Let's Talk About Race - Day 14

#LetsTalkAboutRace

Why should racism end Shota?

Coach CJ, here is why I think racism should end:

I do not want my kids to think that they are unlucky because they look a certain way. I want them to be proud of who they are, and live in a society where others will not judge them based on their looks.

Shota Yasuda, 11th grader, Diamond Directors client

Let's Talk About Race - Day 13

#LetsTalkAboutRace

I find it interesting that most people want to talk about HOW to stop racism rather than WHY we need to stop racism. Although it will take a significant effort to change, learning more about racism and how it affects people, ending the denials about the existence of racism and raising children with nonracist beliefs by discussing ethnic differences and celebrating diversity rather than of trying to teach color-blindness are just some of my ideas of HOW. The WHY is a little simpler, we live in a multicultural society and racism generalizes and divides people unnecessarily. We need to embrace and better appreciate our societal diversity and start talking about ethnicities rather than race.

Scott Prigge, L.E.A.D. Board Chairman

Let's Talk About Race - Day 12

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Why should racism end Terrance?

Racism isn't natural. It's not true. Truth is defined by one source as “sincerity in action, character, and utterance”. If we are indeed of God, the bible states in Job 34:12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. Racism is a huge virus that plagues humankind and started from people who used it to their advantage (for resources, labor, etc.).

There was a study performed which had previously been done on adults--on children. And they found something interesting: the racial sensitivity of the amygdala doesn't kick in until around age 14. What's more interesting is once it kicks in, it doesn't kick in equally for everybody. The more racially diverse your peer group, the less strong the amygdala effect. At really high levels of diversity, the effect disappeared entirely. The authors of the study write that ''these findings suggest that neural biases to race are not innate and that race is a social construction, learned over time.'' In an effort to get back to what is true...primal even...we must extract what is untrue from the everyday. Therefore racism should end based upon the premise that it is unnatural...a social (man-made...corruptible) construct.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

But test everything; hold fast what is good.

Let's Talk About Race - Day 11

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Why should racism end Charles?

A SUCCESSFUL team is comprised of many unique individuals all pursuing common goals. The vision is clear and defined. The name on the front of the jersey is important, but a team’s core values come from the commitment represented by the names on the back of each jersey. Individual differences and biases are put aside and replaced by a greater challenge that unites all. Individually, a person is not judged by ‘what’ he or she is, but rather by ‘who’ he or she is. Character is what counts most. Teams with the best chemistry typically have the greatest success.


Charles Cobb, Director of Athletics, Georgia State University

Let's Talk About Race - Day 10

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Why should racism end Gary?

Racism should end because it is a baseless artificial system of segregation maliciously created by mankind. Educated individuals understand and recognize that all human beings are the same species descended from the same ancestors and that their physical features only came about as a result of years of exposure to localized climates. To judge a person based on the color of their skin is just as illogical and absurd as judging your biological brother in a completely different manner just because he has returned back from a trip to the beach with a sun tan. Despite the difference in his physical appearance, he is still your brother!

Gary Jones, educator

Let's Talk About Race - Day 9

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Why should racism end Mike?

Here are a few reasons why racism should end.

During one of his public debates with religious leaders, Jesus was asked to explain what he considered to be the most important commandment. Jesus named two commandments as being above all of the rest; "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" and, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus was then asked to explain the meaning of "neighbor." Jesus did so by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. A summary of the meaning of the parable is that a person's heart, not race, is what makes someone our true "neighbor." The importance Jesus places on a person's heart, rather than race, in explaining the meaning of the greatest of all commands, is a great reason why racism should end.

Racism is based upon a prideful presumption that one race is in some way superior to another. We learn in the Bible that God hates pride. (See for example Proverbs 8:13.) Racism should end because pride is at the very core of racism.

The greatest enemy to humankind is Satan. Satan is the chief racist in the universe, because he hates the entire human race. When we exhibit racist attitudes, we are actually imitating our greatest enemy. Now, who among us actually thinks that's a good idea? Racism should end!

Mike Moye
Moye Sports

Mike Moye with L.E.A.D. Ambassadors at Turner Field

Let's Talk About Race - Day 8

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Why should racism end Derrick?

Without racism, the person best qualified would have a better chance to succeed which means we all benefit. People would try harder knowing the playing field was more level even though sometimes we confuse racism with favoritism.

Derrick Stafford, NBA referee