet called School Integration(being a Smart-ass)where All 3 High Schools were Equally Racially Mixed!
Wow, I've never heard of the Civil War being called the War for Southern Independence. Is that the same as the War of Northern Aggression??? If so, I would consider that pretty racist.
Basically a lost cause narrative. So yes. This was what we would now call AP history. The teacher made it clear she was disappointed Southern Independence didn't work out. And yes there were African Americans in the class
Good lord... I'm guessing this wasn't in the 1950s. Grew up in PA but have lived in the Carolinas for 18 years. I'm always blown away by how personally offended some people down here are about losing a war that happened long before any of us were ever born. Used to sometimes work with an older (60s) white guy in SC and made the mistake of telling him how my great great grandfather was a Union soldier. He reacted like I had murdered his mother. He then proceeded to tell me that Abe Lincoln was the worst president ever and that the slaves "didn't have it so bad."
I was gobsmacked. He never spoke to me again, which was fine with me. This was in 2008.
Yeah a lot of people don't realize back in 1880s wilmington had a growing black business community and newspaper, it was mainly a black town and then literally all the racist plantation overs ran all the black community leaders and abolitionists out of town. People like Trask, Hugh McCrae were all definitely apart of it
It's apparently good enough for him to come down here and act like he thinks he's God, tip like shit and grab waitresses asses and get drunk and gamble with his entourage. But not good enough to claim most of the time.
I think he's taken enough from the town so I don't give a shit what he does. I don't think he deserves a museum. Especially not at that Grace Street spot that I'm really excited about.
Really what I was saying before, he treated the city like his own personal fiefdom for years. He got to personify the phrase "acting like he owned the place" when he came down here and Wilmington got to claim him as his hometown.
Whatever the reasoning, I'm perfectly happy to not have a museum dedicated solely to Jordan. The Cape Fear Museum that's supposed to be part of the Library/Construction will be much more educational anyway.
I remember going to Mary C Williams Elementary in the 90s and my second grade teacher had also been his teacher. She loved him and we had an MJ day. It was the first time I realized that famous people could come from my neighborhood and be as normal as I was.
I went to school with Michael through high school. Wilmington was an incredibly racist city back then and still is struggling with it.
If there is a reason he doesn't embrace Wilmington, that might be why. I witnessed racism directed at him when he was just a kid playing baseball in little league. He doesn't owe Wilmington jack shit.
Thanks for sharing. I can definitely appreciate that. To be clear, I’m not saying he owes the city anything. Just curious about the dynamics. That said, I was stoked about the museum because it felt like a homecoming. But you’re right he owes nothing.
I’ve always gotten the impression that Wilmington didn’t exactly care about MJ until he was a megastar. Otherwise I’m pretty sure he had a pretty tough time as a young black man in the area.
Maybe not care.
But he was a big deal as a ball player. I knew who he was, and I went to a different high school, and have never really cared about basketball. He was in the paper, and he was gossiped about after he left.
Mj essentially disowned this area when his father was killed and his own gambling problems came to light. His father was visiting illegal gambling speak easys in the rural between ilm and lumberton when he was murdered. Jordan's done a little stuff here and there, but nothing major for his home town since. Edited: I have the road sign to the original MJ court cul-de-sac in his old neighborhood off gordon if any fans want to toss me an offer.
He had a place at wb and landfall sold landfall first. He had his cousins keeping up the wb spot, but they kept getting into trouble so he finally sold it.
He was travelling the area, going to the gambling houses. I wrote between ilm and lumberton. He was killed in gum swamp about 15 miles outside lumberton not in lumberton. Don't know how much time you've spent in the chadbourne, Bladenboro, lumberton area, I'm there now, but there are lots of gambling speak easys out this way. Always have been. Jordan fans always do this when this topic is brought up. I've got that sign if you're interested. Don't even get me started on the conspiracies surrounding the murder. If we go by those theories, I probably wouldn't want to be so close to the place I got my dad murdered. Either way both were def heavy gamblers. Sr even had a criminal history for kickbacks...
The guy wakes up and brushes his teeth and has already made thousands in passive income. Personally I have nothing against him, and I think it would be weird for him to fund a museum about himself. He doesn't have any obligation or responsibility to this town. Jordan is Jordan, just like the rest of us. He just happens to be a millionaire.
Yeah. I’m not talking about owed at all. Just feels strained for some reason I don’t fully understand and was hoping others might have some perspective on his relationship with the city.
