Charles Barkley, who has always expressed his love for his alma mater, decided to make the change to his will following the Supreme Court‘s ruling on affirmative action, which prohibits the use of race as a criterion for college admissions.
In a recent move to promote diversity at Auburn University, renowned former basketball player Charles Barkley has pledged to donate $5 million exclusively for scholarships benefiting Black students
Charles Barkley stated, “I love Auburn. I was talking to my friends and said, ‘I need to make sure Black folks always have a place at Auburn. Therefore, I plan to modify my will and establish a provision that allocates the entire $5 million specifically for the benefit of Black students. This decision is driven by my belief that it is morally correct. It is important to me that Auburn University maintains a diverse student body.”
Charles Barkley also revealed that his original intention was to dedicate his will solely to Black students, but Charles Barkley opted against it at the time. However, given the recent ruling, Charles Barkley felt compelled to follow through on his initial plan. The Supreme Court ruling mandates that colleges can no longer give preferential treatment to applicants based on race.
Charles Barkley had a remarkable basketball career, averaging 14.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game over three seasons
Charles Barkley led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in rebounding each season and was honored as the Player of the Year in 1984. Charles Barkley’s contribution extends beyond his playing days, as his No. 34 jersey was retired by Auburn in 2001.
This generous act by Charles Barkley reaffirms his commitment to fostering diversity and providing opportunities for Black students at Auburn University.
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