Patson Daka believes everyone can play their part in ensuring that the younger generation grow up in an environment that is free from racial prejudice.
The Leicester City striker was speaking to youngsters at a No Room For Racism education session at King Power Stadium, delivered as part of the Premier League Inspires programme.
Daka was joined at the event by former captain Wes Morgan, women's player Ashleigh Plumptre, Academy goalkeeper Chituru Odunze and Iffy Onuora, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Premier League.
"I don't think anyone is born a racist," Daka says, "It's something that they grow up learning, something they are taught.
"Every kid when it's born, they are just an innocent kid who wants to play around. They don't care what colour of skin the other one is. I think it's a very huge responsibility for parents, how they're raising up their kids."
'Feeling helpless'
Daka's words rang true for Leicester City Women's defender Plumptre, whose sister was subjected to racial abuse in primary school.
"I'm mixed race but I think I was brought up by most people assuming I was white," Plumptre says. "My sister on the other hand, even though we have the same dad, she's a little bit darker skinned than me.
"She experienced racism from 10-years-old and she would talk to me about it, and she would ask me, 'Have you ever been caught some of these names?'
"I felt really helpless because I wanted her to feel, as her sister, I wanted to be able to completely empathise with her to the point where I'm like, I've experienced the same thing as you, and I hadn't."
Free resources
During the session at Leicester, the players saw how No Room For Racism educational resources are being used to inspire learning and encourage discussion around discrimination and diversity at thousands of primary schools.
Schools can download the free Premier League Primary Stars resources on racism, inclusion and on Black History Month at plprimarystars.com/resources/nrfr-racism-inclusion.
