There is no doubt racism exists in our country right now. Racial tension seems to have escalated in the last ten years. I believe things will only get worse unless parents intervene at the home level.

I recently had the honor of speaking with my good friend, author, and NFL player Benjamin Watson, about how to talk to your child about issues of race and diversity. Benjamin is the author of Under Our Skin: Getting Real About Race. Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us. He has played in the NFL for the last 15 years and is currently a tight end for the New England Patriots. He is also a husband and the father of seven children.

Watson offers two great pieces of advice on how to talk to your kids about racism and diversity.

1. Be a gateway, not a wall.

Benjamin shared with me that one of the best things his parents did for him and his siblings growing up was talk openly about issues of race.

“When you’re black, you’re always aware of race, from a very young age,” he says. “It was important for us to get a background and understanding of where…