What media we participate in, and what we create, shapes the dominant narrative that our society tells of itself. However, history shows that this narrative is not always reflective of our diverse reality. Exploring diversity as artists can help to educate ourselves as well as others. Art puts messages out in the world; like it is important to engage in dialogue in our everyday life, we must also include this in our work. We do this by supporting artists who identify as a minority identity, as well as by doing research to learn about identities and cultures and make them a part of our art and the dominant narrative too.
As creators who are attempting to expand awareness and educate others, it is important that we address the issue of the misrepresentation that can occur when we do not take the time to do our research and have critical conversations with persons of the identity we are including in our art. This does not mean that we should not try to cross boundaries—shying away from representation in your art only reinforces the current, dominant narrative. Instead, challenge yourself to learn more and to be vulnerable in that uncomfortable space. Learn about your identity and other’s to examine how it fits in the narrative of your life by exploring privilege and oppression. Ask yourself, what messages is your creative art putting out? What action does it do in the world?
Consider if you are the right person to write a particular story, or to paint a particular piece. If you feel that a particular narrative would be best told by a person from that particular identity, that is okay — keep learning about this narrative, and support artists of minority identities so their stories can be brought to light. By opening ourselves and our minds, we can create a world in which diversity is normalized and a part of our narrative.