Justin Timberlake Says It’s Important to Teach Kids ‘All People Are Created Equal’

KJustin Timberlake had an important message for everyone who cared to listen: he took a moment to speak about the lessons he and wife Jessica Biel are teaching their son, Silas.

“Boys grow up to be fathers,” he wrote on Instagram, in a post in which he shared a series of photos with his son on Sunday. “I think about that a lot these days. We try to teach our son to love and to respect everyone — we teach him that all people are all created equal, and that no one should be treated differently because of the color of their skin. We teach him this because one day, he will go on to teach his kids the same. It’s a cycle. And right now, as we all work to undo generations of discrimination that have plagued our system and our communities across this country… I’m reminded today that the first lessons start at home.”

Timberlake continued: “Im grateful for both of my dads and my mother for teaching me those lessons from the beginning. And for listening to me when I had something to say that they hadn’t learned. I pray for that humility with my own son. I’m grateful for my wife, who made me a father, and is my favorite person/partner/teacher/friend in all of it. I’m grateful for my son, who is always ALWAYS teaching me right back.”

“Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there,” he said. “While we owe our sons and daughters these lessons in the places where the doors close at night, I hope you are as inspired as I am to make them THE TRUTH in the places that same door opens every morning and we send them out to discover. There’s more to do. And we are built for it. After all, we are the Dads. Sending my love to you and yours.”

Biel paid tribute to Timberlake on her own Instagram page, where she wrote: “To the dad who not only protects and provides but most importantly, PLAYS, and puts up with all our shenanigans. And teaches and guides and comforts and accepts and respects. Being a dad can sometimes be a thankless job, but today we hope you know how important you are in our lives. We love you forever and ever and a day.”

See his full post, with photos, on Instagram, and check out Biel’s message as well.