When you think of Maxwell and the R&B singer’s timeless music, words like soulful, soothing, and sultry likely come to mind. If you’ve been keeping up with him recently, you know that the title of activist feels fitting as well. The musician—who has blessed us with hits like “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” his rendition on Kate Bush’s song, “This Woman’s Work,” and “Lifetime”—uses his time to give back to his community, when he’s not making classics. He’s been a vocal advocate for political organizers, especially during the Georgia Senate run-off, and used his platform to do Instagram live interviews with the likes of Felicia Davis, a political organizer in Georgia.
“I think in some ways I’ve been really subtle about my activism,” the singer told Vogue over the phone. “But I think being subtle isn’t enough right now.” Due to his advocacy for the Black Lives Matter movement and the power of voting, he has received some criticism that his page has become ‘too political.’ “But if my people are dying and aren’t around to hear my music, then it doesn’t matter to me,” Maxwell, who knows a thing or two about not letting anyone put him into a box, says. “I think the afro was my defining moment,” for example. “But we’re allowed to look however we want and not be held to a certain aesthetic for marketing reasons. I try not let my looks or vanity stay ahead of the music or activism.”
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