3: How Addonis Parker Went From Hiding His Art to Owning His Gift

What happens when the thing you’re called to be… is the very thing the world tells you to hide? Today, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell welcome the world-renowned artist Addonis Parker to unpack identity, masculinity, and the cost of suppressing your true self. From hiding his creativity as a young athlete to being told how his art should look, Addonis shares the internal battle of trying to fit into a version of himself that the world would accept. But what he once buried eventually became the very thing that saved his life. Listen in as this conversation goes deeper than art. It’s about confronting shame, reclaiming your identity, and understanding that your difference is not a weakness, but your calling. KEY POINTS:  0:00 – Introduction  3:14 – Success leaves clues: Legacy, lineage, and “Who am I?” 5:17 – Hiding creativity: Sports, masculinity, and burying emotion 6:48 – The moment at six: A sketchpad, sunlight, and realizing he was different 11:02 – Learning to be “other”: Accepting that art + athletics can coexist 13:51 – Being ashamed of “Adonis”: When your own name feels too artistic 15:35 – Everything changes: Owning “Adonis” and watching the world respond 24:21 – “Stop painting Black people”: The pushback against his Black art 39:17 – Turning pain into fuel: Using rejection as hidden fire and purpose 41:48 – The lie that almost killed him: Not expecting to live past 25 QUOTES: “When God gives you a gift, you've got to add on to it.” – Addonis Parker “You have to realize that you are a human being with worth before you become a superhero.” – Addonis Parker “The worst lie you can tell is the one you tell yourself.” – Addonis Parker RESOURCES: Addonis Parker  Website | addonisparker.com Instagram | @addonisp Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)