Charles Barkley pledges $1 million for Black female start-ups

Former NBA star and sports personality Charles Barkley has said some pretty wild things over the years, and even dabbled with the idea of dunning for office. But this time he’s putting his money where his mouth is in support of Black women who want to own their own businesses. Barkley said on the air that he is pledging $1 million toward Black female business start-ups. But there is a catch: no hair salons or food-oriented start-ups. Maybe it was a joke? Barkley’s co-host, former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal thought he was joking and laughed. But another co-host, Kenny Smith, took Barkley to task. “Why couldn’t you just leave it?” Smith asked. “Why did you have to do an under-handed, backhand joke? It was so good and serious.” But Barkley insisted the “joke” was all in good fun. “I like to have fun,” he said. But just to be clear… he did pledge the million bucks, and there are no businesses banned.