The events surrounding the death of George Floyd have sparked a national conversation about race in America. The video of his killing and the news coverage of the ensuing protests and riots have continued the conversation about racial injustice and what it means to be black in America.

The lacrosse community has seen an outpouring of coaches, players and fans speaking up, mostly in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Some who haven’t been outspoken in the past have used their platforms to advocate for black lacrosse players and take a stand against racism.

We spoke with a few players who chose to make their voices heard. Here’s why they chose to speak up.

First, some context on those who chose to use their platforms.

Asher Nolting

Nolting is a star attackman for the High Point men’s lacrosse team who was an All-American during the 2019 season. A native of Greenwood Village, Colo., Nolting grew up in a household with a white mother, Jody, and a black father, Allen.

Kris Alleyne

Alleyne, the former Rutgers goalie, is now a professional lacrosse player with the MLL’s Connecticut Hammerheads. He’s also an assistant coach for Canisius men’s lacrosse, where he works with goalies and helps with recruiting. Alleyne’s mother was born in Guyana before her father (his grandfather) brought the family to New York.

Brent Adams

Adams is currently a star midfielder on the PLL’s Redwoods LC and has spent time in the NLL with the Colorado Mammoth. Adams is a Fairfield graduate who was an All-American in 2012. He grew up in Norwalk, Conn. with a white mother, Ann, and a black father, Parks. His brothers Owen (Stony Brook) and Glenn (Wesleyan) both play college lacrosse.

HOW ARE YOU?

ASHER NOLTING: “It’s overwhelming and a little bit exhausting, honestly. It’s sad to see how some of these things are being handled. This was the last straw for a lot of people with the death of George Floyd. It sparked this whole movement. Normally, I’m not one to put my thoughts out like this. This time was one of those times where I needed to speak up and talk about this stuff. We still have a long way to go, so I just keep looking forward to keeping the focus on this issue.”

KRIS ALLEYNE: “It’s as scary as it can be, but it’s also beautiful seeing how many people are getting together to have these tough conversations. I’ve gotten calls and texts and DMs from people I haven’t spoken with in a couple years, so in a weird way there is something beautiful in this because these are the conversations that are going to get us out of this mess as a society overall.”

BRENT ADAMS: "I'm wrapping my mind around things just like everyone else. The best part about this is that it has started discussions. People are having to think about this rather than just ignoring and going through the motions. I'm deeply saddened by the events that occurred but also very optimistic that this will be a catalyst for change. Ultimately, I hope, this will lead to the empowerment of black people all over the world."

WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THE GEORGE FLOYD VIDEO?

AN: “I saw it on social media, and it was an extremely tough video to watch, but it’s not the first time we’ve seen something like this, officers arresting someone and they choke out the arrestee. It was tough for me to swallow. A big word was fear. I am fearful. The way things are moving and escalating so quickly, it is scary. There has been an immense amount of change in our country, and we need to continue to change. Things like this show that we can’t stand idly by and watch it happen anymore. That’s what more people, not just African Americans, are starting to see.”

KA: “With Ahmaud Arbery, that one hurt because I don’t think the media got that one for a while. As a black man who grew up in New City, N.Y., I was one of two black families in my neighborhood. The fact that going for a run could make someone feel like you’re a threat is a terrifying thing. The fact that him and George Floyd were murdered on camera made it even more horrifying. That could have been me or my brother or my niece and nephew.”

BA: "It’s just sad, really. Regardless of race or color or anything. A human life was lost. It actually took a while to set in for me. I was just driving to hike yesterday, and I wasn’t watching the video or anything, and I just thought of the family and I broke down. The family having had to watch that, and just the image of the family having to go through what they're going through, that’s awful.”

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT RACE AS A CHILD?

AN: “When I got to middle school and my friends would come over, they would see my parents after games and say, ‘Oh, your mom is white.’ They had seen my dad before, so they assumed my mom was African American. I always thought it was normal. I didn’t see my mom as white, I saw her as my mother. As you get older, you get more aware of what’s going on around you. That’s when I realized I might not be normal to my friends.”

