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.

Jayy Maadniss

Daily I’m misunderstood/mischaracterized. Whether it’s from my name or my experiences with people. I’m human & a work in progress, yet I have a good heart & spirit. I love to help people, I love to connect people. I love to give people a spotlight. I love to listen to people. All these things are true, but I can mainly say I’m a big introvert & not used to a lot of attention. I’ve always been a loner, so i’m still getting used to people enjoying my art. All the love is much appreciated. Read more>>

Red Moth

When I first started off creating haoris, I got some fairly brutal reviews. Some called them ugly, carnival wear, culturally appropriated, weird, and unusual.

But I’m a stubborn artist with a compulsion to create.

So I kept on practicing. Learned more about working with the fabric, instead of against it. How paint liked to interact with different textiles. Practiced my sewing skills more. And started exhibiting them in art shows, not just fashion venues to show the limits of art and fashion. Read More>>

Quay Doodae

Beyond being an artist I as a human being do feel misunderstood a lot of times and I had many scenarios where trying to be understood is challenging. Being born and raised in Memphis as a black man alone is nothing but mischaracterization. There were times people didn’t even know me or know what I represented. Honestly they could really care less. People really did not care about what I had to say or really check on me as I did for them. I learned from that situation that I was strong minded and meant to lead. Read more>>

Sammis Richdale

Being misunderstood creatively has been the story since the dawn of the music industry. It’s a catch-22 because the whole industry is based on creativity; however, it’s overwhelmingly run by numbers, business, and non-creative types. On top of that, these non-creatives are usually the liaisons between musical artists and visual creatives. Sometimes the true intent is lost in the process, but I feel we can start closing that gap over time. Read more>>

John Brown

There were definitely times where i felt as if my music was misunderstood. When i was in high school i was in this rap group. Everyone in this group made music, at this time i was known in my school for being the best freestyler, but i never actually recorded a full song. Eventually i was able to save up money to get my own recording equipment, and i started pumping out track like crazy. Weeks go by and eventually people in my school heard some of the songs i’ve made… nobody liked the music. Read more>>

Cary Michael Robinson

As an artist who identifies racially as an African American, who (in some instances) is considered to be too light skinned to completely identify as “Black” and too dark skinned to completely relate with my non-Black counterparts, there have been times where both my identity and my work have been mischaracterized. As a result, there have been instances where I’ve been led to feel less-than, inadequate, and unaccepted since the artwork I produce (which is a reflection of MY truth) doesn’t particularly identify with the stereotypical narrative society seems to have created to serve as the epitome of an archetype African American male. Read more>>

Tazz B

Definitely…….with a name like Black & Unfiltered some people in the past have thought the worst of what our Podcast/Show is. Let’s be honest racial tension still exist so it’s been very common for people to mistakenly assume what Black & Unfiltered Entertainment is. We used to get a ton of disrespectful messages and comments on our FB page most were from people who never even listen to the show, they just saw the name and thought we was on some hateful race bashing type mess. Read more>>

Willie Harris

Misunderstood at times yes but that comes with anyone blazing A new trail. I believe the hardest thing for others to grasp is that I’m willing to bet on myself and not taking the traditional route. Read more>>

RikoWithAK

Early on in my career I felt like I was misunderstood, but it wasn’t anyones fault but my own. I kept trying to fit in a box that was given to me verses just be who I see myself as. It wasn’t until I understood that being myself is the only way to win, that I started winning. That’s the journey I’ve been on completing my second album, making the music I like, doing the things I like on stage, and it’s the most fulfilling feeling ever. Read more>>

Roadrunner Speed

I often find myself thinking of reasons why I’m misunderstood by others and what causes this communicative disruption between us. Over years I have grown and became wiser studying myself down to the root of my traumas and what has caused me to be so able to be communicate through music but not through conversation. Multiple experiences of me being my own psychiatrist & dosing shrooms my confidence began to grow. Read more>>

Chuck Fury

One thing most people don’t fully understand is that a comedian literally has only one bullet point in their job description: •Make people laugh That’s it. There is literally nothing else. A comedian can add things to that if they want. A promoter might have requirements at a specific venue that you’ll need to follow if you want to perform there. But there is NO obligation to be clean, politically correct, sensitive to the needs of others, speak truth to power, or even believe the things that come out of your own mouth. You can do those things, but they are not in the description. Read more>>

Sunset Capone

When I was in 7th grade, I got in trouble with one of my friends and was facing very serious consequences. I lost all of my friends and was labeled as a “bad kid”. I wasn’t about to be labeled so I decided to think smarter and learn from my mistakes. I learned where the line was very early and what cause and effect really were. I try to make sure my work is only about something I live or lived through. Read more>>

Sam Wilder

I believe that it is impossible to make your way through the entertainment industry without feeling misunderstood in some sense. On one hand, being misunderstood can hurt and make you feel like your attempts to impress are pointless. On the other hand, I think it is extremally important for fans and listeners to create their own meaning behind your songs. Everybody is searching for something to heal them and sometimes you might help someone who discovered a whole new meaning to your music that you didn’t even know was there. Read more>>