Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Larry Spear

As a non-objective painter, I think the public in general has a misconception about the visual arts and what constitutes quality work in the discipline. Great art, of any kind, requires a masterful use of the elements of that particular medium. Read more>>

MBoujieee

I think a lot of people think of me being names “MBoujieee” . I’m a boujieee person honestly somebody gave me that name because how the way I carried myself and walked with my head high . They noticed that there wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle the good and the bad days . People see a cute African American woman and probably think I never been through nothing in life because the way I hide my hands and smile like everything is all good in life . Read more>>

Alexander Patsos

As a creative professional, it is not uncommon to be misunderstood or mischarcterized. Artists’ motivations are often scrutinized and questioned, but this is a natural part of the job. I have had many experiences where people have made off-hand remarks or insults about my line work and motivation for pursuing my career. However, I simply brush it off. Read more>>

Ife Al-Din

My entire reason for becoming a creative really lies in my being misunderstood and feeling unseen. I think I decided to hide myself at a very young age because of that consistent feeling. I limited what I shared with the world so I couldn’t be misconstrued. However, it only increased a reality of being unseen. I started writing poetry at 7 years old because I didn’t feel like I could express my feelings any other way, but it took a decade before I shared my words with others. Read more>>

Chanijia Burton

I grew up in a small town, with a single mom and my two brothers. I was always the “quiet one” growing up, but in reality I was a leader, a speaker, and a wayshower, here to be the person to do what my family and others saw as impossible, and break generational cycles of trauma, disconnection, and unworthiness. Growing up I was always the observer. I saw and felt the world and emotion differently. Read more>>

Jordyn Mariah

for as long as i can remember, until the age of 23, i played soccer. it was my whole world, my identity. soccer was the expression of myself that was familiar & safe. as i transitioned out of competitive sports, i searched for a place, a space in which my expression could be received & shared in such a way that it inspired others. Read more>>

Mark Omezi

Growing up as the child of Nigerian parents, pursuing a career in fitness and entertainment was not always the expected or celebrated path. My parents, like many others, had certain expectations and dreams for my future. Read more>>

Nai

I remember being so misunderstood in high school. I came from that last crowd of kids when it wasnt really cool to be weird especially in public school. lol so when I got to my high school I was very hard to read. Read more>>

Crissy J

Till this day, I still get a shocked look when I tell people my main creative outlet is, Violin. Back in college everyone automatically thought that I was a singer simply based off of my race. Then I’d get the follow up statement, “well, you don’t look like a violinist.” Read more>>

Frida García

As a model, I had to face the uncomfortable reality of being stereotyped as “dumb”, “empty” and even categorized as a “prostitute.” Suddenly I was perceived with a price tag, an object that could be bought and owned. This perception affected not only the way men treated me but also my relationships with women and even worse, my self-image. Read more>>