GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 23: Kicker Stephen Hauschka #4 of the Seattle Seahawks watches from the bench during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals and Seahawks tied 6-6. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

On the heels of four NFL players asking commissioner Roger Goodell for the league to endorse a social activism month, Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka has said he wants to help promote racial equality. In a wide-ranging interview with Buffalo News, Hauschka said he thinks white people are afraid to get involved in discussions about inequality, and he wants to see them open their minds and eyes to what’s going on around the country and the world:

“I think a lot of white people don’t understand it and are afraid to be involved,” he said. “And I think it’s important for white people to see there is inequality everywhere in the country right now, and in the world.”

[…]

The kicker speaks from a place of experience —  and 10 seasons spent in NFL locker rooms in Baltimore, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, and now Buffalo. Those experiences, he said, helped shaped his perspective. “So that’s where it comes from: a place of love and caring and wanting to see the world a better place,” he said. “I don’t have all the answers, I don’t even pretend to. But I am open to talking about it and I am open to learning about it with the hopes that one day, either our generation or future generations, can improve racial inequality and how people are treated around the world.”

Not many white players in the NFL have voiced their opinions on racial issues, but the list is slowly growing. Eagles defensive end Chris Long became the first white player to show solidarity with those protesting, placing his arm around teammate Michael Jenkins, who had his fist raised, during the national anthem. One night later, Seahawks center Justin Britt displayed a similar gesture, putting his hand on the shoulder of teammate Michael Bennett, who has directly asked for support for white players in this movement. Browns tight end Seth DeValve became the first white NFL player to actually kneel during the anthem shortly after.

Hauschka admitted that social awareness can create distractions for athletes, but he supports the memo sent to the league this week asking for a social activism month:

As of Thursday afternoon, Hauschka hadn’t yet read the contents of the memo sent to the NFL, but he believes it’s a “positive step in trying to unify the league in a cause of supporting racial equality.

“I think it’s great to see something that started as a protest evolve into something that’s a cause that everyone can buy into. That’s what I would love to see happen: for people on all different sides of this issue to really see it, understand it, be able to talk about it, so that we can move forward.”

[Buffalo News]

About Jesse Kramer

Jesse is a writer and editor for The Comeback. He has also worked for SI.com and runs The Catch and Shoot, a college basketball website based in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow Jesse on Twitter @Jesse_Kramer.

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