Basketball superstar LeBron James opened school for at-risk students in his hometown, Akron, Ohio. He invested in the newly opened I Promise School.

LeBron James focused on helping Akron Public Schools, which is the fifth-largest district in Ohio with about 22,000 students and where he attended school. Born to a teen mother who raised him alone when he was young, James famously missed a lot of school and has spoken about wanting to use his wealth to help underprivileged children have a better educational experience. Though James is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers and moving to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers, his roots have always been in Akron. Money for public education comes primarily from local funds, supplemented by state and federal sources. Though the percentages vary state to state, the largest chunk of public education money comes from property taxes, which perpetuates unequal resources for schools depending upon the wealth of an area. Federal funding is available to help close the gap but doesn’t come close.

There is no doubt that this public school is and will be different as it was built by LeBron James. In fact, LeBron choose to build a public school instead of a charter school because he wants to revamp the image of public schools and especially in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

LeBron James Interview with CNN Don Lemon

In an interview with CNN Don Lemon, James explained that he wanted to give the children in his hometown a different experience at school. He made the school day longer from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm because he want them to know the school cares and “we want them there”. The school will offer athletics, arts, mathematics, reading, gym science, social studies and music. He said, he wants every kid that walk through that door to be inspired and come away with something they can give back. All 240 kids from Akron, Ohio.

James explained that the Trayvon Martin situation hit home for him. He said he have boys of his own and if his boy left home and never returned, that kind of hit a switch for him. He went on to say, that since then, he knew he wanted and had to use this voice and platform for more than just sports.

He argued that no matter how successful you could become, no matter who you are, when you are an African American kid, man or female you will go through obstacles. “There are one or two things you can do”, you cannot allow it to affect you and for you to degrade?  Or you can allow it to empower you even more and rise above it.

He said, he have the conversation with his boys that no matter how much money you have once you are a black person you will always be the N-word. Being African American in America is always tough.

Don Lemon asked James if there was no other person to run against Trump for president, if he would run-he was pushed to answer the question from Lemon. He responded with a smile and said, “in that cause I may”.

He also defended his words of calling President Trump a bum.

He agrees Trump is using black athletes as scapegoats and believe America is a country of great opportunity and this should not be happening.  LeBron explained he called President Trump a bum in respond to what he said about other black athletes. He went on to say, that it makes him sick that being the President of the United States is the most powerful position of the world-children and youth look up to him and he have no recollection to that or he does not care.

He said he does not want to sit across from Trump.

Following the Interview President Trump went to Twitter to respond with an insult

LeBron James responded to Trump’s with a tweet of his own and it is all about the kids

LeBron James full speech at opening of I Promise School in Akron, Ohio