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.

Sam Goldman

In the film industry, camera department is still very male-dominated. On the majority of sets, I am usually the only woman represented on my team. Not only is there under representation, but even when you have gotten the job there are still those small few who will not believe in your abilities. Once I was on a job where I quite literally had the camera in my hands, and someone came up to me and asked how I liked being a production assistant. I politely corrected him that that was not my job title (no shade to PA’s, they are the backbone of the film industry!!) and I was camera, to which he scoffed and walked away. Read more>>

Imani Ma’at

Yes, I have felt my work misunderstood and mischaracterized. Recently, I endured a heartbreaking experience rooted in ignorance, jealousy, and a lack of understanding of African and African American culture. In this country, systemic racism has long demonized anything African-centered, reducing sacred traditions like West African drum and dance to mere entertainment, stripped of their cultural, spiritual, and historical depth. Read more>>

Magdalene Rose

I’ve been misunderstood a lot in my career, but I believe that has helped me learn how to feel comfortable without people’s approval, and I hope I can show others that they can be different and still have a place to belong. As a Christian artist, the rock music I play and my dark clothing/makeup can be “too scary,” and I’ve had churches cancel shows I was part of and received hateful comments both online and in person. As a rock artist, sometimes I receive hateful comments or belittling things yelled at me during shows because I am open about my faith in God. Read more>>

Tyler Chrestman

An unfortunate aspect of working in the online space, is that you are always going to be subject to the worst interpretation anytime you open your mouth. You quickly learn how to spot the difference between people that are there to engage in meaningful dialog and people who are just there to be mad. I love to engage with people, especially people who disagree with me, but unfortunately in today’s society most people just attribute malice to the other side and write them off completely. Read more>>

Malikah Tamirah

One instance where my work was mischaracterized occurred during a showcase when someone I knew told me, “You don’t need to paint the ‘urban stuff.’ You should focus more on appealing to their audience.” In reality, I’m staying true to myself and expressing what’s authentic to my experiences—painting what I’ve lived and what I see around me every day. My work is meant to be relatable to anyone, regardless of their background, because it speaks to universal themes that resonate on a personal level. Read more>>

Delilah Veliz

As a young teenager, I felt an undeniable pull toward baking—a deep, heartfelt desire to create pastries that would bring joy to others. The act of crafting something from scratch, something beautiful and delicious, felt like a calling. I knew then that I wanted to become a pastry chef, and I began researching culinary schools across the country, dreaming of the day I could step into a kitchen at a world-renowned institution. But there was one school that stood above all others in my heart—the Culinary Institute of America in New York. From the moment I discovered it, my passion for baking grew into something stronger, something I could no longer ignore. Read more>>

Kyng Cylus

Absolutely, I believe that in any creative field, there’s always a chance of being misunderstood or mischaracterized. For me, it has happened a few times with my artistry and modeling. One particular instance was when I showcased a collection that was deeply personal and inspired by my cultural heritage. Some people didn’t fully grasp the significance and instead labeled it as too unconventional or out of touch with mainstream trends. Read more>>

Chris Ortiz

Yes on a number of fronts. As an educator I play a game that is very objective and analytically driven. Everything we do in the business is brought back to the numbers and understandably so. With that being said I could care less about the numbers because for me it is all about the journey and growth of my student/athletes. I have learned that there are far too many factors at play and that I am not in total control of my students outcomes. For that reason I have done my best to disconnect myself from that part of the game. Read more>>

Matt Mayhall

I wouldn’t say my work as an artist/composer/bandleader has been misunderstood or mischaracterized. When you are the artist, you can do what you want and if it’s honest and convincing enough, your intent will be understood by those who are paying attention. The same is largely true as an instrumentalist for hire, only I didn’t really fully understand this until after I had done a few of my own creative projects. In most circumstances where I’m being hired to be someone else’s drummer, I’m being called upon to interpret what is there and provide something that will complement what is there. Read more>>

Mecca Bythewood

I feel as though my work may have been slightly misunderstood by certain individuals that don’t know me as a person and maybe have only heard of me. People have their own perceptions of why people do the things they do unless the audience is told exactly what the goal was in mind when creating something. I learned that if I wanted people to connect with me and my brand on a more personal level, I was going to have to show more of me. At first, I was nervous to be willing to be more vulnerable with my audience, but I learned that there is much power and strength in being vulnerable and authentically me. There are so many people these days starting clothing brands, so I want to keep striving to bring the one thing no one else can to the table, which is me. Read more>>