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Read this and try not to like Martellus Bennett: 'black man' and 'black boy'

By Alex Butler
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett sits on the ground after the Patriots turned over the ball to the Atlanta Falcons on a fumble in the second quarter of Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston on February 5, 2017. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 4 | New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett sits on the ground after the Patriots turned over the ball to the Atlanta Falcons on a fumble in the second quarter of Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston on February 5, 2017. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 8 (UPI) -- You might have heard that Martellus Bennett just won a Super Bowl. You also probably heard that he's skipping the New England Patriots' visit to the White House.

Something you likely didn't hear? Bennett is an aspiring author of children's books and a philanthropist hoping to help the youth achieve its dreams.

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Bennett's company, the Imagination Agency, produces short films and publishes children's books. He also built a free interactive app to go with the books. He's the author of the book: Hey A.J. It's Saturday, based on his daughter.

The tight end recently appeared on The TODAY Show to discuss his creative ventures. On Wednesday, he blasted Twitter with a series of motivational tweets, encouraging the youth.

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"Don't get mad because I found what they thought they could hide in books...I was a black man yesterday and I'm going to be a black man tomorrow. My wife and daughter are women today and will be women tomorrow."

"I don't come on the Internet to build my self esteem nor will what strangers think ever bother me. I'm that black boy. That black boy is me," Bennett tweeted. "Buy my children's book. It's lead character is also black like my daughter. Only 3 percent of children's books have characters of color. 3 percent. Think about that."

Bennett, 29, had 701 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns on 55 receptions this season. The 6-foot, 6-inch former Texas A&M Aggies star had five catches for 62 yards in Sunday's Super Bowl 51 win against the Atlanta Falcons.

"I've found Gold. Fruit. Joy. Success. Happiness and I'm going to build a bridge so that my friends can do the same. This is a metaphor," Bennett tweeted. "I have two libraries in my house thousands of books. I love to read because I know that for a long time ancestors weren't allowed to."

"I love to write. Because for a lonnnnnngg time my people weren't "allowed" to," Bennett tweeted. "So I'm going to write my books, my apps and tell my stories. I'm going to speak my mind because guess what...that's right for a looonngg time my ancestors didn't have a voice."

Bennett is a free agent this offseason. The 2014 Pro Bowl selection had a $5 million base salary, with a $100,000 workout bonus, this season for the Patriots.

"When you look at me what do you see? I know you wanna ask me what sport I play," Bennett tweeted. "I mean what else could I possibly be besides an athlete. When you look at me see the father, the awesome dad, the author, film director, business owner, champion, friend, Hufflepuff beast."

"Shut up and stick to sports!! Enjoy the low hanging fruits Marty. Don't climb to the top of the Apple tree and taste that high hanging fruit."

After spending the first four years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, Bennett joined the New York Giants in 2012. He then played for the Chicago Bears for three seasons, until being traded to the Patriots last offseason.

"This is part of the reason why I'm working to build Art Centers and Computer Labs for kids to learn coding. I'm not building gyms. I'm not interested in building football fields or doing football camps. I'm interested in doing film camps and coding camps.

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"You don't have to be good at sports young man. Go upstairs and finish practicing that trombone. You don't have to rap. You can score films. You don't have to dunk. You can crossover and own the basketball team. "The first thing they tear down are the basketball goals. They can't tear down your mind."

In July, Bennett also used his writing skills to pen an article titled: Dear Black Boy, for The Players' Tribune. The article called for "black boy[s]" to run, train, dream, set goals, exercise, think, move forward, win, and pick up hope.

"See when develop a vision they try to distract your vision with glittery things. Don't get distracted. Your favorite athlete stands on his platform to be seen. I stand on my platform to shout. To be heard. They can't steal your joy when it comes from above. I'm over the low hanging fruit. I'm at the top of the tree tossing down the really good fruit. This is important. I'm important. You're important. We're important. They're important. That's important. It's all good though."

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Bennett's older brother, Michael Bennett, is a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks. Each brother will now a Super Bowl ring, following the Patriots' victory.

"I will not get inside the box society provides for everyone at birth," Bennett tweeted. "And the box society sent for my daughter at birth we built a rocket ship out of it. Y'all thought I was just a goofy dude here to make you laugh. Well that's partially true I do enjoy that. But it's bigger than that."

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