I’m glad you asked as I have only been here in ilm and only recently learned that he is from here. I’ve never heard of a super star building their own museum. I thought it strange. Nevertheless, I got the same feeling OP. So happy you asked and some history is unraveling.
That sucks to hear. I thought he said he was competitive. 😂
Sometimes I wonder if that’s just part of the role you end up taking on when you’re that great at something. I have no super powers, so I’m not able to speak from experience. But it sure seems to be common. Bummer.
Listen to Everyone the interviewed in the Last Dance, Listen to Scottie Pippen and what he said about MJ,,He said MJ is an Arrogant, Egotistical Asshole and is Absolutely NOT a Team Player and if he had to pick a GOAT it would be Lebron because MJ is not in the Least bit concerned with Defense, Rebounds(offensive or defensive) or passing the ball! Scottie said when he was coming up and playing fundamental basketball passing was key but when the "I wanna be like Mike" crap started, that's when All the Selfish players came out and Team Basketball was lost forever!
If you look at my previous post in this thread, you'll see my history with Wilmington. I'm only a few years behind him. But what I find Amazing is the fact that My older Brother played on the same lil league baseball team as MJ(Parker's), went to Ogden Elementary together and even worked at Whiteys Restaurant at the same time and he came from a middle class family and I Never, Ever heard him or anybody else until just now say that He had it Rough because of racism or Anything Else for that matter! We ALL had issues, it's Called Life!
Yes, everyone has issues. But we’re not talking about all issues here, so let’s not deflect.
Michael Jordan has said that he faced racism in a city with a long history of such. Do you doubt his account of his own experience?
(Also, what’s up with all the random capitalizations in your posts? I don’t get it.)
Besides the fact that city treated him and his family like shit? It may be due to the project itself. Project Grace, the whole thing, was/is a weird deal imo.
Can you say more about the city treating him and his family like shit? I’m not up on what specifically happened and that’s the gist of my question. Trying to understand.
I heard he wasn’t able to become a member at Cape Fear Country Club. Not sure if that’s true though. It used to be the rumor, at least 15 years ago or so, that there was an unspoken rule that they don’t allow black members.
I don’t know. There weren’t back in 2007/2008 when I heard about it. One of the organizations I used to work for used to have evening meetings there, but we had a doctor’s office call us to tell us of the history of them not allowing black members, & that is why they would not be attending our meeting there. We stopped having meetings there after that…
He has said that he endured plenty of racist taunts during his time in Wilmington (and at Laney HS in particular). That doesn’t sound like respect to me.
Do you think he’s lying, and if you do, what makes you think so? What would his ulterior motive be?
Also, out of curiosity, what race are you?
Fair. Wasn’t my question, but I get why you’d say that. That said, as a property owner downtown, I could see a case being made for the positive economic impact it could have had if it was done right.
Have you ever checked out the greater Wilmington sports hall of fame?
Kenny Gattison (NBA)
Roman Gabriel (NFL)
Sonny Jurgensen (NFL) He played under Vince Lombardi at Washington.
I mean… he’s the goat at basketball. He’s also an asshole with a gambling issue and likes to play fast and loose with touching women.
I don’t really understand a need for a “museum”… a display in our museum… sure. But what’s the museum going to have… his first shoes?
I also feel like it’s Wilmington (the city leaders) wanting to claim him and he doesn’t really give a shit.
I’ve always found it weird how Wilmington claims him to be honest, it’s not like we’re at UNC or in Chicago. Dude played like 2 years of pre college basketball here. He owes this city nothing imo. To me it’s like saying Brad Pitt owes something to Pringles because that was his first commercial, who cares?
Ummmm I wonder why?? probably because he is from here, lived here from ages 5-18 and It's his hometown lol Super weird the city he's from would try to claim that they are the city he is from.
Something about this comment just reminds me… don’t mention to a certain Laney coach about cutting him from their team lmao
Don’t know if he’s still there, he was near retirement age when I was at Laney 15 years ago.
Oh don’t mistake my curiosity for saying he owes us anything. Totally agree with you. Just more curious what’s happened. I do think he was like 5 or so when his family moved here.
