How 15 celebrities are teaching their children about systemic racism and police brutality

Shaquille O'Neal hugs his son Shareef O'Neal.Cassy Athena / Getty Images

• Celebrities have spoken up about the importance of discussing racial inequality with their children.
• Some famous black figures, like Regina King and Shaquille O'Neal, pointed out that they've previously warned their kids about racial inequality to "protect them."
• Other celebrities, such as Kristen Bell and Reese Witherspoon, have committed to educating their children and raising them as "anti-racists."

For young children, the global protests following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor can be confusing and difficult to process.

Many parents have worked to both protect and educate their kids about racial inequality during this time, and numerous celebrities have spoken out about their experience doing so.

Whether it's Katherine Heigl struggling to "explain the unexplainable" to her 8-year-old daughter, who she adopted in 2012, or Victor Cruz telling his 8-year-old daughter that people may "dislike you solely because of your race and background," the conversations aren't easy.

Here are the celebrities who have opened up about the discussions they've had with their children about systemic racism and police brutality.