UNC women’s basketball signee Destiny Adams wanted to wear the words "Black Lives Matter" on her warm-up shirt before games for Manchester Township High School.
After preparing a speech with her argument for wearing the phrase, Adams presented her case to the Manchester Township Board of Education. Without deliberation, the Board denied her request because the members thought the warm-up shirts, which say Manchester Township on them, would seem to represent the entire community.
Adams, who is from Manchester Township, New Jersey, is the No. 4 wing in the 2021 class and the No. 20 player in her class overall, according to ESPN. The high school senior was the first commit in the Tar Heels' 2021 class.
The women's basketball signee's request was denied, but that hasn't stopped her from continuing to fight for racial justice. And she doesn't plan to stop her activism when she comes to UNC this fall.
North Carolina women’s basketball head coach Courtney Banghart said she was drawn to Adams right away.
“She’s a relentless competitor,” Banghart said. “Off the court, she is all things opposite. She is compassionate and kind and sweet and thoughtful and reserved.”
Destiny’s mother, Lisa, agreed that her daughter is usually reserved. She said that until just last year, Destiny was scared to walk across the gym on game day because she didn’t want people looking at her.
So, facing the school board to make her case was a big step for the high school senior.
“She is maturing into this young lady who is being an activist,” Lisa said.