BRENT ADAMS: "My dad is black and my mom is white, so a lot was said without being said with them. It was more a lack of talking about race than them saying, ‘Hey, you need to accept everybody.’ There was an understanding that you see and treat people for who they really are. Not based on the color of their skin. If there was something in media I didn’t understand, my parents had a sense of grounding and tolerance and were able to effectively communicate in a way that gave me such a positive outlook on the world."

HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH RACISM IN LACROSSE?

AN: “I was aware of it but didn’t know what it meant until I was older. I have experienced racist things on the field, but it’s a matter of kids being young and saying dumb things. If it’s in the heat of the game, I usually try to let it roll off my shoulder, but it’s always in the back of my mind. After the game, I just think about it to myself and move forward from it. With what’s going on now, maybe I would have handled it a bit differently. I won’t hurt him, but maybe I can say something to set him straight.”

KA: “There were times growing up where I felt that difference, but I was different. I remember different games where people said a couple things. ‘Why are you playing lacrosse?’ I tried to brush it off my back. I vividly remember being called the n-word in the handshake line after a game we won. My friends who had heard what the kid said, they were the first to intervene. Racism happens, and that’s the sad reality of it. Now, it’s the kind of thing I wish I spoke up sooner.”

WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN LACROSSE PLAYER?

AN: “Playing a sport that is predominantly white, growing up playing lacrosse my role models were Jovan Miller, Kyle Harrison, the Bratton brothers. There are kids like me, that look like me, and they want to find someone in the game that looks like them, so they want to emulate what they do. I take a lot of pride in the fact that the sport is growing and becoming a more welcoming community.”

KA: “I really started to embrace it when I started to get older. Once I got to an age where I realize the sacrifice my family made for us, that’s when I felt proud. I went to Rutgers with black teammates like Alex Ball, Ryan Scott, Jules Heningburg, Chad Toliver and Branford Rogers, and it was awesome. Everyone thinks of lacrosse like the American Pie representation. The affluent white guys wearing Vineyard Vines, they’re preppy kids, and that’s not the case. It’s a beautiful thing that this sport can be as inclusive as it wants to be.”

WHY DID YOU SPEAK UP?

BA: “The first thought when I saw the riots was, ‘What the Hell? Why are these people doing this? This isn't the right way to do it.’ Then I see the statements and I saw the Martin Luther King quote, ‘Riots are the voice of the unheard.’ At first, I was angry, then I bought in a little to the idea that maybe the riots needed to happen. Then, I came back with the second tweet saying people peacefully coming together is really the most powerful thing that can happen.”

AN: “First, we had the Ahmaud Arbery incident. Now, with the George Floyd incident, it was just a lot in a very short time. More and more of these things keep happening and the more it piles up, the more I felt I needed to say something. I don’t have as much influence on people as maybe I thought I did, but I have a unique perspective on this stuff.”

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THIS SPORT ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE?

BA: “Just really showing that we are inclusive and that there are all walks of life playing lacrosse. The most important thing is that we’re playing the sport and are part of the community. If you don’t have certain convictions at this point, just show that you are supportive of every human being. I’m not exactly sure what that looks like, but just be authentic with your relationships and try to approach meeting someone without judgement.”

KA: “Everyone wants world peace, but what are we going to do to get there? Until we as a society can have empathy for each other and not jump down people’s throats for sharing their thoughts. It’s difficult to speak out to these things, but being able to understand and listen before forming an opinion could go a long way in changing this sport.”

AN: “I’m an optimist, so I want to believe that we are going to create a better world for our kids and grandkids and for many generations. This is another pivotal moment in history where we need to take a step back and look at ourselves in the mirror and figure out how we can move forward. We need to continue normalizing black lacrosse players. My teammates don’t see me as a black teammate. I’m just a teammate. They know I’m African American and that I have pride in that. But they see me as Asher. The more normal you feel on the field, the better you’re going to play and the more people that will want to play.”