【Complete Series Archives】

As I listen to the range of insults hurled at our NFL players,Complete Series Archives I'm disgusted. It's one of many times I'm glad my son is too young to fully understand the effects of racism in America.

But as American football gets extra attention thanks to a league-wide protest over the past year — the most recent movement to increase visibility around police brutality and the oppression of people of color — it's sparked public discussions on when and what forms of protest are acceptable, particularly for Black Americans.

While we hash that out, there's something important to consider: the children are watching.

SEE ALSO: 4 ways white parents can support black parents in times of injustice

Our kids are exposed to more information now than ever before, and that information often comes without a filter. It's necessary to address racial disparities in our nation's past and present. We need to prioritize educating our children toward a holistic understanding of our country so we can work to resolve our issues.

"Our kids are exposed to more information now than ever before, and that information often comes without a filter."

What started as one football player’s acknowledgment of the unjust profiling and systemic injustice faced by Black Americans has now grown into a global athletic movement. After Colin Kaepernick decided to show his frustration with the profiling of Black men in 2016 by sitting (and later kneeling) during the national anthem, athletes of a variety of backgrounds joined the cause and started to kneel globally. It was nonviolent and non-confrontational, but many called it an act of "blatant disrespect" that ultimately cost Kaepernick his job. In the months following, hateful comments about race and character have come from every level, including President Donald Trump's infamous "son of a bitch" comment earlier this week.

The media attention and resulting discussions are sure to prompt our kids to ask questions. The following tips will give you actionable ways to use the NFL protests and backlash to start a conversation with your children about our nation's history. I hope they will provide parents with a baseline for discussing some hard topics.

Here are four ways parents can use the NFL protests, and the current turmoil surrounding them, as a teachable moment.

1. Revisit (or introduce) the history of athletes as activists.

U.S. athletes Tommie Smith, center, and John Carlos during the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City. Australian silver medalist Peter Norman is at left. Credit: Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock

One of the most iconic images in modern civil rights history was that of U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving a Black Power protest salute during the national anthem at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. In protest of lynchings and poverty, Smith and Carlos (the gold and bronze medalists, respectively, in the 200-meter sprint) stood with heads down and fists up as the national anthem began.

Since then, Black athletes like Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams, and The Black 14 have made it clear where they stand on social issues. For many Black Americans, athletics have been one of the few opportunities for us to gain access to financial growth and social platforms. This, too, has been met with resistance, but we continue to persist.

"When your humanity is up for political debate, silence is not an option."

Those who believe athletes shouldn't use their platforms for social issues give an array of surface-level reasons. To some, a football game just isn't the time for social justice. To others, American athletes, as millionaires, are in no position to speak out on community issues, and they should be “grateful” for the freedoms they have.

But to say athletes should refrain from weighing in on politics is ignorant of the history of the Black American experience. When your humanity is up for political debate, silence is not an option. This is nothing new, merely a new generation of determination.

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A creative and engaging activity to teach your kids about the contributions various athletes have made to civil rights is making trading cards. Instead of athletes' usual stats, include information on when they were born, the era the lived in, and the commitments they made to social justice.

2. Emphasize the importance of solidarity for civil rights.

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We live in a nation built on profiting from the suffering of others. Until we reach an equitable system, there will always be victims of systemic injustice. It's crucial to stand in solidarity with those who are dealing with marginalization within our society. By bringing attention to those who are struggling, we can use our privilege to highlight what others are facing, and reassure them of their value.

Black Americans are creative and resilient people. But that doesn't mean we should have to fix our inherited problems alone. Let your children know it's important to support equality efforts and to inform their friends and those around them.

You can do this by attending community meetings, being visible at marches, and writing to your legislators. Bringing your children with you will give them the message that there is nothing shameful about compassion. Organizations like SafetyPinBox and The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond provide additional specific ways to support Black Americans.

3. Teach the power of dissent and standing up (or kneeling) for what you believe.

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The term “protest” evokes different emotions in different people. For some, this isn't the time for conversations on profiling and police reform. But discussing race will always make us uncomfortable, and there will never be a conventionally "appropriate" time to talk about racism.

Similarly, there is never an ideal time to educate our children on the history of America's dark history of racial oppression and exploitation. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but most of the progressive changes that happened in our society have started with protests.

"Dissent is as American as the flag itself."

Dissent is as American as the flag itself. Since our nation's birth, various groups — people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, disability activists, and many more — have stood up for equal rights.

Had it not been for dissent, Black Americans would still be enslaved today. When William Lloyd Garrison began his work as an abolitionist, he and many others were seen as sick for identifying so strongly with the plight of slaves. At the time, that concept of equality was viewed as radical.

Teach your kids not to allow insults like "snowflake” or “social justice warrior” to stop them for standing up for what is right. Set aside time to go to your local library and have your child pick out a few books on our nation's conflicts. Read the books together so you can answer their questions as best as you can. Chances are, you might learn something, too.

4. Remind your children what our military fights for.

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The #TakeAKnee movement has been falsely portrayed as disrespectful to our flag and our armed forces. But this framing overlooks the millions of Black military members who have experienced what the movement is fighting to overcome. Veterans of all races and ethnicities have come forward to say that the right to protest is exactlywhat they fought for.

"What good is respect for the flag if we don't also adhere to the principles it's supposed to stand for?"

American citizens are multifaceted — it’s possible to both fight for the country and for equal rights for its constituents. Don't fall into the rhetorical trap that says you need to choose between love for your nation and concern for civil rights. What good is respect for the flag if we don't also adhere to the principles it's supposed to stand for?

Give your children an understanding of the sacrifices soldiers of color have made in the U.S. The Tuskegee airmen, Buffalo Soldiers, and Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr. are great starting places.

Through learning about people of color in the military, it will become clear that civil rights and patriotism are often interconnected.

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As parents, we're in a unique position: We get to serve as the gatekeepers of information that can help us raise more inclusive children. Black Americans can't make the changes our nation needs without the help over well meaning well educated white people.

The response to the NFL movement makes it very clear that there's a lot of work to be done. But the work starts at home.

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Topics Activism Social Good Racial Justice