Charles Barkley pledges $1 million for black women IT startups in Alabama

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/charles_barkley_pledges_1_mill.html

Charles Barkley pledges $1 million for black women IT startups in Alabama
Updated Dec 15; Posted Dec 15
By Leada Gore



Charles Barkley is putting his money where his political mouth is.

The Alabama native and former Auburn and NBA basketball star is pledging $1 million to help minority women start internet and technology businesses. Barkley said the pledge is part of a thank you to black women for their support of Doug Jones, the Democratic Senate candidate who pulled off a major upset against Republican Roy Moore on Tuesday.

"I'm proud of my people in Alabama," Barkley said. "They really stood up this week. Black women really came out and supported Doug Jones."

Barkley said he would pick the companies that would receive the startup funds, but added the funds would not be for "hair salons and restaurants."

"It means start ups," Barkley said.

Barkley was a vocal supporter throughout the campaign, urging Alabamians to "stop looking like idiots to the nation" by supporting Moore, a controversial candidate who faced allegations he had improper sexual contact with teenage girls in the 1970s.

After the Jones win, Barkley said he was proud of his home state.

"We've got some amazing people here. Yeah, we got a bunch of rednecks and a bunch of ignorant people, but we got some amazing people here and they rose up today," Barkley said.