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Seahawks' Sherman implores kids to stay strong in climate of discrimination

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman conducted a dialogue on race and socioeconomic status in America, stating that it's unfair for kids to deal with discrimination in the current political climate.

Last week, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett criticized the NFL's best players for not taking a vocal stand on police brutality and other issues that directly affect the African-American community.

Sherman said that the Seahawks spend plenty of time discussing race and social issues, and presented his opinion Tuesday.

"It is unfortunate the time we are living in," Sherman said to ESPN's Sheil Kapadia. "It is unfortunate that kids have to deal with discrimination and things like that, that kids have to deal with underfunded schools just because their skin is a certain pigment. I think that's unfortunate."

Sherman continued with his message focusing on how black kids are the unfair victims of a treacherous climate.

My message to the kids, and that's always who I speak to because they are the future, they are the next generation, they are the innocent souls who had nothing to do with this. I think it's going to be powerful once we come together and understand that these kids didn't do anything wrong. These kids didn't pick the color they were born. They have extra pigment in their skin. It is not to say they don't need great schooling. It's not to say they need to be ostracized when they go to a great school. We are talking, having those talks, and Mike B (Michael Bennett) and Cliff (Avril) were talking about their kids going to school, and you know, they go to pretty affluent schools, and they are one of the few minorities in the school, and they have to deal with those issues.

Sherman also offered a fundamental message of treating all people with fairness.

You treat everybody the same. You treat everybody equally regardless of what your job, your duty as a human being, you treat everybody equally. I think that is what I want to emphasize. That's what I want people to understand that come on, just get past the color of people's skins. Nobody picks the color of their skin. We're black people, we're born brown, you know etc, etc. We should not be dealt with a different way just because of that, and that's what I want to emphasize to the kids because kids, you're powerful. You're strong. You're intelligent. You're amazing people, and don't let people tell you otherwise because that's the truth of the matter.

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