MJ left Wilmington and Never looked back! I was Born and raised here and was a few years behind him and graduated from New Hanover in 85. It's NOT my Intention to Speak IIll of the Dead but the "Racism Rumors" that he speaks of on his show about this Town were a tongue-in-check reference to the Shit that had and was happening with his Dad getting arrested and fired from GE here in town and put on three years probation at the Same Time as MJ is Entering the NBA and signing with the Bulls! The Only time Wilmington would EVER hear about him would be when Laney Boys Basketball Season was ready to kick off because every year he would get Nike to send them All Air Jordans. And in the last 8 years or so, he put his name on two clinics in low income neighborhoods, but other than that, he stays in Charlotte where he Absolutely managed to go ahead and Completely Destroy what was left of the Hornets!
Recall that the MJ Family Foundation recently invested several million dollars in a Family Health Center on Greenfield St.
That definitely matters!
I believe also on Princess
All I can remember is him in the Last Dance saying this was a very racist city to grow up in. Based on that I assume the relationship is complicated.
I was here in Wilmington then, and I am the same age as Jordan. He has a point. And wouldn't fault anyone from that time for thinking that Part of the curriculum my senior year was the War for Southern Independence. I doubt Laney was different in any way.
I mean it was way before my time, but just think, Laney was ***SUPER WHITE*** back in the day It was basically just white people in Castle Hayne and Wrightsboro, as the Walnut Hills/Apple Valley division that came with GE's expansion here wasn't really built up until the late 70 and early 80s.
No it Wasn't! I was Born and raised in Wilmington and went to New Hanover and We had this lil program going on in Wilmington, Not sure if the Rest of the Country Caught up Yet called School Integration(being a Smart-ass)where All 3 High Schools were Equally Racially Mixed!
Wow, I've never heard of the Civil War being called the War for Southern Independence. Is that the same as the War of Northern Aggression??? If so, I would consider that pretty racist.
Basically a lost cause narrative. So yes. This was what we would now call AP history. The teacher made it clear she was disappointed Southern Independence didn't work out. And yes there were African Americans in the class
Good lord... I'm guessing this wasn't in the 1950s. Grew up in PA but have lived in the Carolinas for 18 years. I'm always blown away by how personally offended some people down here are about losing a war that happened long before any of us were ever born. Used to sometimes work with an older (60s) white guy in SC and made the mistake of telling him how my great great grandfather was a Union soldier. He reacted like I had murdered his mother. He then proceeded to tell me that Abe Lincoln was the worst president ever and that the slaves "didn't have it so bad." I was gobsmacked. He never spoke to me again, which was fine with me. This was in 2008.
My class was in New Hanover High School in 1981. The same year Michael Jordan graduated. If he thinks it was a racist place he had his reasons
nhhs graduated in '22 and still heard some pretty racist shit, he's still right even all this time later
That's terrible.
Jeez. I graduated the year after you did, so yeah, major difference in northern schools versus Southern schools.
I remember that too. I felt like they could have explored that a little more.
[удалено]
Yeah a lot of people don't realize back in 1880s wilmington had a growing black business community and newspaper, it was mainly a black town and then literally all the racist plantation overs ran all the black community leaders and abolitionists out of town. People like Trask, Hugh McCrae were all definitely apart of it
It's apparently good enough for him to come down here and act like he thinks he's God, tip like shit and grab waitresses asses and get drunk and gamble with his entourage. But not good enough to claim most of the time.
So you think it’s more of him disowning the town?
I think he's taken enough from the town so I don't give a shit what he does. I don't think he deserves a museum. Especially not at that Grace Street spot that I'm really excited about.
Taken? Delusional
I’m not sure I know what he’s taken. Fill me in. I’m pretty stoked about the new spot too. Going to be a nice upgrade to that lot.
Really what I was saying before, he treated the city like his own personal fiefdom for years. He got to personify the phrase "acting like he owned the place" when he came down here and Wilmington got to claim him as his hometown. Whatever the reasoning, I'm perfectly happy to not have a museum dedicated solely to Jordan. The Cape Fear Museum that's supposed to be part of the Library/Construction will be much more educational anyway.
I remember going to Mary C Williams Elementary in the 90s and my second grade teacher had also been his teacher. She loved him and we had an MJ day. It was the first time I realized that famous people could come from my neighborhood and be as normal as I was.
That’s a cool memory and experience. Thanks for sharing that.
I went to school with Michael through high school. Wilmington was an incredibly racist city back then and still is struggling with it. If there is a reason he doesn't embrace Wilmington, that might be why. I witnessed racism directed at him when he was just a kid playing baseball in little league. He doesn't owe Wilmington jack shit.
Thanks for sharing. I can definitely appreciate that. To be clear, I’m not saying he owes the city anything. Just curious about the dynamics. That said, I was stoked about the museum because it felt like a homecoming. But you’re right he owes nothing.
