"Racism is taught": Heartwarming video of toddlers hugging each other goes viral
A video of two toddlers running down the street to give each other a hug has gone viral, garnering headlines across the globe.
The video, posted by Michael Cisneros to social media last week, shows his two-year-old son Maxwell running towards and hugging his best friend Finnegan after unexpectedly spotting him on the New York street.
Cisneros told CBSN New York that the two boys hug every time they see each other.
The father said the video has attracted thousands of views and shares online because of the growing racial tensions in the US and around the world.
“Honestly, I think it has gotten so big because of the race issue in our country and also around the world,” Cisneros said.
“Racism is taught. Hatred is taught. These two boys don’t see anything different within each other. They love each other for who they are and that’s exactly how it should be.
“We just want to raise loving, caring boys, and I think the world likes to see a little bit of hope.”
Cisneros said Maxwell and Finnegan first became friends when their parents met at a restaurant a year ago.
He added that today the toddlers celebrate their birthdays together and are always “super excited to see each other, even if they’ve only been apart for a day or two”.