A successful Black professional NFL player, who has never been a character issue nor was never involved in any kind of trouble, is definitely an inspiring story for Black youth. It is a positive representation; it's showing them, Black kids, that people who look alike are capable, deserving, and creators of their own success against all the odds.

However, if we think of legacy and true impact, that is not enough. At least, that's how our guest, Aaron Maybin, sees things.

Aaron Maybin is a former NFL superstar, drafted as the 11th overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2009, where he played for two years before signing for the New York Jets, where he played another two years. In 2013, after being signed by the Cincinnati Bengals in a Reserve/future contract, Aaron decided to retire from professional football.

Aaron's family recognized his dominant and promising sports abilities when he was growing up, but without ignoring his other talents, instilling him an interest in the arts. This passion, which he used as a coping mechanism to deal with his mother's loss, would conspire many years later to help him have a clear vision of the path he would walk in his post-football life.

Today, he is a Professional Artist, Author, Educator, Community Organizer, and Art Activist. He is a Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation executive board member and a member of the newly appointed Mayor's Transition team, serving on the Arts & Culture Committee. His first book, Art Activism, is being taught as a Masters of Fine Arts course at Maryland Institute College.

We delve into Aaron's transition from an elite athlete to a professional artist and educator and his decision to stop playing professional football in his prime. We talk about his drive to be an uplifting and inspiring figure for the Black community, his passion for empowering others, arming them with artistic resources, and instilling a solution-based lifestyle instead of a deficit-based mindset. Aaron also shared his thoughts on toxic masculinity, the limitations and restrictions of the creative sector in our school system, and more.

Some Questions I Ask:

Your passion for art: How did that play into the decision to walk away from professional football? (8:47)

Tell us about what it's like to be in your community, and the work with kids you do there (27:50)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Aaron's experiences growing up and the importance of his family incentivizing him to multiply his interest in many things other than football (4:31)

Art was a coping mechanism. Aaron talks about his early and deep connection with arts (10:32)

Finding a proper use of social media. The contrasting difference between the Buffalo Bills and the NY Jets (18:31)

What is Art Activism (31:19)

Toxic behavior is genderless. The myth of toxic masculinity and its effects in young kids (43:43)

Connect with Aaron:

website

books and education tools

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

Let's connect!

Website

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