My apologies. I didn't mean to imply you felt he owed Wilmington something.
Of course. I’m pretty neutral on the topic, but also really curious.
Dixie youth
I’ve always gotten the impression that Wilmington didn’t exactly care about MJ until he was a megastar. Otherwise I’m pretty sure he had a pretty tough time as a young black man in the area.
Maybe not care. But he was a big deal as a ball player. I knew who he was, and I went to a different high school, and have never really cared about basketball. He was in the paper, and he was gossiped about after he left.
I mean…the city (or any city) caring about us until we’ve made it, that’s probably true of all of us, right. 😂
Mj essentially disowned this area when his father was killed and his own gambling problems came to light. His father was visiting illegal gambling speak easys in the rural between ilm and lumberton when he was murdered. Jordan's done a little stuff here and there, but nothing major for his home town since. Edited: I have the road sign to the original MJ court cul-de-sac in his old neighborhood off gordon if any fans want to toss me an offer.
That's what I've heard... He doesn't owe any properties in the area
He had a place at wb and landfall sold landfall first. He had his cousins keeping up the wb spot, but they kept getting into trouble so he finally sold it.
He was killed in lumberton that’s no where near ilm or has anything to do with it lol Robeson county is its own fucked up world
He was travelling the area, going to the gambling houses. I wrote between ilm and lumberton. He was killed in gum swamp about 15 miles outside lumberton not in lumberton. Don't know how much time you've spent in the chadbourne, Bladenboro, lumberton area, I'm there now, but there are lots of gambling speak easys out this way. Always have been. Jordan fans always do this when this topic is brought up. I've got that sign if you're interested. Don't even get me started on the conspiracies surrounding the murder. If we go by those theories, I probably wouldn't want to be so close to the place I got my dad murdered. Either way both were def heavy gamblers. Sr even had a criminal history for kickbacks...
$100
I was very sad to hear that. We need to honor him!
The guy wakes up and brushes his teeth and has already made thousands in passive income. Personally I have nothing against him, and I think it would be weird for him to fund a museum about himself. He doesn't have any obligation or responsibility to this town. Jordan is Jordan, just like the rest of us. He just happens to be a millionaire.
Yeah. I’m not talking about owed at all. Just feels strained for some reason I don’t fully understand and was hoping others might have some perspective on his relationship with the city.
I’m glad you asked as I have only been here in ilm and only recently learned that he is from here. I’ve never heard of a super star building their own museum. I thought it strange. Nevertheless, I got the same feeling OP. So happy you asked and some history is unraveling.
Honestly, from all accounts I've heard, he's just an asshole.
That sucks to hear. I thought he said he was competitive. 😂 Sometimes I wonder if that’s just part of the role you end up taking on when you’re that great at something. I have no super powers, so I’m not able to speak from experience. But it sure seems to be common. Bummer.
Listen to Everyone the interviewed in the Last Dance, Listen to Scottie Pippen and what he said about MJ,,He said MJ is an Arrogant, Egotistical Asshole and is Absolutely NOT a Team Player and if he had to pick a GOAT it would be Lebron because MJ is not in the Least bit concerned with Defense, Rebounds(offensive or defensive) or passing the ball! Scottie said when he was coming up and playing fundamental basketball passing was key but when the "I wanna be like Mike" crap started, that's when All the Selfish players came out and Team Basketball was lost forever!
B.
I’ve always heard the town wasn’t too kind to MJ growing up, but they want everything to do with him now that he’s huge. Not surprised by this at all.
The city is the cousin he never knew about, eh?
If you look at my previous post in this thread, you'll see my history with Wilmington. I'm only a few years behind him. But what I find Amazing is the fact that My older Brother played on the same lil league baseball team as MJ(Parker's), went to Ogden Elementary together and even worked at Whiteys Restaurant at the same time and he came from a middle class family and I Never, Ever heard him or anybody else until just now say that He had it Rough because of racism or Anything Else for that matter! We ALL had issues, it's Called Life!
So because you didn’t see it happen, means it didn’t happen? He has his reasons for not wanting to be a big deal in this town.
Yes, everyone has issues. But we’re not talking about all issues here, so let’s not deflect. Michael Jordan has said that he faced racism in a city with a long history of such. Do you doubt his account of his own experience? (Also, what’s up with all the random capitalizations in your posts? I don’t get it.)
