Former Eagle Jason Avant Speaks Out About His Experiences With Racism

Pat Gallen reports.

WHEN THE SEASON WOULD ACTUALLYRESUME.A FEW FLYERS PLAYERS RECENTLYSTARTED WORKING OUT AGAIN ATTEAMS' FACILITY IN VOORHEES.MANY CURRENT AND FORMER ATHLETESSPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE RACISMTHEY HAVE FACE AND HOW THECOUNTRY CAN CHANGE FOR THEBETTER.PAT GALLEN SPOKE WITH FORMEREAGLE JASON E VANT ABOUT HISMESSAGE OF UNITY.ONE HANDED PASS IS MADE BYJASON.HE PLAYED TENNESSEE SONS INTHE NFL EIGHT WITH PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.HE NOW OWNS SUCCESSFULTRAMPOLINE PARK IN SOUTH JERSEY.EVEN AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND PROATHLETE, HE'S HAD TO DEAL WITHUNFAIR SHARE OF RACISM.EVEN OWNING A BUSINESS, I'VEBEEN CALLED THE N-WORD I CAN'TCOUNT.THE JUST HOW OUR COUNTRY IS ANDI CAN'T LET IT DISCOURAGE ME.I HAVE TO GO ON ABOUT MY DAY ANDMAKE THE PROPER DECISIONS FOR MYFAMILY SO I CAN GET HOME TOTHEM.LIKE SO MANY OTHER ATHLETESPAST AND PRESENT WANTS TO HAVE ACONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO MAKEREAL CHANGES.WE HAVE TO COLLECTIVELY WORKTOGETHER IN ORDER TO SOLVE THESEPROBLEMS.SO TO SEE LIKE MAINLY I CHOSE AVIDEO BY FAR THE MOST BRILLIANTTHING I'VE SEEN ALL THIS YEAR.IT WAS -- HE WAS ELOQUENT, ITWAS THE RIGHT SETTING, THE RIGHTMUSIC, EVERYTHING WAS DONE, YOUKNOW, PERFECTLY.IT SEEM OVERS THE LAST COUPLEOF WEEKS, AT LEAST THE NARRATIVEMIGHT BE SHIFTING IN THE RIGHTDIRECTION.BUT HOW MUCH FURTHER ARE WEGONNA HAVE TO COME AS A COUNTRYTO GET WHERE WE NEED TO GO.A LONG WAY PAST.HERE'S ONE OF THE BIGGESTPROBLEMS TO ME AND I BELIEVETHAT IT CAN CHANGE A BUNCH.WE LACK EMPATHY AS A CULTURE FORONE ANOTHER'S PROBLEMS.EARLIER THIS WEEK, IN THEMIDST OF A PEACEFUL PROTEST INFRANKLINVILLE NEW JERSEY, A MANWAS SEEN MOCKING THE DEATH OFGEORGE FLOYD BY KNEELING ON THENECK OF A WHITE MAN.HE REPOSTED THAT VIDEO TOINSTAGRAM TO SHOW THERE'S PLENTYOF WORK TO BE DONE.A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING FOR HISJOB AND ALL THOSE THINGS.THAT WASN'T MY INTENT.MY INTENT WAS TO EXPOSE IT SOPEOPLE THAT ARE UNAWARE THATTHESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE GOINGON ON A DAILY BASIS RIGHT HEREYOU.WHERE DO YOU THINK IT GOESFROM HERE?

HOW DO WE GETI THINK THAT HAVING ACONVERSATION WITH OUR KIDS,RIGHT, AND TO BE ADVOCATES?LIKE LET'S THINK ABOUT IT.LET'S NOT ALLOW RACIST PEOPLE TOFEEL COMFORTABLE AT ALL.I THINK THOSE -- THAT'S THREETHINGS THAT WE CAN DO.WE CAN EDUCATE OURSELVES.WE CAN EXPOSE IT.AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'REHAVING A CONVERSATION WITH OUR