I'm Elise Hugh. You're listening to Ted Talks Daily. In the summer of 2020, Americans took part in arguably the biggest protests in modern U.S. history against police violence following the deaths of George Floyd and Brianna Taylor at the hands of law enforcement. In order to make her views and voice felt and make

change, WNBA champion Renee Montgomery took a surprising tack. She explains what she learned

in her talk from TED Women 2020. What would make me quit my job during the pandemic?

The short answer, injustice in America.

But since I have a little time, let me give you the long version.

In May 2020, protests broke out across the United States.

George Floyd, a Minnesota man, was killed by a couple of police officers on camera.

And hundreds of thousands of Americans had had enough.

Like so many others, I watched the protests on the news. I watched the crowd move from downtown

Atlanta to Buckhead where I live. The protesters were right outside of my house, so in true

millennial fashion, I took out my phone so I could record it and posted to Twitter.

After logging the events, I called my parents.

And as I was talking to my snook, which is what I call my mom, I began to get a little worried.

The energy of the crowd was growing, and Snook told me, don't worry, baby.

When people feel that their voices aren't heard, they have to make it felt.

They have to make it felt. They have to make it felt.

That statement hit me hard because why weren't people being heard?

I mean, if we're all watching the same thing, then why aren't we all upset?

And how could I help make a difference?

No, better yet, how could I make it felt?

That was the moment I began to think about opting out.

Opting out of a career I dreamed of my entire life.

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