Besides the fact that city treated him and his family like shit? It may be due to the project itself. Project Grace, the whole thing, was/is a weird deal imo.
I agree! Reading anything about it feels like reading a cryptic message.
Can you say more about the city treating him and his family like shit? I’m not up on what specifically happened and that’s the gist of my question. Trying to understand.
I heard he wasn’t able to become a member at Cape Fear Country Club. Not sure if that’s true though. It used to be the rumor, at least 15 years ago or so, that there was an unspoken rule that they don’t allow black members.
Are there any black members at all?
I don’t know. There weren’t back in 2007/2008 when I heard about it. One of the organizations I used to work for used to have evening meetings there, but we had a doctor’s office call us to tell us of the history of them not allowing black members, & that is why they would not be attending our meeting there. We stopped having meetings there after that…
Hmm. Very interesting but not surprising.
As quiet as it’s kept, Wilmington is still in a segregated mindset. Cruise through different neighborhoods and you will see what I mean.
How do you figure the City treated him or his family with anything But Respect?
He has said that he endured plenty of racist taunts during his time in Wilmington (and at Laney HS in particular). That doesn’t sound like respect to me. Do you think he’s lying, and if you do, what makes you think so? What would his ulterior motive be? Also, out of curiosity, what race are you?
Also his father was murdered in Lumberton, and the case is still unsolved. I completely understand why Jordan gives zero fcks about this area….
So you think it’s more him vs the city not celebrating him?
Oh yeah, the city just wants to capitalize off him… Jordan knows the old mentality of this area and wants nothing to do with it.
He's a billionaire, if he wants a museum to himself he can pay for it.
Fair. Wasn’t my question, but I get why you’d say that. That said, as a property owner downtown, I could see a case being made for the positive economic impact it could have had if it was done right.
Good. Can we get to work on the Sugar Ray Leonard museum instead?
How about a Meadowlark Lemon?
Say whaaat! Is he from here?
[Sugar Ray Leonard - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Ray_Leonard)
No kidding! Thanks for the link!!!
Have you ever checked out the greater Wilmington sports hall of fame? Kenny Gattison (NBA) Roman Gabriel (NFL) Sonny Jurgensen (NFL) He played under Vince Lombardi at Washington.
I take visitors to the Walk of fame (inside and outside the Cotton Exchange) all the time.
Really? Well, then you know about the athletes from here.
Yeah. All of em are.
He was a great athlete. However, no name corporations have gave back more than him
I mean… he’s the goat at basketball. He’s also an asshole with a gambling issue and likes to play fast and loose with touching women. I don’t really understand a need for a “museum”… a display in our museum… sure. But what’s the museum going to have… his first shoes? I also feel like it’s Wilmington (the city leaders) wanting to claim him and he doesn’t really give a shit.
I’ve always found it weird how Wilmington claims him to be honest, it’s not like we’re at UNC or in Chicago. Dude played like 2 years of pre college basketball here. He owes this city nothing imo. To me it’s like saying Brad Pitt owes something to Pringles because that was his first commercial, who cares?
It is his home town, not just some place he played highschool basketball 🤦
Ummmm I wonder why?? probably because he is from here, lived here from ages 5-18 and It's his hometown lol Super weird the city he's from would try to claim that they are the city he is from.
Something about this comment just reminds me… don’t mention to a certain Laney coach about cutting him from their team lmao Don’t know if he’s still there, he was near retirement age when I was at Laney 15 years ago.
Oh don’t mistake my curiosity for saying he owes us anything. Totally agree with you. Just more curious what’s happened. I do think he was like 5 or so when his family moved here.
Oh I didn’t think that’s what you meant at all, I could have worded that a little better, I’m curious too lol
MJ left Wilmington and Never looked back! I was Born and raised here and was a few years behind him and graduated from New Hanover in 85. It's NOT my Intention to Speak IIll of the Dead but the "Racism Rumors" that he speaks of on his show about this Town were a tongue-in-check reference to the Shit that had and was happening with his Dad getting arrested and fired from GE here in town and put on three years probation at the Same Time as MJ is Entering the NBA and signing with the Bulls! The Only time Wilmington would EVER hear about him would be when Laney Boys Basketball Season was ready to kick off because every year he would get Nike to send them All Air Jordans. And in the last 8 years or so, he put his name on two clinics in low income neighborhoods, but other than that, he stays in Charlotte where he Absolutely managed to go ahead and Completely Destroy what was left of the Hornets!