Justin Timberlake wants his son to "love and respect everyone".
The 39-year-old singer – who has five-year-old Silas with wife Jessica Biel – reflected on the values he wants to bestow on his offspring, knowing they will then be passed down on generations to come, and thanked his own parents for the lessons they taught him.
Sharing a series of pictures of himself and his son – who had his back to the camera in them all – he wrote on Instagram on Father’s Day on Sunday (21.06.20): "Boys grow up to be fathers. 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. I’m 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.(sic)"
The ‘SexyBack’ hitmaker went on to pay tribute to Jessica for her love and support, and also to Silas for the lessons he can learn from him.
He continued: "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."
Justin concluded his post with well-wishes for other fathers and called for them to continue teaching their kids valuable lessons.
He wrote: "Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there. 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."