Chase Claypool’s dad sent him a heartbreaking text about the police

Chase Claypool’s dad sent his son a heartbreaking but important text.

Real social movements are taking place before our eyes and professional athletes are leading the charge. The Milwaukee Bucks got things started and NFL teams are joining in on forgoing practices in order to have meetings and speak out on social injustice and police brutality.

There are plenty of people who want to ignore the reality we live in and get mad at athletes for speaking out. Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receiver Chase Claypool shared a text from his dad that shows why athletes are choosing to use their platforms.

Chase Claypool shares the tough truth

There has been some great dialogue from analysts on TNT and NBA TV this week. African-American men, even those with millions of dollars, have shared their scary experiences with police. What Claypool’s dad texted his son is the sad but still very real reality in America.

Those who have not had such run-ins with police can pretend athletes are making this up. But how one watches the news or lives and believes believing there are no race-related problems in our society is simply baffling.

Black people in this country have a much different experience and most white parents do not have to warn their kids about a simple traffic stop turning into something much worse. Once again, this is sad but still true.

Athletes are taking the burden of pushing for change and people are just choosing to be ignorant if they fail to hear what is being said. The text Claypool got is one plenty of others have received and it shouldn’t have to be that way.

More athletes like Claypool who share such texts and personal experiences can hopefully get through to those who are still on the wrong side of history by being against players using their platforms for good.