SE Valley Times

Former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson delivered a speech at Arizona State University (ASU) to honor Martin Luther King Jr. The event took place on Monday night at ASU's Student Pavilion, where Johnson addressed an audience of approximately 700 people. He encouraged attendees to stand and embrace each other, emphasizing unity and the vision of Dr. King.

“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."

The commemoration marked the 60th anniversary of King's June 3, 1964, speech at Goodwin Stadium, titled “Religious Witness for Human Dignity.” This speech was given shortly before the U.S. Senate passed the Civil Rights Act.

Earlier in the day, ASU held a groundbreaking ceremony for an exhibit honoring King's speech at Durham Hall. Mark Brantley from ASU described it as showcasing how ASU brought together various communities during a challenging time.

“The exhibit shows how ASU had a pivotal moment in its history where it brought the religious community, the political community and the civil rights community together in a climate that wasn’t welcoming,” Brantley said.

Johnson captivated his audience by sharing stories from his life that aligned with King's teachings. He spoke about his transition from basketball to business and credited King’s message as his guide.

“I’m one of the young black men who benefited from everything that he was teaching,” Johnson said.

He highlighted his efforts through Magic Johnson Enterprises to invest in underserved communities by opening Starbucks franchises across urban markets.

Johnson also shared an anecdote from his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers about seeking mentorship from team owner Jerry Buss despite opposition from teammates.

“I looked at all the 11 other guys that were sitting around me, and I said... ‘I’m hanging with the billionaire.’ True story," he recounted.

In addition to owning several sports franchises, Johnson has supported minority youth through education initiatives via his foundation and created jobs through partnerships like Starbucks.

“Now I own these businesses, and I’m the only Black man sitting at the table,” he stated while reflecting on King's impact on opportunities available today.

Towards closing remarks, Johnson urged attendees to conduct SWOT analyses on themselves and their businesses for continuous improvement: “The reason I’m successful is that I do two SWOTS."

Following his address, Kenja Hassan invited three students up front whom Johnson surprised with $25,000 scholarships each for their education expenses—eliciting emotional reactions among recipients like Nia Heckler who expressed gratitude amidst tears: “I’m just so grateful.”

Johnson concluded by acknowledging Dr. King’s legacy: “Dr. King was a leader in knowing that he would never benefit from what he was saying... Now it’s my job to make sure that I bless others who come behind me.”