Civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised in Atlanta (seeing the home where he was born and visiting the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a must when visiting the city).
In their new city edition uniforms, the Atlanta Hawks pay tribute to King and his legacy in the city.
We are more than basketball; we are Dr. King’s LEGACY IN ACTION. #EarnTheseLetters pic.twitter.com/KS3qLOCLdd
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 4, 2020
Profits from the sale of this jersey will be donated back into Atlanta communities of color, focusing on economic empowerment.
“It is an incredible privilege to be able to represent the legacy of Dr. King, one of Atlanta’s native sons and one of the nation’s most transformative leaders. His message of equality, non-violence, and justice is as relevant today as it was in the 60s and we are proud to not only help educate legions of young fans about Dr. King’s work, but empower them to pick up his mantle and embody the change they wish to see in their communities,” said Hawks Chief Marketing Officer, Melissa Proctor. “We are honored that the King Estate would entrust us with these powerful initials.”
The uniform is a departure from other Hawks’ looks. The uniform is black, with the initials “MLK” in white outlined in gold. White and gold complete the piping and trim around the uniform, which adds other nods to the famed civil rights leader, including his signature.
The jerseys will be worn in select Hawks home games this season.