Being different in any community is difficult and has its challenges. But standing out as different in the African American community, some would say is even more of a struggle. Historically there is a certain expectations of masculinity that comes with being an African American man. If you are a man you will act a certain way and possess a certain job. Much like in other cultures in America blue is for boys and pink represents girls. People don't recognize that they believe that boys should play with trucks and cars and girls should play with dolls. These two norms tell children that anything that lives outside of what is normal, is considered not normal. In the following story a young African American man shares his experience as being non-conforming. For him, the things he wanted to do were not extreme, quite simple in his mind actually. But he also realized that it doesn't matter, different is not normal, and not normal is unacceptable. He finally got to an age that he didn't want to hide those things from his father and his three older brothers anymore. His first experience of sharing ended very violently but he had to believe that who he was would be something that they would accept if they loved him. It was one of his friends from school that suggested that he follow a specific teacher on social media, and that is how he found his voice. When he watched a video and the teacher explained to his pre-kindergarten class the reason that he paints his nails and how all of that leads to acceptance, changed his perspective. He had to be honest with his family about who he was but what he realized was that first he needed to be honest with himself.