We’re not where we want to be, but we are moving forward.

In this episode, I sit down with Chris White and Michael Wardlow.

Chris, a native of North Carolina who is now living is Dallas, Texas, is a former Division I football player for East Carolina.  He is also a fellow trainer with Positive Coaching Alliance.

Michael, who I also met through PCA, lives in the Tampa, Florida area and is now the Middle School Academy Director for the Suncoast Boys & Girls Club.

We continue our discussion on race relations in America.  We talk about the progress that has been made over the course of the past few months, but understand that we still have a long way to go in order to achieve true racial equality in this country.

Each of us feel very optimistic about the direction that we’re going and we see hope for the future in our younger generation.  As three guys with sports backgrounds, we understand the role that sports can play in the healing of our country and influence of our next generation.  Kids are young and impressionable, the more that they are put into diverse situations where they understand that the only color that matters is the color of their jerseys, the more empathetic they will be in recognizing the humanity of others.  Sports is a microcosm of life, so what we can teach our kids on the athletic field will most definitely carry over into their daily lives.

In Michael’s new role with the Boys & Girls Club, he feels as though he has found his calling.  He is helping young people to find their voices.  More importantly, how to use those voices in an eloquent manner in order to spark, and be, the change that they want to see.  As adults, we also need to listen to this next generation and learn from them.  The status quo isn’t always the best path to success.  As a coach, if there is one thing that I have learned in my 30 years of experience is that sometimes the students can teach the teacher a lesson, and that is perfectly fine.

It’s time for us to stop talking so much and start listening, and learning.  These kids are onto something good.

Both the audio only and video versions of the podcast are available via the links below: