For the second straight year, the Bulls will be hosting a tribute to Black history at Malcolm X College. Members of the Bulls organization, several players, and Director of Community Relations Bob Love along with team mascot Benny The Bull, will be at Mal
“Aside from winning games and entertaining our fans, we have a responsibility and desire to actively contribute to the growth and development of our society,” says Christine Cronin, the Bulls coordinator of corporate communications. “We feel that taking part in this event is a great way to reach out to the community and salute Black history,”Cronin continued.
During the program, the Bulls will be recognizing the achievements of 50 Black students from different high schools in the city. The students took part in a contest on the Bulls Web site and were judged on their academic accomplishments, community service and an essay they were asked to write.
In addition, the program will be featuring a screening of the movie Black Magic, which defines the civil rights movement in America as told through the lives of players who attended historically Black colleges and universities. Among those featured in the movie are Love (Southern University) and center Ben Wallace (Virginia Union University).
Following the program, the 50 students will be treated to the Bulls game against the Miami Heat Thursday night at the United Center.
In other Black History events around the NBA…
The Minnesota Timberwolves Fast Break Foundation will focus its efforts on celebrating Black leaders in the community and throughout history. Other Black History Month events involving the Timberwolves include a traveling Black history celebration that will visit four Minneapolis schools; a $10,000 grant presentation to the African American Read-In at the University of Minnesota; a Reading Timeout with local elementary students; and an in-arena recognition of three Tuskegee Airmen currently living in Minnesota.
Last week, the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated Black History Month with a special pre-game program that featured former Cavalier coach and player Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens; former head coach and General Manager Wayne Embry; former Major League baseball star and former National League President Bill White, a native of Ohio; and Cleveland native Madelin Manning-Mims, the first American female to win a gold medal in the 800 meter sprint at the 1973 Olympics.
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