Torrey Smith: Your Voice Is Your Ultimate Power

BIO: Torrey Smith is a former NFL wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion. He played college football at the University of Maryland. Smith and his wife, Chanel, founded Level82, a non-profit that benefits at risk youth in Baltimore in partnership with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE?
The first time I actually recognized that my voice had power was in school, and it wasn't even on a deep level. It was just understanding that I had the ability to influence others. 

I remember my freshman year of high school, my English teacher, Ms. Brown, everyone was talking in class, and she yells at me out of all the people. I'm mad! Everyone's had that feeling like, ‘Everyone here is talking, and you say something to me?!’ I was upset about it, and I told my mom she's picking on me. So, my mom, she called a conference, and we ended up talking. Ms. Brown said, ‘Do you know why I called on you?’ I'm like, ‘Yeah! ‘Cause you don’t like me!’ (laughs) I’m letting her have it. She was like, ‘No, I called on you because when you listen, and as you go, the class will go. You have that influence and that ability. I called on you because I knew you could handle it, and I know that if you straighten up and act the way you’re supposed to act, everyone else will follow.’

I started to try to be more of a leader in the classroom space, and then I could see exactly what she was talking about. That was kind of like a lightbulb moment for me in terms of understanding that you have the power to influence and you can lead right where you are, and do the right things right where you are.

WHAT ISSUES DO YOU USE YOUR VOICE TO SUPPORT?

I don't shy away from anything. I don't shy away from politics. I don't shy away from domestic violence. I don't shy away from the education system that we have here or lack thereof. I don't shy away from anything, because I feel like you can't recognize a problem and then not use your voice to speak out on it. 

My first passion, really, towards recognizing things that were wrong, all came from my family. My first exposure to the criminal justice system, I was my son's age. I was five or six years old. My mother was in a very abusive relationship and was incarcerated. There have been times throughout her life where I recognize that if she had a better lawyer, she would have never been in trouble. What that tells me is that your money can influence your punishment. So, if we talk about treating people fairly, that doesn't make sense, because then you enable a system that just demolishes and crushes the people who are poor and can't afford it. For me, that's really kind of where my passion started. I want to be more involved in the criminal justice space. 

Then, let’s talk about police brutality and being able to recognize that. I've had guns drawn on me on four different occasions, all before I was 21. It's one of those things where people see me as just an athlete, and they don't really think about my past or the things that may have influenced me. I always took that to heart like, man, I know what it's like. I know what it feels like. 

For me to remain silent on issues, it basically means that I agree with everything that's going on and that's something that's never sat right with me. 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER ATHLETES LOOKING TO USE THE POWER OF THEIR VOICES TO MAKE AN IMPACT?

First of all, be comfortable and know about what you believe in. You have to educate yourself. But don't be afraid to don't know what you don't know. You don't have to have all the answers. Also, you don't have to be a hero. There are so many great organizations that care about exactly what you care about, however, they don't have your platform. That's really the biggest way to play. 

Everyone thinks, ‘Oh! I have to spend a gazillion dollars.’ I support what I support financially with my own initiatives and other things, but I go to other people's events all the time. There are other people that are doing so many things, but they don't have the ability to scale, or they don't have a facility, and your presence there matters. Even if you're not an athlete and you want to support something, your presence matters. People really underestimate that value. There needs to be more partnering going on. I'm a firm believer in trying to bring resources and connect people. 

You also have to know your limits as an athlete. You can't say yes to everything. Find what you're passionate about and figure out how to support it. Someone in your hometown, or someone in your community where you're playing or where you're from, is doing that work. Figure out where you can fit in, and if that makes sense, roll with that, because I promise you, it's a lot easier.

WHAT DOES ATHLETES’ VOICES MEAN TO YOU?

Athletes’ Voices is an outlet to educate yourself and to learn from some of the best. When you come to know the athletes that are on this panel, or that are involved, they're committed. They want to learn more, and no one here that I've come across feels like they have all the answers. That's what's great. 

It’s very helpful for athletes that want to be involved, to learn how to use their voice, and to also educate themselves. That's the piece that has to continue to happen is to get educated. To be tied to an institution like Harvard, to have those resources, to have those other people who are just like, ‘Hey, man, how can we help magnify what you guys are doing or help your impact?’ That's what it's all about. There’s no better way than to simply continue to educate yourself with your peers, and some of the more respected individuals when it comes to social justice or whatever you're passionate about in this country. 

I think just being curious is your biggest strength. The fact that you're curious enough to figure out how to use your voice, lets me know that you're on the right path to really figuring out how to use your voice. Figure out what you're passionate about, and Athletes’ Voices can help you figure that out, and once you do, they have people that can help you figure out exactly what that impact looks like.