Always vocal, Jamal Adams has found a new kind of voice fighting for justice

Jets safety Jamal Adams has always been vocal. Now he’s speaking up for civil rights.

Jamal Adams has never been shy about speaking his mind.

Those words, or similar syntax, have been used to describe the Jets safety so often that they’ve become cliche. In just three years in the NFL, the 24-year-old has positioned himself as the de facto voice in New York’s locker room, at least when it comes to public perception. Adams is a passionate speaker who’s not afraid to tell it like it is, even when that means criticizing his team’s performance or the very personnel he shares the field with. If he ruffles a few feathers, so be it. That’s not going to quiet him down.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Adams is now using his platform to speak out against social and racial injustice. The subject is at the forefront of the American psyche following the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others at the hands of police.

Adams, who is black, has pulled no punches the last few days when it comes to shining a spotlight on the struggles, fears and experiences that people of color endure in the United States. His Twitter feed has included everything from a statement that said “stop killing us” to condemnation of apologies made by Drew Brees and Jake Fromm after the quarterbacks made controversial remarks. Brees initially described the act of kneeling during the national anthem as disrespect toward the American flag — even though it’s been plainly stated by those involved that such protests are about social and racial injustice. Following a wave of backlash, the Saints gunslinger has apologized for his comments, changed his stance on the protests and directed a pointed letter at President Donald Trump, who tried to amplify Brees’ original remarks.

Meanwhile, leaked text messages revealed that Fromm suggested guns were “good” but suppressors should be “very expensive so only elite white people can get them.”

Adams has also played the role of media critic. He took aim at Fox News’ Laura Ingraham for her defense of Brees’ original comments, a hypocritical stance after the host previously told NBA star LeBron James to “shut up and dribble” rather than voice similar outrage. Adams also praised ESPN’s Maria Taylor for her scolding reaction to Brees’ words and subsequent apology.

On Friday, Adams took his activism away from the internet, joining a protest march in his hometown of Dallas. A video of the Jets star shows him raising a fist in the air while “Black Lives Matter” chants ring out around him.

Adams’ Twitter account has been littered with tweets — some his, some not — pertaining to the modern civil rights movement the country is currently witnessing, but perhaps no contribution has been more eye-catching than his participation in a video featuring several other NFL stars. The 70-second clip, which also includes Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Saints WR Michael Thomas and Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr., among others, shows Adams asking the NFL to “condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people.” As the players in the video take turns naming African Americans who have been killed as a result of police brutality, Adams states, “I am Breonna Taylor.” The video, which is clearly directed at the NFL, ends with the players saying “Black Lives Matter” in unison.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has since posted his own video in response. In it, he admitted that the league was wrong for not listening sooner, encouraged players to peacefully protest and echoed the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” The message was a sharp change in tune from a league that previously banned kneeling during the national anthem, though we’ll see what practical changes, if any, follow.

“When I was younger, I used to be scared to use my voice because I wanted to be liked by everyone,” Adams wrote in a quote tweet sharing the players’ video. “Life lessons & sports have changed my outlook on life. I will not hold back on the truth. I will fight & hold everybody accountable until it’s right. BLACK LIVES MATTER!”

The morning after the players’ video went viral, Adams suggested that his outspokenness has put him on the receiving end of some vulgar messages. There have also been repugnant replies to stories about Adams’ recent activism throughout social media, including ones directed at the account for this very website.

Such rhetoric should be unacceptable in response to a group of people simply asking for equal treatment in a country that is supposed to pride itself on such things, but rather they have become commonplace when an athlete like Adams speaks up.

No worries, though. A few ruffled feathers are not going to silence him.

“This is BIGGER than me, you, and any type of ball,” Adams wrote Friday. “I’m speaking out & doing what I’m doing for the voiceless. This is for my nieces and nephews, my future kids, and my future grand babies. I can’t let them face the stereotypes/racism that I’ve faced.”